Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1913-07-10
Sons Of Veterans
Boosting for Statue

r
our last territorial governor and the
first governor OF South Dakota, now
seems to be an assured fact, as the
local Sons of Veterans have taken
upon themselves the task, long neg
lected, of erecting monument in the
court house square, on the base of
which will stand a bronze figure OF
the late governor. Having been sue
Ecessfnl in carrying out a magnificent
Memorial day program, the best the
city has ever seen, the Sons some
time ago decided to take the initiative
in "a movement which will result in
the erection of monument that has
long been talked of but on which
nothing was ever accomplished.
About twelve years ago the late
General George w. Carpenter interest
ed the local g. A. r. post in this
movement, but because of some nn-
sssTmnnnta able obstacle, nothing fur
ther was dones though evaryh body
agrees thai even at that time the
matter had been neglected. The
General, at his own expense, had
drafted IA proposed monument, which
drawing has recently been turned
over to the local committee by Mrs.
Carpenter. On the base of this mon
ument stood d figure of the governor
, -. ~. ~ . -
which is said by his acquaintances
to be an excellent likeness and very
characte The remaining few of
the governors large circle of friends
in this city have indicated a desire
to aid bush financially and by pushing
the good work along, realizing that
such a move should have been com
p1eted years ago and not left till this
late day. III
The committee proposes to make
this a combination Governor Mellette
and Grand Army movement; the base
will have bronze tablets on which will
be engraved the names of the mem
bers of the organization buried with
in the county and space win be re-
served for future use. The law al
lows the county to Appropriate money
for monument of this kind under
certain restrictions and requirements,
to the extent Of s1,50O.eO and for this
reason the present plans are being
worked out. 1t is known that the
living friends OF the Governor desire
to contribute toward this end and
realizing the importance of the work,
an artist of national repute will be
secured. Doane Robinson, who has
had considerable experience in such
work, recommends Gilbert Riswold.
who executed the Sheridan memorial
He is a South Dakota boy and al
student sof Laredo Taft who very
highly commends his work. A figure
by RsWold would cost about $2.5000oI
and would be a work worthy OF its |
purpose and one toward which any
of the friends of the Governor would
De willing to contribute. The basel
would cost from $1,000 to $2,5o0, sol
he cost Of the monument is figured
it $1,000 at least.
y 1t is very fitting and propes that
his movement should originate in Z
Natertown, as this is his final resting
,lace and was his home during thel
ime he served the state as governor.
t is. hoped that Watertown viii CON
ribute at an early date, sufficient +,
mount So that the committee can gol
ut into the state and ask for aid,
hus making it a statewide move
nent. II is not expected that any j.
ifficulty will be encountered in rails
ng the necessary funds to erect the
roper kind OF memorial.
While in the city Governor Byrne
1et with The LEGAL citizens committee
nd Sons Of Veterans committee, and
tated that he was heartily in accord Es
18th the project and would lend his
upport, Preliminary plans were
alked over and work Ii being carried sl
orward at this time looking To- a II
nal successful completion Of theI
roposition. "a
The local parties interested are: i
ity committee, Mayor II. Al Wagner, n
rank Bramble, Geo. w Case, O. ~ IA
fhistler p. G. Henion, G. Nj. Lyon, 9