The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-05-19
SUNDAY Opening
GAINSADHERENIS
Vigorous Protests Are Made
Against Policy Of Mount
Vernon Board.
ONLY DAY AVAILABLE
Thousands Who Would Worship at
Washington's Shrine Are Pre-
vented by Rule.

Believing that Mount Vernon. the
home and tomb OF George Washington,
The Father of His Country" is the
heritage of the people, men and women
throughout the country, especially In
the National Capital. are demanding
that the great shrine of American his
tory shall cease to be a source of pri-
vate again, but that II shall be intrusted
to them, in order that they may go and
pay tribute to his memory.
The refusal of the board OF regents
of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Associa-
ton to consider the request of the pub
lie that Mount Vernon be opened on
Sunday has in no way dampened the
determination of those leading the
movement to give Mount Vernon to the
people. 1t has served instead to make
them more determined and to win to
their side public opinion.
The agitation for free admission to
Mount Vernon and Sunday openings Is
the demand of representative American
citizens The Daughters of the American
Revolution, the greatest of women patri-
otto societies. at its last congress in this
city unanimously passed resolutions In
favor of free admission and Sunday open
ings. The Central Labor Union, the
Chamber of Commerce, the Plate Print
have made similar demands.
Demand Is in Harmony.
These organizations declare their de
mand is in harmony to give the people
free access to libraries. museums, art
galleries. parks. and national buildings.
which are beneficial to them and pro-
moral welfare.
There is every reason for the opening
of Mount Vernon on Sundays. 1t would
afford opportunity to thousands of the
working class who cannot go there other
days to pay tribute to the memory of
Washington.
Following the refusal of the board of
regents to consider the request for Sun
day openings and free admission the
Mount Vernon Anti-Fee Association re-
Gently bitterly assailed their attitude. and
w. H. Lowder likened the members of
the board to ''buzzards feasting upon the
bones of Washington
He bitterly assailed the excuse offered
by the board of regents against free ad-
mission-that the rabble would make a
picnic grounds of Mount Vernon. He
declared the members of the board did
not hesitate to spread an elaborate feast
on the lawn near the mansion and to
royalty entertain their guests" out of
the gate receipts taken from the rabble
which they sought to exclude. but who
had a common right to feast there.
The same objections which have been
raised to the purchase of Monticello by
the government would not apply to
Mount Vernon. In the first place, Mon
ticello lis the property of a single in
dividuai, who makes his home there, and
who does not exclude the public from
visiting Jefferson's home. MouDt Vernon
is owned and controlled by a corporation.
which charges an admission to the
grounds
Kentucky Sets Example.
The Kentucky Historical Society last
year offered to give to the government
conditionally, save that Congress agree
to preserve the buildings as much as
possible. Mount Vernon should be the
property of the people. If the associ-
alton is unwilling to give it over to gov
eminent supervision, Congress should
take steps to purchase it
There are many ways in which the oh
lection advanced by the board of regents
that the thousands who would flock to
Mount Vernon if no Admission were
charged can be overcome.
To meet some of the objections urged
the number of people allowed to enter
the buildings at one time could be Gm-
fted to a certain number, just as is the
case at the Washington Monument at
the present time. 1t is argued that the
large numbers would soon weaken and
destroy the buildings The government
would have ample funds to make any
necessary repairs and preserve the orig
inal outlines OF the building. 1t is only
a matter of short time until the nat
ural deterioration of the buildings will
NJ 70 bafr
rebuilding 1t Is true that the rebuild
ing will not be in entirety. but 1t will be
necessary to replace an old rafter or
joist with a new one regardless of
whether a hundred or a thousand visit
the Mace in a day