The Washington herald., 1915-03-28
SPEAKERS LAUD
Heroic women
Memorial Building Corner
Stone Is Laid by Presi-
dent Wilson.
TAFT DELIVERS SPEECH
Has to Pause Three Times. as Whistle
of Workmen Break in Upon
His Words.
TAFT DELIVERS SPEECH

Amid the derricks and scaffolding
Of the builders and before an audi
ence of distinguished guests. the
cornerstone of "A Memorial to the
Heroic Women of the Civil War" and
the future home of the American Red
Cross. was laid yesterday afternoon
The stone was officially tapped into
place by President Woodrow Wilson.
The principal address of the service
was delivered by former President
William Howard Taft.
At 8 o'clock. the hour of the open
ing. the reserved seats had received
their capacity of 800 guests, while
around the huge pit of the corner
stones site, a crowd of some 1000
visitors had gathered. Encircling the
property of the memorial. the block
between the Corcoran Art Gallery and
the u. A. r. Continental Hall, wav-
ing line of national flags. whipped by
4 stiff breeze, added a touch of patri-
otism to the occasion.
Preceding the invocation of Rev.
Henry n. Couden, Chaplain of the
House. the President and Mr.. Taft
autographed the tablet.
sketches Movements History.
Miss Mabel r Boardman. chairman Of
the national relief board OF the American
Red Cross. sketched the history Of the
movement which resulted in the laying of
the corner stone and CONSEQUENT building
of the memorial.
1T is due TO Capt. James A. Scrymser.
of New York. that the heroic women OF
the civil war are finally TO receive
justly beautiful recognition. and that
there will ne turned into marble a Red
Cross castle in the air Miss BOardman
declared.
Articles commemorative of the oCca-
sion and pertaining to the memorial were
placed in a brass box. which was sealed
and lowered into tine stone. The Presi-
uent filled the box. which contained
Bible. presented by Mrs. Russell Sage.
copy of the Declaration Of Independ-
ence, of the Constitution. an American
flag a Red Cross flag. program of the
service. plan of the building, an Ameri-
can ,oin and stamp. d Red Cross Christ
mas seal. Red Cross magazine. map OF
Washington city directory Of Washing
ton. autographs and photographs of Pres
ident Wilson and Mr. Taft. copies of The
Washington Herald and other Washing
ton papers.
Henry 5. breckenridge. Assistant Sec
rotary of War. who spoke for Secretary
Garrison, lauded Clara Barton. civil war
nurse. and praised Miss Boardman.
spea king of her splendid energy. zeal
ana dllU utSlEhdbiiiS tIitlI d.
noble champions of womans riGht-to
spend herself for others.
President Lays Corner stone.
Following Mr. Rreckenridge's address.
the cornerstone was lifted and the first
troVel of cement pastered by Miss
Bnardman. Mr.. TAFT handled the instru-
mcnt next, placing four trowelfuls on the
base. He was relieved by President Will
son, who emptied the hfcket of its plas-
ter. Members of the memorial committee
also assisted. They were Senator Luke
Lea. Mr. Breckenridge, Representative
James NJ. Slayden, Col. W. w. Harris.
Rev. Mr.. Couden. Justice Lamar. and
Mai Gen. George Davis, chairman of the
executive committee.
During the ceremony the band played
America and the audience stood with
barred heads. The ponderous marble
block was lowered onto its base at the
end of twelve minutes. tapped with
gayly decorated gavel by President Will
son, and was declared to be officially at
rest.
whistle flinders Taft.
When the little circle had posed for
the motion picture operators and left tho
scafTold the s;Onemasons. not satisfied
with the official work. raised the block.
As they began work Mr. Taft started
whistle of the engineer, signaling to the
hosting engine. The former President
made three attempts, each time to be
broken in on b. the whistle. He got
good lead on the fourth start, and spoke,
in part. as follows:
This is memorial of the past and
an earnest of the future-a loving testi-
monial 10 the affection of the women OF
the North and South who labored for
their fellow-men.
The Red Cross is not an organiZa-
ton having temporary existence.
but is a permanent institution. We
should unite to strengthen il. The
construction of this building by the
government and the people comment
crate the love of women both from
the North and South"
Justice J. r. Lamar. of the United
States Supreme Court, said: Moth
ing Is more widely separated than the
work of war and the work of woman.
II is hers TO beautify and preserve.
1t is wars to deface and destroy"
The benedictiOn was pronounced by
RI Rev. Alfred Harding, bishop of
Washington.
The memorial building is to cost
sNo. 600. When completed, the building
building viii be the home of the Red
Cross Society. at present located in a
small building at Seventeenth and H