Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-04
K. OF c. DONATES
LEGION $4,000, 900
FOR MEMORIAL
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FUk MEMUKjAL
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l,foresee a greater Washington and an
suit of the gift by the Knights OF
Columbus of a 100000 memorial
building here to the American Legion.
The site of the proposed structure
has not been selected, and according
to dispatches from Chicago it is
through act of Congress. Civic lead
ers here and prominent members OF
Congress said today that they 40 not
doubt that Congress will be glad TO
find way to provide proper site
for this national clubhouse for
patriotic organizations and monu-
ment to the war heroes.
Location Under Discussion.
Republican and democratic MEM
bers of Congress alike declared today
that they would support measure 10
give this building adequate grounds:
In this connection IT was recaIiea
that for several years an appropria.
committee on public buildings and
grounds of $1,500,000 for the erection
on land owned by the government
iof a memorial armory building mere.
AS provision is to be made for use
of the big auditorium in the Amer
lican Legion memorial building for
public assemblages, and as title would
revert to the United States govern
ment. it is thought that an appro-
pirate location on yhe Mall. facing
Arlington national cemetery sans anr
surroundings, can be secured from
Congress.
ITS fine thing for the American
LEGION said Lieut.. Col. James A.
Drain. department commander OF tne
It's a greater thing for the whole
icountry The American Legion exists
lonly that it may be of service to the
United States, and the American L.
| eion can accept this magnificent GIT
| Of a memorial building for the use of
lnatriotic organizations only because
such a building will be of inestimabie
value as a patriotic center for the ma
| ton in the National Capital, which
belongs. to the whole. country Ihe
ilegion's acceptance will be first FOR the
United States, and, secondly, for the
ileeion, because it existS to be of serV-
"This is as fine gift as could be
tmade," continued Lieut.. Col. Drain.
! at Ia what has been needed in wash
Hngton and worked for here Tor a long
time by those who wish to see our
National Capital the finest in the
world and always improving"
5000 Legion Members in City.
There are now in the District more
than 5000 members Of the American
Legion, but Lieut.. Col. Drain esti-
mates that within very few years
practically every one OF the more more
1.-THE country would visit their memo
trial building here. He says that
the American Legion as a
national organization will arrange
| for big house warming celebration
when the memorial building is COM
ipleted
The knights of Columbus also will
have big celebration far surpass-
ing the memorable demonstration
when the Columbus memorial fountain
in Union. station plaza was unveiled
few years ago. in the opinion OF OF
the Knights of Columbus. There are
5000 knights of Columbus in WASH
ingten now. Recently at the Knights
of Columbus convention in New York
an effort was made to move the ma
tional headquarters of the knights to
Washington at a cost of about mil
lion dollars, but that proposal was
rejected because it was the decision
of the order that no part of the war
chest fund should be used for any
other purpose than for the benefit of
| The local members of the knights
of Columbus were as much surprised
as any one else today by the announce
ment from Chicago. The leaders here
say that they knew some sort of me-
mortal was planned. but did not know
what form it would take. They say
that no site has yet been selected, but
that the building will probably be
placed where it Will fit in with neigh
boring structures and be fittingly
{vzI1 ~ otf 70
the archite cture of the National Cap
ital.
Harper Much Pleased.
Robert N. Harper. president of the
Washington Chamber of Commerce,
who has for many years been a worker
for a great convention hall in Wash
ington and who is meeting this after
noon with a committee from the
Chamber of Commerce on plans for
temporary convention hall, expressed
delight in the name of the business
men of the National Capital.
'1t is a most magnificent gift" he
said. land should prove Of artistic.
patriotic and unitarian value beyond
our powers of calculation. We have
long needed a gathering place for
patriotic organizations. We want a
memorial. fitting in style and size. for
our war heroes We have for many
years needed great convention hall.
If this memorial gift. meets all of
these needs the business men of
Washington will, indeed have cause
to bless the spirit of the knights of
Columbus. who have given cash-in-
hand what we have for so long
sought"
Mr.. Harper explained that it will, of
course. take several years to erect
such a magnificent structure and that
this will not interfere with the plans
Of the Chamber of Commerce now
under way for a temporary convention
hall to meet current needs until the
American Legion memorial has been
thrown open.
Convention Hall Greatly Needed.
1.-The news that the Knights of CO.
lumbus would~donate $5,0o0,000 to the
American Legion for memorial build
| ing in Washington is certainly good
news" said Capt. James F.. Oyster,
president of the Board of Trade.
1.-THE building. if it is accepted by
| the legion, would not only serve as a
monument to our soldiers!e but pro-