The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-03-10
FOR T. R. MEMORIAL
March "a Is the Date-Committee
Will Decide on Form.

New York. March 10.-The metro
politan dailies are still specializing on
the form of memorial the Roosevelt
permanent memorial national COM
mittee is likely to decide on. when it
meets late this month. The meeting
of the committee has now been def
initely set for March "a. The place is
to be New York. A number of the
members of the committee. notably
Hon. Oscar S. Straus, secretary of
commerce and labor in President
Roosevelt's cabinet, and Mrs. White
law Reid, are in Europe, but it is ex-
pected that the majority of the COM
mittee will be present when Col. Will
calls the meeting to order. The COM
mittee, it is assumed, will be in Ses-
sion at least two days.
Colonel Thompson. in an interview
given here recently, admitted that in
making q choice from among the
which have come to the national
headquarters, the committee had "a
job on its hands,
THE memorial which is ultimately
chosen" said Colonel Thompson
must, as far as that is possible, carry
into the future tn? glowing spirit of
that great leader, who for two gener-
atoms led his countrymen forward
and upward. 1t must carry on the
memory of the man who struck from
fouled; who spoke from a heart sound
and true. but never sentimental; who
looked into the future with a keen
eye which was never blinded by i'm
practicable visions. The memorial
that is finally chosen must carry on
the personality and the work of a
man who was one of the worlds til
taps. Tha committee that has the re-
sponsibility of choosing the form of
that memorial has job on its hands,
Suggested Memorials
The various suggestions have been
classified and printed in a booklet
which has been sent to the members
of the committee to give them an OPP
portunity to consider in advance the
merits of the different proposals In
general popularity the idea of some
characterization Foundation is run
ming neck and neck with the project
for Roosevelt memorial cemetery in
Belleau Wood for the American SOL
diers who fell in France. A Roose-
welt highway, running from Canada to
the Gulf, is finding some warm advo-
I'cates. DR.. William T. Hornaday, di-
rector of the New York Geological
Park, is not finding much support for
his eloquent plea for a marble col
umn in Central Park. The consensus
of opinion seems to be that the me-
mortal which the American people
erect to Theodore Roosevelt must be
as national in scope as he was him
self No monument of stone that by
its nature must be localized can, in the
popular mind, be made to express Col
onel Roosevelt's active and militant
spirit.
State Committees Being Formed.
State committees of the Roosevelt
permanent memorial committee are
now being formed under the direction
| of the national committee in twenty
ffive states. Everywhere the response
I is enthuSia site.
The name of Theodore Roosevelt is
an elective current as live today as
ever" said Colonel Thompson. Men
who fought him like tigers in the past
todya leap forward to be the first to
do him honor. There never was such
| a man. There never will be such a
man again. That is one reason we
| want to have a memorial that Will
keep that spirit on the job forever,
right in our midst"