Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-12-09
FOR COMMUNITY
MEMORIAL HERE
That IS Sentiment at Meeting,
Although It is Opposed

Suggestions as to an appropriate
memorial for the city of Perth AM
boy to erect in honor Of the soldiers,
sailors and marines of this city We're
received in the City Hall Council
Chamber last night by meilSers of
the plan and scope sub committee
of the city memorial committee.
Although numerous suggestions
were received, including those for
monuments and building for the
use of service and ex-service men
only, the Idea of a community house
seemed to be the most unanim Gus
and struck a popular chord with
majority of those present This idea
of q memorial has been adopted by
the American Legion throughout the
country, and the local post, with q
membership Of over 400 has adv0-
Gated the erection Of such o. building
as memorial to those who fought
and died for this country.
Because Of the inclement weather
last night only about fifteen men OF
the plan and scope committee, which
contains fifty 1.-TWO names, were pres
ent. 1t was decided that there were
not enough present to take any definite
action as to what the otty's memorial
would be but as there were many
members of the Amer Legion and
Army and Navy Union present, Mayor
Frank Dorsey, who presided, asked
them it they had any suggestiins to
make.
Ronald Kleekner, head Of the local
post of the American Legion stated
that tho organization which he REP
resented, advocated community
house which might be used by all pa
triotio organizations, the Red Cross,
Boy and Girl Scouts. and of various
other organizations. The local Ameri-
can Legion post, he explained, was in
favor OF memorial which could be
of use to "all the people OF the oity
all of the time"
Nathan Goldberger, another ex-
service man, suggested the erection Of
"a tablet, somewhat similar to one in
Lakewood, containing the names of
those killed while in the service. He
spoke Of the City Hall Park as being
the appropriate place for such tab
let.
Louis Y. Sosin, another American
Legion member, spoke favorably OF
a community house, he giving ex-
amples Of various style buildings OF
this kind which have been and are
being erected In other places He
cited the million and a half dollar
structure now being erected In New
York City. The cost of erecting
community building here, he said,
might range from 100000 up.
Alderman John J. Clark, head Of
the Army g. Navy Union in this eity.
objected to the idea of community
house being built as a memorial. He
declared emphattcally that the mem
crial building should be for service
and ex-service men alone and he was
not In favor OF. allowing the use Of
such a building to any other organ
lzations. He explained that he did
not oppose the erection of COM
munity house here, but that he did
oppose making the service mons
memorial suoh a structure.
/. T. Madsen, president of the local
Chamber of Commerce, spoke in ia
Vor or community house as q men,
orial, as did James Cudahey, a local
American Legion member.
Samuel @. Garretson, q member OF
the @. A. r. voiced an opinion similar
to that Of Alderman Clark with ref
erence to community house as
memorial, he declaring that g. shaft
should be erected to honor the SER
Woe men of all wars. He declared
that community house was not as
permanent or enduring as would be a
shaft, which would stand for CEN
turies to come. He spoke also of the
difference in price in erecting a mon
ument and building a large building.
Alderman William c. Wilson when
questioned with reference to his "Vic-
tory Bridge" proposition between
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