The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-09-04
TENNESSEE FIRST
TO MAKE DONATION
Legislature Votes $1,000 900
Toward Victory Memorial
I in Washington.

Tennessees legislature is the frs
| in the Upited States to make an ap.
| preparation for the National Victory
Memorial building, to be erected in
Washington, in honor of the soldiers
sailors and marines who served in the
World war
Mrs. George w. Denney, OF Knox
vile, chairman for Tennessee. is en-
thusiastic not only over the passage OF
the bill providing for the appropria-
ton, but for the courtesy and whole
hearted interest shown by Tennessee
legislators in their handling of the
bill.
I'VE realized the difficulty confront
ing us when we decided to present
the bill during the special session OF
the state legislature" Mrs. Denney
said, but even then we did not antici-
capitol during the fight for suffrage
ratification. Had 1t not been that we
wanted Tennessee to be the first state
contributing to the National Memorial
building. we should have waited untn
January because we feared that we
might lose it by introducing 1t at the
wrong time.
Bill Courteousiy Given Attention.
From the very first moment, how
ever both the suffrage and the. anti
resentatives and in the senate gave
the Victory Memorial bill their most
courteous attention. At first 1t seemed
that the Victory Memorial work was
going almost too well to be true. be-
ton Speaker Seth Walker. Of the
house; Speaker Andrew Todd, of the
senate and members of both houses were
never too busy to discuss the bill and
to plan for its passage. We made II
all Of the legislators as brief as possible
because we realized that many other
matters also sought their attention.
100000 More Needed From Tennessee.
If large numbers Of the men In both
houses had sons or other relatives In
the war and were deeply Interested,
not only In the passage sf the 100000
appropriation, but In the raising of the
remaining 100000 of Tennessee's quota,
as well. Now that our legislature has
Union to make an appropriation for the
Victory Memorial ] know that the citi-
zens of the state will want to rush the
work through and make Tennessee the
first state to contribute its full quota.
The plan M Is to give 81 for each blue
nessee had $50 men who were killed In
battle and s1.617 who served in the war,
but were spared to return to us. II Is
the purpose OF the state organization
a star is placed in the national me-
mortal. not only for the gold star men
but for every one OF the blue star men
also. Along with the stars will be the
fun name and war record for each or
the men. These records will be kept
open for reference throughout the years
to come.
Little Opposition.
There was no real opposition to the
Victory Memorial bill, according to all
reports from the legislature, and the
few votes cast against II resulted al
most entirely from the fact that the
amour seemed a little large. The gem
eral attitude to the bill was that $780,
900 was the leastIthe Tennessee Iegis-
lature could afford to contribute to tho
official government memorial in view
Of the fact that Tennessee men had
distinguished themselves so highly on
the fields OF France.
Practically all of the men who voted
against the billiard there were only
six-personally expressed the desire
that the bill could be amended no that
Il would ask for a smaller amount.
Speaker TodG and Speaker Walker. who
introduced the bill, with other men
who were active In supporting Il. did
not consider for a moment the sugges.
ton for lowering the amount
Gov. Roberts Worked For Bill
Gov. A. II. Roberts. who Is honorary
chairman OF the Victory Memorial work |
Tor Tennessee. approved Of the bill and |
gave as much time as he could to help |
ing the workers Interested in its pas
sage.