Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-14
Attitude of G. A. r.

owing to miSStatements as to facts
circulated by various interests on this
subject the committee deemed it advis-
able to report that the common state
ment and rumor that the Grand Army oi
the Republic favors the expenditure OF
the So,O00,NoO heretofore appropriated Tor
Lincoln memorial for road from
Gettysburg to Washington lacks the eie-
ment of veracity. The facts are these:
AT "A meeting OF the Grand Army of the
Republic he'd in Rochester more than
year ago, on the last day of the meet
ing, and when less than thirty members
out of 500 We're present. and without any
reports from any committee, and after a
statement made 10y Gen. Terrence to the
effect that committee Of Congress had
reported i'm favor of Lincoln memorial
i'm the form of a highway from Wash
ington to Gettysburg. a resolution IndorS-
ing that highway was passed.
"It will be noticed that the statement
that a committee of Congress had ap-
proved the highway from Wasf ington TO
the facts. In September. 1872. the Grand
Army of the Republic. at its meeting IN
Los Angeles reversed the apparent conciu-
sion reached at Rochester. and resolved TO
mended by the fine arts commission:
Further details of the September meeting
of the G. A. r. are given in the report
which continues as follows:
ments in regard to the support given by
the G. A. r. to the proposed automcpile
road as a memorial to Lincoln need not De
further considered.
..The committee is of the opinion that a
roadway is not an adequate memorial
and cites as an Illustration the tact that
in the city of Chicago there is Lincoln
parkway, formerly called Lincoln Park
boulevard, boulevard far more eXpen-
sive than could be built from Washing
ton to Gettysburg with the present appfo-
priation, and il is questionable whether
any member of this House or any one
else who ever has passed along that
boulevard has connected ii IN any way
with Abraham Lincoln; but when that
same person reaches Lincoln Park in
Chicago and comes to SAINT Gaudehs
statue of Lincoln, he then feels what
memorial is an dought to be.
No Use to Plain People.
1T is said that Lincoln was plain
man and that the memorial should be one
which the plain people can appreciate
and that, therefore, the Gettysburg road
should be adopted. Just how the plain
people can afford the purchase Of auto
mobiles 20 ride from Gettysburg to Wash
ineton has not been disclosed. If the
roadway is to be made for the plain peo-
ME there should be a trolley line built
upon it so tilat the pain people coulu
afford to use ii.
The report also says that the Gettys-
h,,rp road would cost too much to build
and TO keep in order and the testimony
of commissioner Judson is given, with
the statement that he has had great eX-
nerience in building roads. The report
states that the road would cost $50. O00.O0.
The report also gives full copy of q
letter. said to be distributed by the Lin
coin Memorial Road Association, saying
that S1231J is needed to send letters. post
cards and other literature throughout the
country.
Th,. repor: concludes with this state
ment:
1T will eb noticed that this letter con-
tains a statement that the Speaker of
the House of Representatives favors the
Gettysburs road, but the fact is that the
special commission to consider the plan.
design and location OF the Lincoln me-
mortal as il is at present constituted.
consists of President Taft, Senator's Gull
lOm and Wetmore, Speaker Clark, Rep
resetnativeS Cannon and Mccall and that
all of the members of the commission
signed the report which contains the
following words:
The commission. after a careful eX-
animation and discussion of the design
nreseuted by Mr.. Bacon. has adopted it
unanimously. and recommends that Con-
gress approve the construction of the
memorial upon the selected site in Poto-
mac Park in accordance with the plans
and designs of Mr.. Bacon.