The Washington times., 1920-10-04
LAUD DK.C.P[AN.
FOR MEMORIAL
American Legion Urged to Ac-
cept $5,000,000 Offered
for Huge Hall Here.


The offer OF the Knights OF Column
bus TO give 10 the American Legion
$4,000 TO build an American Legion
War Memorial In Washington ID
meeting with approval of both busi-
ness and professional men of the
city.
Robert N. Harper. president of the
Chamber OF Commerce and District
National Bank. today declared II a
great proposition for the National
Capital
"washinston will welcome the
memorial with open arms" he said.
IF II con tains the auditorium which is
proposed, one that will accommodate
from 10000 TO 10000 people. II VIII
MI one OF Washtngton's greatest
needs.
STILL NEED AUDITORlUM.
However. the memorial will not
interfere with plans OF the Chamber
of Commerce to erect a large audi
torium In the .city. This auditorium
will be built to meet Immediate
needs. for IL would take years to con-
struct the memorial"
Decision to make this offer to the
American Legion was made by the
supreme board OF dicestors Of the
Knights of COLUMBUS In Chicago yes
terday. In a statement issued. the d.
rectors declared the S5,000,00 was
part OF the $40. 900. 900 collected from
the public during the war.
A committee comprising Daniel J.
Callahan, of Washington, supreme
treasurer; James A. Flaherty. of
Philadelphia. supreme knight; Will
lam J. mckinley. OF New York. su-
preme secretary, and Joseph c. Pei
letter. of Boston. supreme advocate,
has been named to formally make the
offer to the legion.
OFFER OPEN UNTIL JULY I.
The committee will meet National
Commander Galbraith in New York
this week. The offer is open until
July l next year.
Daniel J. Callahan. the local man
who attended the meeting of the su-
preme board yesterday. will reach here
tonight. He is believed to be the au-
thor of the plan.
The memorial building will be To-
Gated in Washington on a site to he
selected by Congrss. II will contain
quarters for the veterans of foreign
wars, the Grand Army Of theRepublic,
the Spanish War Veterans and other
societies for similar purposes.
1t will be in the nature OF a public
institutions, available for conventions
and all public gatherings.
In case the legion accepts, and
should by any possibility cease TO
exist. Then the statement says the
title Of the building and land VIII
revert to the nation for such pur-
poses at the United States Senate
shall determine.
The directors In tbeir stotarnant
concerning this offer of the largest
amount Of war relief nsoney assigned
to single purpose, sta - that they
received approximately $4,000 900
from members and the general public
for welfare work. providing camp
buildings, huts. secretaries, chaplains'
services and free creature comforts,
during teh war, and in maintaining
nationwide systems OF free employ
ment bureaus and vocational schools.
and providing approximately 800 col
lege scholarships for former service
me natter the war.
TEXT OF STATEMENT.
The statement, in part says
The knights OF Columbus have
sufficient money. apart from the S.
100000 we propose TO expend on this
American Legion memorial building.
TO MAINTAIN our reCOnstruction work
on large national scale. with free
schools and employment bureaus in
all the large cities and many small
cities, and in Offering this sum for
this public purpose we feel that we
are continuing our policy of carrying
out the wishes o fthe donors.
The knights offer the legion the
S5.000.O00 for the endowment. erec-
ton and equipment of the building on
n suitable site in Washington, to be
secured preferably by act OF Con-
gress. There is to be an auditorium
in the building capable OF accommo-
This will meet an urgent public
need in the National Capital where
there is no hall Of such capacity. In
the building quarters are to be pro-
vided for the Veterans of Foreign
Wars, the Grand Army OF the Repub-
lie, the Spanish War Veterans and
other societies Of similar purpose, IL
room can be found. II popssible, a
hall will be reserved for the Federal
Government, IL 1t so desires. to make
permanent war-trophy exhibit. The
building is to be devoted az far as
possible to public use and the public
welfare. afte rthe pattern of the civic
auditorium in San Francisco, and to
promote permanent interest in the
army and navy. Its auditoriums and
halls are to be used for public gath
erings as free as practicable"
STRIKE 0C cARpENTTpC