The Washington herald., 1921-02-09
Refuse $4,000, 900 Bequest
UnEess All Conditions
Are Removed.
THANKS EXPRESSED
FOR SPIRIT OF GIFT
Needs of Disabled Held
Too Great to Permit
Building Fund.

The American Legion will not ac-
cept the offer Of 5000, 900 made by
tho Knights of Columbus for the
erection Of a national memorial
building in washington unless all
conditions attached to the offer are
removed, according to a statement
authorized late Monday night by the
national executive committee Of the
American Legion, which began
three-day session in the Washing
ton Hotel yesterday.
A special committee is to be ap-
pointed Immediately by the national
commander of the legion to confer
with the knights Of Columbus with
a view toward having the condi-
tions removed.
Needs Of Veterans.
1t is understood that the above
decision was reached because of a
feeling that the money could be
hetter applied at the present time
for the alleyiatiOn OF the needy con-
dition of the many disabled war
veterans whose appeals have del
uged American Legion posts
-AAA y - AAOAL tue COuAlI
Thomas Semmes Walmsley, New
Orleans attorney. chairman Of the
committee which brought in the
negative report and himself a mem
Der Of the knights Of Columbus,
declared last night that the ques-
tiOn of religion had not entered into
the consideration Of the offer, but
that it was not thought best to es-
tablish a precedent by accepting
any offer with strings tied to it.
The conditions imposed by the
Knights of Columbus when the offer
was made recently are substantially
as follows:
That the ;5.OOO.OOO should be
applied to the erection of. a
memorial building in Washington,
D. c, with a seating capacity of at
least 10000; that the X. of c.
designate the architect, preferably
McGinnis and Walsh, OF Boston;
that a building committee be ap-
pointed consisting Of three men,
bers Of the American Legion, three
members Of the Knights Of Colum-
bus and the Secretary Of War or
some other government official, and
that approximately $1,000, 900 be set
aside as a maintenance fund, to be
administered by three trustees, one
Of whom should be the Secretary Of
the Treasury of the United States,
the ether two the respective heads
OF the American Legion and -he
knights of Columbus.
Text 1T Statement.
The text of the statement author
. ICED by legion officials last night
follows:
Acting upon the offer Of the
Knights Of Columbus to donate S5,-
900, 900 to the American Legion for
the erection and maintenance of a
national memorial building in
Washington, the National EXecu-
tive Committee of the American
Legion decided that it was not best
to accept the offer in its present
form with the conditions imposed
therein.
"A special committee is to be ap-
PORTED by the National Commando
TO confer with the knights of Co
lumbus to ascertain whether the
Knights of Columbus are willing
to revise the offer 50 as to tondeI
the fund unconhitionally. 1t was
decided that II such revision is
made the offer will be accepted.
Members Of the National Execu'
tive Committee who took part in
the discussion were unanimous il
their sppreciat on of the generous
motives impeIling the offer.
American casualties ofthe world
war are increasing 5000 per month
it was announced by the national
executive committee.
Although the fighting ended more
than two years ago, mental break
downs and tuberculosis resulting
from gas and exposure are putting
5000 former soldiers in hospitals
to $500 discharged.
To meet this condition, the com
mittee win demand Congressional
appropriation of SIS, 1000, 900. to pro-
vide adequate hospital facilities.