The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-05-17
Hon Barry Statue
Had It's Inception
Writer Declares NJ F. ODonoghue Of This City, First
Launched Move for Memorial in 1909 and
Aided in Having Legisiafion En-
acted by Congress in 1906

corner. but later proposed the northwest
corner Of Franklin Square. as being more
In the line with public traffic, and this
was agreed to by the Bureau Of Buildings
and Grounds. of the War Department.
Later the site was changed by the bu-
reau- to the middle OF the south side of
Franklin Square. This was considered
less desirable. and Mr.. O'Donoghue wait
ed on the colonel in charge of the bu-
reau, who said that 1t had been decided to
have the statues In Franklin Square To-
Gated in the middle OF the sides, and not
In the corner portions of the park. so as
to vary from the piaa adopted in La
Fayette Square. Mr.. ODonoxhue Athen
put In a claim for the middle of the West
side, on Fourteenth street, one Of thu
most prominent thoroughfares of the
Capital. between the two corners FORM
merly selected. This was granted and the
work to obtain a national statue in honor
of Commodore John Barry in the Ma
tional Capital ended
The passage by Congress Of the bill pro-
yiding for the erection of a-monument
to Commodore Barry started some dis
cussion as to where the credit should be
placed for the Inauguration of the move
ment The fles of the New Century, of
Washington for April 5, 1902 furnish
evidence which should set the contro-
versy at rest Joseph W. McCann, .
printer and proofreader of this city. writ
ing under the pen name of 'Ceft." con-
tributed the following article on the sub
ject on July 2. 1902
THE New York Herald says: The
launching yesterday of the torpedo-boat
destroyer Barry recalls wildly the serv-
ices of a sea officer. whose name was a
household word in the early days Of the
renrhlic w 70 10 "A
heritage Of our navy. The memorable
deeds and sacrifices of this gallant Irish
man gave proof Of his passionate devo-
ton to the land of his adoption. and
his skill, intrepidity, and dash won for
him. afioat and ashore. a popularity that
was unbounded. Commodore Barry
served the country for many years. and
died at the head of the navy. He was
typical sailor, an example and an
inspiration in his day. and II is well that
his memory should be kept green by a
grateful and an admiring people
In this connection I have a PROPOSE
ton to make I propose that the State
Board (of ID. c. instruct its delegates
TO the next convention to introduce and
have passed a resolution appointing a
committee Of ways and means to prevail
on Congress to erect a statue in the
Capital Of this nation to perpetuate the
memory of the father of the American
navy and failing in this. that the A.
o. H. raise the money for the purpose
themselves by an appeal to the Ameri-
can people and to the members Of our
order. Let the Hibernians OF Washing
ton be the first to launch the movement,
and have a statue of Saucy Jack Barry
erected that Irishmen may point to with
pride. What better work could our or
der be engaged in than in keeping green
the memory Of great Irishmen Of Ameri-
can adoption?"
The following week in the New Gen.
tury Mr.. Mccain said: The suggestion
appearing in these notes last week that
Hibernians of the District use their in
fiuence to have a statue erected to Com
modore Barry in Washington has met
with the general appreciation of the Of
ficers and members of the order. bill
will be introduced at an early date with
that object in view"
Mr.. McCann's suggestion was heartily
Endorsed by the Ancient Order of HI
bernians, in their convention at Denver.
in July, 1902, and the order kept up the
agitation from that time until the meas
ure finally received the favorable con-
sideration of the Congress