The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1921-12-02
AMERICANS PLAN
BRAZIL MONUMENT
STATUE WILL BE SYMBOLIC or
FRIENDSHIP FELT BY UNITED
STATES
Committee Formed to Enlist Nation
wide Support for Memorial
In Behalf of American
People in Brazil

washington.-Committee has jus;
been formed to enlist nationwide sup
port for a plan to present Brazil with
a memorial on behalf of the American
people, In connection with the celebra-
ton to be held in Rio de Janeiro next
year 60 commemorate the one hun
dredth anniversary of Brazfrs indie
pendence. The movement originated
with the American colony in Brazil and
SO highly was It regarded that it was
at once adopted by the American cham
Der of commerce for Brazil, in Rio de
Janeiro. 1t is to cooperate with this
chamber that the committee for the
United States has been originated.
Once the plan was revealed 1t COM
manded the ready sympathy Of men
prominent in international affairs,
many of whom offered to serve on the
American committee the officers of
which are: John L. Merrill. president
Of All-America Cables Inc, chairman !;
G. A. Richards vice chairman; John
I'll. Allen, treasurer, and Leslie E.
Freeman, secretary. Other members
OF the committee include such well
known men as Judge Ebert h Gary,
chairman of the board of directors !;
United States Steel corporation; Ker-
NIT Roosevelt, vice president of the
Karr Steamship company; Lawrence
Armour. vice president Armour and
company; DR.. John Bassett Moore,
president of the Pan-Americau society ;
Newcomb Carlton, president OF the
Western Union Telegraph company,
and Samuel l. Vauclain, president Of
the Baltimore Locomotive Works
Announcement of the Inauguration
of the movement here was made by
John l. Merrill, chairman OF the newly
formed committee.
In view of the great and growing
importance of our commercial rela-
tons, our traditional friendship and fu-
ture good WILL" said Mr.. Merrill, at
seems only fitting that upon the oc-
casion Of Brazirs centennial the peo-
pie of the United States should make
a substantial and suitable acknowIedg.
tment of their appreciation Of the bond
texisting between the two countries by
Offering to the Brazilian nation q
worthy token of our friendship"
Charles Keck of New York, whose
sincere and brilliant WORK has earned
him widespread reputation as 3 scuip-
tor. has been commissioned to create
the memorial, the selected design OF
which consists OF colossal figure In
Bronze, symbolic Of Friendship, hold,
ing in her right hand a sprig OF Laurel
and supporting with her left hand the
dags of Brazil and the United States
bound together by laurel and palm.
The main figure Is supported on O
lofty and imposing pedestal OF stone
enriched with has reliefs. and near the
base are four standing figures, George
Washington and Abraham Lincoln, rep
resenting the United States and jose
sonlfacio and Rio Branco. represent
ing Brazil. Beneath these figures are
three has reliefs. one depicting IN,
signing OF the Declaration of indie
Ipendence, another Dom Pedro at the
Ypiranga river, declaring Brazi's in
dependence OF Portugal and the third
a scene symbolic of the lasting friend
ship of Brazil and America Inscribed
at the base is the simple statement
that the memorial is the gift of the
American people to Brazil