New-York tribune., 1918-12-09
Tells Mayor He Consider.
Plan an Incentive for
Stirring Up RivaIrie.
Wants the Nation to A..
Others Also Refuse Place.
When W. r.. Hearst l.
Named as the Chairn,s.

france OF d memorial to New Yor. -,
diers who died over there. rb;. -.
1t is Henry c. Frick who has dscl.m, .,
to serve NV
Many Of those who refused me,,h..
ship BADLY stated that they wo,,ld -.
be associated with Hearst undar - 49,
circumstances. Hearst is cbairro.n
the committee. which now has dyirc;e " "
until 1t consists Of two Hearst 81,
ployes. Grover Whalen. the Na,.oa,- o's-
secretary, and Monsignor Lavelie
One or two others are out of +o,..
ana nave not had an opportunity ~ ~
cept or decline ~ ae'
Prick Declines to Act
Mr.. Frick declined TO serve bacs...
OF two general objections. which he 80
forth in letter 10 Whalen. tho Ns,.or,.
secretary. Neither mentioned He.ss,s
Mr.. frick gave The Tribune a COM, -
tins letter after he had been asked "
lows: i0'-
..,, New York, Dec s. 1918
Il beg that you viii express 10 H;s
Honor the Mayor my sincere snDrec;a.
~ANt- ~ iii7 NCAt ltSN III Ue+.flT -
serve as member of the committee -
superintend the erection of roo,n' ~
ment on battlefield Of France TO com.
memorate the valorous deeds Of ths
soldiers from New York Civ. nass
hardly say that | am in full accord and
sympathy with the admirable imuulss
which actuates his honor In this mat.
ter, and it is for that reason wish
You to assure him that most reluct.
antly feel obliged to decline the com.
mission which he has so craciousIv
proffered me.
There occur TO my mind two gen.
eral objections, not. OF course. TO the
laudable spirit of the undertaking hut
to the carrying out of the project
itself. The first is one of practicabil.
ity. An example such as this. set by
the foremost municipality Of the
Union, would be followed inevitably by
hundreds of other cities and towns. Il
Is altogether probable. however, thai;
the citizens of Great Britain and her
colonies, Italy and Portugal, would take
similar action IN recognition of their
brave sons who no less splendidly
fought and died in the great common
cause.
Rivalry Is Feared
Might not such circumstance. aris.
ing from the requests from thousands
OF segregated communities for suitable
sites, prove source of infinite emhar
rassment to the authorities of France
who naturally would be desirous Of
pleasing all and treating all alike,
Then, too, in our own country. would
not the natural rivalry between towns
as to which should furnish the best
monument and obtain the best site be
likely to engender bitterness unbecom.
ing great nation which put forth its
best efforts as unified force And
would 1t be fair to smaller and poorer
communities, which may have suffered
greater sacrifices proportionately to
overshadow their modest shafts with
mighty monuments such as opulent
cities like New York, Chicago. Phils-
delphia and Pittsburgh would surely
erect?
All of our soldiers in this great war
fought, as understand it. as national
army for their common country New
York fought for Wyoming and Wyom-
ing for New York; Texas for Wisconsin
and Wisconsin for Texas-one for all
and all for one-a mighty Union, solid
as a rock in defence of national free
dom. Ought we who remained al home,
'
our undyng gratitude, do anything that
might tend in history to apporton The
credit between even states, to say moth.
ing of innumerable towns and villages
Has Gratitude for All
81 cannot think so. Indeed do not
hesitate to say that, grateful as | am to
the brave men from New York or from
my home city, Pittsburgh, am no less.
and perhaps ought to be more. grateful
to those equally courageous who went
from far-off Kansas and Utah TO safe
guard the lives and properties Of those
of Us who live on the seaboard.
My second point in what am conf
dent his honor will accept as most
friendly remonstrance is this: The one
great compensation of this war for
America has been the unifying OF our
country a the very moment when We
were drifting dangerously apart, b0ta
racially and sectionally, and segfe'
eating ourselves unconsciouslv INTO
classes. The common peril brought Us
together until now |. for one really
feel that we are more nearly one ana
inseparable' than ever before.
Let US hold to that. and. above all
do nothing that might by any POSSIBLE
ity revive the prejudices which ior.
merly prevailed to no small degree
against the people of this imperial city,
who now, all must admit. have proved
their patriotism.
For National Monument
81 most heartily approve a movement
TO commemorate upon the battleneas
of France the splendid deeds OF the
splendid sons Of America. and ! an
only too glad to accord 10 Mayor Hylan
the highest credit for having originated
the thought. but my conviction IS SO
strong that il should be nations'
movement for our own sake, and con-
Quoted through a national agency ~
consideration of both France and oul
other allies, that find myself unaoS
to accept the honor conferred upon ne'
Again begging you TO extend to NJ
honor assurances of my deep apprecs'
ton, and with hearty good wishes, fs. fs,
main, my dear Mr.. Whalen fa!thtun'
yours, II. {. FRlCh.
Others who have stated they woIS t,t,g
not serve on the committee are WIZ.
lam Fellowes Morgan. Arthur GURUS
James, Joseph W Hartman. Frank -
Vanderlip, Paul NJ. Warburg William
Boyce Thompson and Daniel Gugges-
helm Several others named bv MssV'
Hylan who have no intention o. SER
ing refused to say so for puolicsuOs.
until they have received the Mayer
formal letter of appointments