The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1916-04-01
A. 0. H. National President Active
Members Of Both Branches Of National Legislature Inter
viewed; Hopeful for Monument to Nuns. Four
Minnesota Legislators Give Favorable Response


lin on January 27 sent letters to each
one of the 431 members of the House
of Representatives and to the So
members of the Senate. The response
was extremely gratifying. It is rare
for any letter addressed to members
of a law-making body to result in
assurance of a majority when the re-
quested legislation reaches vote. In
this instance, however, the pledges
and sympathetic replies remove any
doubts that may have existed of the
passage of the bill to select site
for the erection of the proposed mon
ument to the "Nuns of the Battlefield"
To many of the Senators and Con-
gressmen National President Nc
Laughlin is personally known, and
the letters of these personal friends
and acquaintances contained much in
formation and assurances of the most
earnest intention to push this legis-
lation to a final and favorable vote and
to exercise influence to overcome the
difficulties in the selection of site
in Arlington. While some of the let
ters expressed the opinion that site
in Washington would be superior to
one in Arlington, yet it is undoubtedly
the sentiment of the Order that the
great National Cemetery is the fitting
place for the memorial to those who
lived and died for the Nation, no less
than the soldiers who sleep by the
thousands in the mighty mausoleum.
National President of the Ladies' Aux
iliary, Mrs. Ellen Ryan Jolly, who has
requested that all members of the La
dies Auxiliary write to their Sena-
tors and Representatives, and whose
familiarity with the circumstances
arises from her Identification with the
project since it's inception, has indi-
Gated a way in which all Irish-Amer-
icn Catholics can contribute to the
success of this enterprise. All men,
bers of the A. O. H. are urged now,
as they have been urged before, to
request their respective Senators and
Representatives to support this bill.
While the bill seems certain to pass
both House and Senate, yet there ex-
list obstacles of precedent and govern
mental regulations which deserve full
explanation. This explanation is con-
tained in the letter of Acting Secre-
tary of War Breckenridge, and which
contains the reasons of the War De-
partment for its unfavorable attitude
toward the passage of the bill.
The letter of National President
Nc Laughlin was:
Honorable and Dear Sir:
II respectfully request your interest
in the bill now in committee of this
Congress, authorizing the Secretary
of War to set aside site for the
erection of a monument to the Nuns
of the Battlefield This is the name
given to the Sisters who nursed the
sick and wounded soldiers in the Civil
wal. Auc SACo u0oAACu AOA tuAS AaOAu-
ment is in Arlington Cemetery. The
monument will be erected by the An
cient Order Of Hibernians and Ladies'
Auxiliary. The funds will be provided,
and all the details executed, by the
members of these two organizations.
The bill now in the House of Repre-
sentatives. therefore, simply author
ICES the government to select site.
when this bill is reported. will you
examine its provisions earnestly and
vote for it's passage? You are famil-
lar, probably, with the services rem
dered to the Nation by these Sisters,
who have been called The Nuns Of
the Battlefield You have read of
their uncomplaining sacrifices and of
the official commentator received by
them from commanding generals OF
the Union armies. In the Confeder-
ate armies, also, whose hospitals were
served by many Catholic Sisters, their
devotion to that cause was noted Off
.cially. 1t is duty of patriotism and
Of gratitude that is now intended by
the erection of this monument among
the silent graves Of those who once
testified with living lips to the value
of the gentle ministrations of these
Nuns of the Battlefield
1T is good public policy in these
days of national peril to arouse sen
timents of loyalty. The memories o1
our greatest war will prepare the
minds and fortify the hearts of ou1
citizens for the trials of the future
This monument will perpetuate al
exalted ideal. and is in sympathy will
the generous chivalry Of American
manhood which delights to accort
honor to noble women.
"When this bill is reached, trus
that it shall have your most favorable
consideration.
every respectfully yours.
JOSEPH MCLAUGHLIN,
National President"