The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-11-01
MEMORIAL CHAPEL
FAVORED BY LEGION
Rejects Resolution Recommend
ing Hospital as Substitute
Vote Almost Unanimous

Columbia, Oct. 28.-Following a
somewhat extended debate, the initial
annual convention of the American
Legion of South Carolina, which met
here today in the hall of the house
of representatives, by an almost
unanimous vote rejected a resolution
introduced by j. Hertz Brown, del
egate from Spartanburg, providing for
armemoria hospital, commemorative
of those South Carolinians in the ser
vice of the nation who made the su-
preme sacrifice in the world war, in
stead of the memorial chapel pro-
vided for by an act Of the general
assent bly,.
Subsequently another resolution en-
dorsing a nonutilitarian building or
monument as a fitting memorial was
adopted by the convention.
The hospital resolution asked the
general assembly to make the neces-
sary amendment in the existing law
so that the utilitarian building instead
of the memorial chapel be built The
resolution said that the building, II
the general assembly was favorably
disposed toward the idea shall be
great memorial hospital where SUI
fering may be relieved, disease eradl-
Gated, and the citizens of this State
made more fit for her service.
The last session Of the general as
sembly passed the act providing TOR
the erection of the memorial chapel
on the ground owned by the Cniver-
sity of South Carolina. The measure
carried an appropriation OF $4,000
with the stipulation that it was to be
augmented >. public subscription
from among the citizens of the State.
It is a created commission, Of which
Governor Cooper is chairman, and ex-
Governor Manning. vice chairman, to
carry on the campaign and provide
for the memorial. The commission
decided that the people of the State
would be asked to contribute $780,
000.
Almost from the first meeting OF
the commission, opposition to the idea
of a nonutilitarian building was ex-
pressed. A campaign bolstered by
deal Of publicity. has been waged
bringing to the fore the hospital
idea, the underlying plea being that
the ex-soldiers wanted something
which would be of service, instead OF
ornamental, by which their fallen
comrades could be remembered. A
petition was presented to the memo
rial commission asking for considera-
ton of the hospital idea but the com
mission took the position that the
Legislature had spoken and it was
mandatory upon it under the act to
go on with the original project for
a memorial chapel So the solicita-
ton for funds was commenced on
September 29.
The campaign for subscriptions has
met .th indifferent success since
the drive begun, thought principally
to be due to the propaganda in favor
of the hospital project. However, the
friends Of the present memorial
chapel idea are now confident that
the solicitation for funds will take on
an impetus as the voice Of the South
Carolina world war veterans, the
American Legion, they contend, has
spoken for it and has demonstrated
what the wishes Of the ex-soldiers
are.
The resolution adopted by the con-
vention reads
whereas, the Legislature Of South
Carolina in it's wisdom and after ma
trre deliberation appropriated the
sum of 100000 and created COM
mission for the purpose of erecting a
suitable memorial building to our
comrades who fell in the recent great
war; and
t'Whereas, there has been since
that time considerable agitation de-
signed to change the form of memor-
ial from that design contemplated by
the Legislature to a hospital; and
'Whereas. we believe that me-
mortal building or some suitable mon
ument is a more fitting type of me-
mortal than hospital. and that all
agitation at this time as to change
served only to create uncertainty ana
to hamper the raising Of the fund;
now, therefore. be it.
"Resolved. by the American Legion
of South Carolina, representing the
white soldiers of South Carolina and
speaking for ou" fallen comrades that
it is the sense Of this convention that
the most fitting memorial would not
be hospital but some building or
monument which would be primarily
a memorial.