Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-11-02
The Rooaevelt McrhorI.l Fund.

To the Editor OF The Times Dispat ch:
Sir.-Thcre comes time when plain
understanding and misconccption. That
time confronts the people OF Virginia
and the South in the campaign now
under. way by the Roosevelt Memorial
Association to raise the sum of $780,
100000 to erect memorial TO the honor
OF the late ColoneI Theodore Roosevelt
1t is foregone conclusion that if the
quota expected from Virginia is not
given an attempt will be made by some
admirers OF Colonel Roosevelt 10 dis
credit and misrepresent the people Of
when partisan feeling may be cx-
pressed We speak no i'll OF Colonel
Roosevelt, but in fidelity u the mem
DRY OF many iliustrious dead Of the
South. as well as of the North. who
sleep in unmarked graves we venture
to say that il is well to remember i
people should be Just before they are
generous.
And when the Eaunt spectre OF
death is overshadowing tho world and
millions are dying Of want and star
walton. We think il is open to question
whether now is the time TO eXpcnd
3l6oo0.0o0 in bronze and marble. There
was nothing in the life OF Colonel
Roosevelt. be it said to his credit,
approve. IL he could now speak the
expenditure OF contributions OF such
magnitude TO his memory at the sacri-
fice and denial OF like contributions to
men and children.
l, is proposed that in honor to
Roosevelt structure rivalling in ex-
penditurc the Washington Monument
and the Lincoln Memorial shall be
erected. Colonel Roosevelt is termed
In mos, definite language, The Great
death place in history is assigned
him. by his admirers. co-cqual with
Washington and Lincoln. We believe
IL is due in proper honor to Washing
N inn ~ loft
pellation as The Great American" He
is the only figure in our history who
was not sectional. Colonel Roosevelt's
most admiring partisans must conccdc
that he was VIGOROUSLY sectional His
writings in his earlier years before
he became President. and which he
spirit OF bitter partisan sectionalsm.
As President he never wholly cast
loose from his early sectional predi-
lection.
But however generously his personal
friends and admirers may properly
claim the right TO contribute their mil
mons 10 honor his memory, is a prop
| osition quite aside from the condition
Confronting Virginia and the South
whcn en..i ur, 10 coni:tbi 10 :! ~
fund We should be unwilling by the
gorgeous Splcndor and cost OF the pro-
posed Roosevelt Memorial to cheapen
and dwarf into insigniticancc the mod :
est monuments and memorials we have
raised through our own contributions
20 the memory OF our illustirous dead.
And let the one conspicuous monument
20 greatness in America be that tower
Ing pile of granite proclaiming to flu
ture ages the nobility OF Washington.
Let no other shaft or memorial APP
proach IT in grandeur or cost of con-
struction. But If il be done. let not
the funds with which it is erected be
gathered in the name of "Amcrican-
ism. opening the avenues OF abuse
Of Virginia and the South fail to CON
tribute to the purpose in that generous
| sum expected of us.
18th The oG eSoun,ry is giving play to the
forgotten and ignored; the future Is
defed In Boston Faneul Hall. the
| very cradle OF American liberty" is
given over in part to the occupancy OF
| hucksters and market men. 4 confla-
f i may destroy II at ANY time.
| me oSt"nGiblt res, II. we Ic-Sumc, can
be no other than lack OF funds neces-
sarE 10 Its preservation and protection
! The battle field of Lexington is mark ed
ny monument costing but few
hundreds of dollars. and in the come
teries OF Boston lie many illustrious
dead. whose labors and sacrifices. in
common with the patriots OF Virginia
the country. made possible the found
| ing OF American liberty. but in many
instances the graves OF these dead
nave only simple marble slabs 10 mark
| them. In Richmond the great Cher
Justice John Marshall rests in the
Cemetery of Shockoe Hill with naught
pui I'VE unDllnS SlaDS or marble to
mark the spot. and Mrs. E;llyson. the
honored president Of the Association
for the Preservation of Virginia An
tiGuities. has recently said. in pub
liShed statement that the home of J John
Marshall has been closed for more than
year because no funds are available
TO meet tho expense
The aggregate cost OF every monu-
ment erected throughout the length
and breadth of the South. from the
organization OF the American govern
mcnt until now. commemorative OF
soldiers and statesmen whose fame Is
the common heritage OF all the coun-
try, INCLUSIVE OF those heroes especially
dar 4 the south. does m. equal in
amount the 100000 now being
gathered TO erect Il memorial TO the
| late Colonel Roosevelt.
Because he was President OF the
! United states. because he was ready II
| called upon to give the last fun meas
ure OF devotion" TO the country, just
as many thousands of American boys
/ did surrender up their lives on tho hat :
| tie fields Of France, because of his win
! ming personality, OF his genial friend
ship. the people OF tho South could very