The Washington times., 1915-03-09
CONVENTION HALL
EFFORTS RENEWED
Group Of Prominent Men and
Women Would Fulfill Desire
Nearest Washington's Heart

Rcdoubled efforts are afoot today
among a group Of men and women, So
cially and politically prominent, to full
I'LL the desire nearest to the heart or
George Washington, expressed by him
time after time during his life, and
written down In his will-that with a
small amount OF money which he set
aside for the purpose there be lro-
inoted IAN institution for the general
diffusion of knowledge"
The amount left by General Washing
ton for educational purposes was pitt
fully small as fortunes are estimated
nowadays. Also 1t was in Potomac
ponds; whose value has shrunken con-
siderably. Therefore the George WASH
ingfon Memorial Association Of Wash
lngton. y. c.. which took up the task
OF gratifying the Presidents last de-
sire. has planned s2.oooooO ediftce.
VIII ultimately rise on the site formerly
occupied BY the old Sixth street depot.
Already the association has a nucleus
OF more than S25o.Ooo The site has been
ernment. The fight now being waRed
by the association is to swell the build
Ing fund to $1.O00.O0o. which amount.
when reached. will permit ground break
ing.
Will Meet All Needs.
The memorial building Is designed to
meet every patriotic. scientific. social.
or recreative need Of Washington. with
auditoriums and lecture halls capable
OF accommodating all public gather
ings, from the throngs which attend
the inaugural balls and the thousands
OF scientists and business men who
come to the nations Capital for their
conventions, to the meetings OF the In
dividual chapters Of patriotic societies.
And II this building becomes in fact
the Headquarters Of patriotic, educa-
ganizations. its hackers argue. the real
desire Of George Washington to be re-
membered through the dissemination Of
knowledge as we'll as by his military
filled.
And in the present turmoil Of Europe.
they see the favored moment for CEN
tralizing the attention Of the American
people upon the project which. when
completed, will pass under the super
vision Of the Federal Government
AS result of the chaps and desola-
ton which has overspread the Old
World: they see a shifting of the GEN.
ters Of education. and science. and art.
such as the George WASHINGTON Memo
rial will be in which they can be
housed the international conventions Of
the future can be brought to the Capt.
Officers of Society.
The George Washington Memorial As
ISOLATION Is headed by Mrs Henry r.
Dimock. Of 1901 Sixteenth street, the
originator Of the organization. The
vice presidents are Mrs. Daniel Man.
ming. Mrs. Joseph b. Foraker Mrs.
Henry r. Mallory. Miss Bessie j. Kib-
hey. Mrs. Charles ]. Bell and Mrs
Frederick Thompson. The trustees in
Charles Richardson and Mrs. Ten Eyck
Wendell. Mrs. Frank Northup, OF New
York city. Is treasurer. and Charles ].
Bell. OF this city. Is the trustee OF the
permanent fund On the advisory coun-
ell the following a.e serving: Former
Senator El'hu Root. Or. William Welch.
of baltimore: Gen. Horace Porter. of
New York; DR.. c. D. Walcott. Of tho
Smithsonian Institution: John Davis
Long, of Boston: Frederick Perry Fish
Of Boston; former President William H
Taft Dr. Ira Remsen. Of Baltimore: Fl
Fairfield Osborn. Of the American
Museum Of Natural History. New York
cinnati; Or. John A. Wyeth. Of the New
York Academy of Medicine; Dr. Thomas
Nelson Page. of Washington. D. c..
Charles Francis Adams. of Boston, and
Senator Henry Cabot Lodge
According to the present plans. the
second floor Of the building will be oc.
clpied by an auditorium with a seating
capacity Of 1000. nanked on either side
by Smaller lecture halls whose capaci.
ties vary from 300 to 200 The large
auditorium will he dedirated to the
Signers Of the Declaration of Indc.
pendence.
Room For Each State.
Across the front Of the edifce on the
third floor will stretch rooms dedicated
to the Thirteen Original States while
along the sides Of the building room,
have been arranged for all other States
On the fourth floor spaces have been gel
aside for exhibits Of such States a.
NAV desire to install them.
Many Of the patriotic societies O,
America have already voted their sup
port to the project, including the So
cfety of Colonial Danes and the Daugh.
ters of 1872 while the Federation o,
Women's College Clubs wishes &c
make its national headquarters in the
building. The American Medical Asso
citation. the American Federation o,
Fine Arts, and the Connecticut Societ,
Of the Sons of the American Revolution
are among other organizat tions to in
dorse the plan. while bills are now
pending in the New York and Massa
chusetts State legislatures. making an
preparations OF 500 nnO each for the 90
tablishmcnt of a State room in the MON
orial edhce.