The Washington times., 1921-11-11

sions-the abolition OF the crime OF
killing man by man as means OF
settling international disputes"
Long before the League OF Nations
was thought OF, the fan.American
Union was going concern. AT the
International Bureau of the Ameri-
can Republics IL was established in
1890 at the First international Con-
ference OF American Nations, called
upon the initiative OF James G..
Blaine and held in this city. II was
reorganized, enlarged and given new
life by the Third Conference, held
ut Rio de Janeiro and attended by
Elihu Root In 1905.
Better Understanding.
On the moral or sentimental side,
the chief object of the union is TO de-
velop mutual acquaintance. better un'
derstanding. lasting friendship. peace
and good will; and on the material
side, to develop the largest possible
change of commerce and trade, Indus
trial prosperity and economic progress
among all the American republics.
The first quarters of the union on
Pennsylvania avenue having grown
too small for the Columbus Memorial
Library and the working force OF the
bureau. the board OF governors agreed
to erect a building which. with its
site, should cost s125,000, the money
to be raised by contributions of the
republics on a population basis.
The Latin-American republics had
raised their share of $4,000 when, in
1907, Secretary of State Root an.
nounced that Andrew Carnegie had
offered to contribute s750,000 for a
new home for the bureau. Soon after.
ward the United States Congress ap-
propriated $4,000 for a site. Later
Mr.. Carnegie donated another sl00..
900, making his total contribution
$3.50 900.
Roosevelt Lays Corner.
On May II, 1908, the cornerstone
was laid by Theodore Roosevelt, Presi'
dent of the United States.
The building has a three.fold pur.
pose-an office for general work, a
horne Of the Pan.American Union, and
library in memory OF Columbus,
In addition to the practical neces'
stiles of the building. the architects
faced the problem of developing con-
sistent theme which should not only
tell the story of the Pan-American
Union. but also depict particular and
striking events in the history OF the
several countries forming the union.
The great marble structure is 100
feet square. and because of it's lofty
ceilings, much higher than its two
stories would indicate. The exterior
is typical of the architecture of the
best Latin.American type of about
one hundred years ago. The entrance
portico, with three portals leading to
the interior. is between two great
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there Ia a colossal group of statuary
symbolizing the two continents of
North and South America.
Bas Reliefs Portray History.
Above each group are historical
bas reliefs. the northern group por.
traying Washington as he bids fare.
well to his generals. and the south.
ern depicting Sam Martin surrender
ing the primaCy of South American
affairs to Bolivar These two events
were selected by the then Secretary
Of State Root as representing two
OF the greatest acts of self-abnegation
in history.
An air Of tropical luxuriance is
given the interior OF the building by
the patio, or enclosed court. which
one enters Immediately upon passing
through the vestibule.
The pavement of the patio, which
In OF semi. .barbarous design, repro
duces well-known archaeological frag-
ments Of the ancient Mayan, Aztec
and Zapotecan periods. In the CEN
ter is fountain. At night the
fountain becomes a dazzling electrical
display. the national colors Of the
different countries being shown on
the boiling springs surrounding the
base.
Ascending the broad marble stair
ways one enters the vaulted Hall
Of Heroes, where stand marble busts
OF the great leaders of the early
days OF the Southern republics.
Above them are the flags of the re.
spective nations. The hail itself is
an approach to the Hall OF the
Americas, where the conference on