The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1915-10-28

say, with all that was published, the
names were not given of those who
had for years labored for the con-
summation of this object and cree
ton of this most elegant and import
ant memorial, one upon which future
generations will gaze, reminding
them of marvellous story of loyalty
and heroic self-sacrifce of the Union
soldiers who cemented the union of
states with their privations of four
years war and their blood-who,
kept United" in the United States
and this nation entire on the worlds
map. Amidst all that was said and
published not one word was said of
the Hon. r. w. Austin, member of
congress from the second congress
sional district of Tennessee through
whose efforts there was introduced
the bill in congress making this
memorial amphitheatre at Arlington
the same to cost $4,000, a possibil
ity. How soon we are forgotten.
We take the following extracts
from the Washington papers of that
date, October 10, 1915:
"A crowd of 10000 or more G. A.
r. veterans and other spectators
went to the national cemetery today
to witness the exercises. Over 200
guests assembled on the platform
with the President, members of the
amphitheater commission, promi-
nent G. A. R. veterans, Lieut.. General
Nelson A. Miles, Chaplain Couden of
the House, William F. GUIDE, chair
man of the G. A. R. encampment COM
mittee, and about 200 other specially
invited guests. Secretary Daniels in
an address said the amphiteater
would be the most elaborate of its
kind in the world, and was erected
to commemorate peace rather than
war. Following a selection by the
cavalry band, Secretary Daniels pre-
sented Judge Ivory G. Campbell, past
commander of the Department of the
Potomac, G. A. R., saying: "This is
a happy day for all of us, but there
is among us one who is happier
than all of us because he has lived to
see the fruition of his labors of IL
years. mean Judge Kimball, who
first conceived the idea of building
this amphitheater and continued
working for it until today he sees the
cornerstone laid and money available
for its completion" In his remarks
Judge Kimball said the amphitheater
would stand as an inspiration to pa
triotism as we'll as providing a suit
able and appropriate place for hold
ing Memorial Day exercises. Secre-
tary Daniels, Col. w. w. Harris, and
F. D. Owen, who were in charge of
the cornerstone laying, escorted the
i iColICHC W luG opOt WHITE lie HUT
tar was to be spread. After a large
copper box containing a photograph
and drawings of the amphitheater,
newspapers and other articles had
been deposited in the cornerstone,
President Wilson took charge of the
exercises until the flag-bedecked ca
BILE had been detached from the mar
BILE block. Capt. Charles W. Newton,
past commander of the Spanish War
Veterans, and a member of the am
phitheater commission, then deliver
ed an address. He told of the COM
missions work and the labors of
Judge Kimball and the latter's asso-
cites in the patriotic undertaking.
Captain Newton said he was glad the
amphitheater would stand as a mem.
|orial to all American soldiers of all
wars because it would be all the
greater inspiration to future genera
tions. He made an eloquent patriotic
address, which was literally ap-
plauded by the guests on the plat
form and the large crowd.