Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-04
K. Of c. DONATES
LEGION S5,0()l,O0O
FOR MEMORIAL
Money for Erection in Wash
ington of Building to
Honor War Dead.

CHICAGO. October 4.-The board of
directors of the Knights of Columbus
has voted to- offer the American Le-
erecting memorial building in
Washington.
The building, which would be in
memory of the Americans who died
in the war. would contain an audi
torium seating 10000, quarters for the
Veterans of the Foreign Wars. the
G. A. R.. the Spanish War Veterans
and similar societies. Ownership of the
structure would be vested in the
American Legion, and it would be
governed by a board of directors. OF
the fund offered, $1,000.000 would be
used as an endowment for upkeep of
the building.
The $4,000, 900 represents the balance
knights of Columbus for war pur-
poses and will not be taken from the
fund with which the organization
plans to continue it's national work.
A committee has arranged to meet
Col. Galbraith, head of the legion, in
New York, within a few days. to
make the proposition to him, but he
has not yet been Informed of the
proposed gift.
The statement making public the
offer says that if by any chance the
legion should cease to exist, title to
this building and land shall revert to
the nation for such use as the United
States Senate shall determine"
Statement by Directors.
In a formal statement issued by
the directors the plans for the
memorial building are explained. as
wen as other benefactions, as follows
The knights of Columbus have
sufficient money, apart from the
IS. .000,0 900 we, propose to expend on
this Amefican Legion memorial build
ing, to maintain our reconstruction
work on a 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 pupose we feel that we are
continuing our policy of carrying out
the wishes Of the donors.
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-
the building quarters are to be provid-'
ed for the Veterans of Foreign Wars,
Spanish War Veterans and other So
cieties of similar purpose. if room can
be found. If possible, a hall will be
reserved for the federal government,
If 1t so desires. to make a permanent
war-trophy exhibit.
Partly Devoted to Public Use.
The building is to be devoted as far
as possible to public use and the pub
lie welfare, after the 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 gather
ings as far as practicable.
The building will be a memorial to
our hero dead for their parents and
other relatives, and an inspiration to
the living and to future generations,
who will see in it symbol of sacrifice
of those dead and find in it an incen-
tive to serve their country as unself-
ishly in the future"
The offer is open to the American
Legion up to July l, 1921.
The committee which will confer
with Galbraitb is composed of Su-
preme knight James A. Flaherty of
Philadelphia. Supreme Treasurer Dan
iel j. Callahan of Washington, .Su-
preme Secretary William J. McGin-
ley of New York and Supreme Advo-
cate Joseph c. Pelletier of Boston.