Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-21
CONGRESS WOMEN
lay CORNER STONE
Distinguished Gathering Pres.
ent as New Clubhouse
Is Started.

Is Started.
The corner stone for the new club
house Of the Congressional Club, now
being built at the intersection OF New
Hampshire avenue and 18th street north
west. was laid today. shortly after noon,
in the presence of a distinguished gath
ering OF women in public life in Wash
tngton, including wives OF cabinet mem
bers. senators and representatives, with
Champ Clark, Speaker Of the House Of
Representatives. as the principal speaker
Of the occasion.
The exercises were simple. Half an
hour before noon the Marine Band began
playing preliminary concert. and at its
conclusion Rev. Henry n. Couden. chap
lain Of the House Of Representatives. be-
gan the ceremonies with q prayer. Mrs.
Duncan U. Fletcher, wife Of Senator
Fletcher Of Florida, president Of the
club, then introduced Speaker Clark, who
said. In part: .."
When the Congressional Club was
first proposed several years ago. opinion
in regard to 1t among senators and rep
resentatives was organized into three
groups. The first was that 1t should not
soon run its course and die q natural
death. The third was that 1t would
prove to be q good institution, and a
permanent one.
Il belonged in the latter class. I have
given the club such encouragement as
to participate today In these proceedings
which prove that the club Is to be a
permanent institution. The most valu-
able part of public life in Washington
Is the formation of new and priced
friendships These last through ones
lifetime 10 NJ In
Is uncertain. and, Of course, If the men
serve long here the women must have
serve long. 1t Is. therefore. At that you
should have permanent home In which
to gather. Women sometimes talk poll
tics-of course. you falkland 1t is highly
suitable that you should have a place
such as this clubhouse is to be in which
to gather and do SO.
Moreover. every one now admits that
this Is the most beautiful city in the
world. Every fine. new building just
adds SO much to this great capital. You
women have had your sojourning around
in various houses, and today you are en-
tering upon your own in this city, and
doing something for the capital, too You
are to be congratulated. I wish you
God-speed. and I hope that this building
will be a monument to the goodness. gen.
crosby and wisdom OF the wives. daugh-
tiers and sisters Of those who are serv-
ing in Congress and who have served
there
Speaker Clark wore an enormous rose
in his buttonhole for the occasion, and.
as he stood In the sun while speaking
Mrs. Andrew J. Volstead. wife Of Rep
resentative Volstead Of Minnesota, and
Mrs. BENJAMIN G. Humphreys, wife Of
Representative Humphreys Of Mississippi,
took turns with their parasols in shading
his eyes from the sun.
A Feminine Gathering.
1t was strictly feminine gathering, a
fact brought home to those present by
the placing, at the last minute, In the
box that was to go into the corner stone
Of a page Of woman's fashions in dress of
the present day. A few men were present.
who, like Speaker Clark, managed to get
away from their duties for short while.
principally Of the members Of the Con-
gressional Club. Most Of them wore
tiny American flags.
The box that was put into the corner
stone contained the following. in addi-
ton to the page OF fashions: Copies of
and today; copy Of the Congressional
Directory. Sixty-third Congress, second
session; the Congressional Club Year
Books; q 5-cent piece, coinage Of 1914:
charge Of the erection Of the clubhouse,
as follows: Mrs. Duncan U. Fletcher,
Mrs Horace NJ Towner, Mrs. John B.
Henderson, Mrs. William e. Humphrey
and Mrs. Andrew ]. volstead: list Of
donor Of the lot on which the building is
being erected (Afrs John B. Henderson,,
Of the architect George Oakley Totem
and of the building contractors wv. E.
Lipscomb & Coz: picture Of the first
home Of the club; samples OF the cards
china used in first home Of the club;
copy of the so-called Congressional
Record at the mock session Of the club
at its 1918 annual breakfast and q COPY
of the real Congressional Record OF May
10, 1914.
Women Handle Trowel.
Following Speaker Clark's address, it
had been the intention for each former
president Of the club. as well as the pres
ent president, Mrs. Fletcher. to deliver a
short address, but these were dispensed
with. Instead these women each placed a
bit of mortar on top Of the corner stone.
The place of Mrs. Perkins. who could not
be present. was taken by Mrs. John B.
Henderson. Mrs. Perkins. who is the
wife of Senator George c. Perkins of
California, was the first president of the
club Mrs. Henderson. who Is the widow
Of Senator John B. Henderson of Mis-
souri, and who donated the site for the
SAoO' "oo " al any ~ olSSu IoI ACE 6Suoi
osity by Speaker Clark. who also lauded
the memory of her dead husband.
Mrs. A. W. Gregg. wife of Representa-
tive Gregg of Texas. the second president
of the club. then added her bit of mortar
and was followed. in a similar task, by
Mrs. Ernest w. Roberts. wife Of Repre-
sentative Roberts of Massachusetts,. the
third president, and by Mrs. Fletcher.
the present president. A silver trowel
designed under the supervision of Mrs
Thomas P. Gore, wife of the senator from
Oklahoma, was used, and will be suitably
engraved and preserved by the club. Mrs.
John E. Raker of California, wife of Rep
resentative Raker. had charge of prepar-
ing the box placed In the corner stone.
In addition to Mrs. Fletcher. the other
officers Of the club are as follows: Vice
presidents. Mrs. Frank H. Briggs. Mrs
Thomas P. Gore, Mrs Henry Allen Coop
er, Mrs. James T. Lloyd and Mrs. Lem
uel P. Padgett; recording secretary. Mrs.
Horace NJ. Towner: corresponding secre-
tary Mrs. John E. Raker; treasurer, Mrs.
Fred bennett.
Building to Be Triangular.
The building to be erected was design
ed by George Oakley Totten. 1t is to be
triangular in shape, with a frontage of
sixty-fve feet on New Hampshire ave-
nue., and 112 feet on U street. 1t is to
be of brick construction and the exterior |
will be finished In white stucco. In order |
to avoid a flat-iron effect. a circular |
tower is to be located at one corner Of |
tho building This tower will be twenty