The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1912-05-31

the work of discovering objects which
have historic interest and II Ia their
endeavor to save them either by con
gressional action or by private sub
scription. They make use OF the print
ed material which the libraries afford
and by reading old papers, magazines
and documents they make many
finds" OF value.
Braddock's Rock Marked.
Not long ago II was discovered that
what 10 known as Braddock's Rock
was unmarked, This was the rock
on which General Braddock landed at
Georgetown when hc was on his way
with George Washington as lieuten.
ant overland 20 meet the French In
western Pennsylvania, an expedition
| In which Braddock was defeated, the
remnant OF his forces being saved By
the generalship OF Washington. This
rock has now been marked, an inter.
est In its marking being taken by
James Bryce, the British ambassador.
who was present on the occasion.
As fast as Il can be done, the old
houses which have historic interest
are being marked with bronze tablets
bearing inscriptions TO show In what
their chief interest lies. II has been
feared always that the needs OF busi.
ness would make the destruction OF
old landmarks Inevitable, but the
Washington people who are interested
In preservation matters seem TO be
Just as much alive to the work as we're
the Boston people who insisted that
the Old South church and the Old
North church should be saved when
y was proposed that they be demol.
ished 10 make room for commercial
houses II Is said that In Boston
s250000 was subscribed in twelve
hours to be used to save the "0ld
South" where the fiery Otis preached
resistance to tyranny.
Famous Washington Churches.
The most famous church In Wash.
ington Ia the ancient Saint Johns OF
the Protestant Episcopal communion,
sltuated on Lafayette square. II is
en- old building and long since It's
congregations have ontgrown the edl
fee, but there Is no present intention
OF the parish authorities to move else.
where or to demollsh the structure.
81, Johns IL the church which Mrs
Taft attends and which was attended
by Mrs. Roosevelt and, prior to the
Roosevelt administration, by many
presidents and their families.
One OF the oldest Roman Catholic
churches In Washington was Saint
Mathews, which was situated at Fiji
teenth and Fl streets, The congrega-
ton outgrew its quarters and after
good many heart-burnings and consid.
cradle opposition the old building was
given up aud a new one was built on
Rhode Island avenue The original
property was sold and there now
stands on its site a great structure
known Rs the Southern buildings. IN
which are located the headquarters Of
the organization devoted to the devel-
opment Of the natural and business
resources Of the southern states
There are other old edlfices I'm
Washington which have been written
about time and again and probably
the publicity has helped In saving
them from destruction, for Washing
ton business men realize that the
more attractions In historic way
the city has the greater will be the
throng of visitors. Examples OF old
buildings which have been preserved
by a popular sentiment are the homes
OF Commodore Decatur and OF Mrs
Madison. The two most prominent his.
torieal houses in the vicinity of Wash.
ington OF course will be preserved, If
they can be. for all time. They are
Washlngton's home at Mount Vernon
and the home OF the Gusts and later
OF the Lee family at Arlington.
Many Contests to Be Settled.
Politicians In Washington of both
parties are looking forward with
tho keenest interest TO the forth.
coming meeting OF the national com.
mittee OF their parties. one of
which Is to meet In Chicago and
the other In Baltimore prior to the
assembling OF the great party conven.
tions.
The sharpest interest at this writ.
ing centers In the meeting OF the Re.
publican national committee, solely
for the reason that II must pass iudg.
ment upon far greater number OF
contests than will DO presented for
| consideration to the committee OF tho
other party. The convention system
OF selecting district delegates. and
state delegates, too. tor that matter,
which stili prevails in most of the
states-although 1t is likely to give
way to a pure primary system before
long-is held to be responsible for the
many contests which the Republican
national committeeman will have to
| decide. According to the figures Civ.
en- out In Washington there will be
at least $50 delegates to the conven.
ton whose seats will be contested
The greater number OF contests prom.
ised will originate with Mr.. Roose-
velt's lieutenants and the lesser mum.
Der with Mr. Taft'R ueutananta