Evening star., 1922-04-06
WILSON PR|zEFUND
ISNEAR $4,000
Leaders in Campaign State
Foundation Is Expected
to Go Over Top.

Today. marking the fifth anniver-
sary Of Americas declaration of a
state of war with Germany. also
marks the approach of the 100000
figure in the national campaign for
S1,000,000 sought as an endowment
of the Woodrow Wilson awards by
the Woodrow Wilson Foundation.
Contributions continue to come In
at a steady rate. according to Off
cials Of the committees handling the
drive, and many of the largest pledges
have yet to be redeemed by cash.
A singular feature of the campaign.
according to its directors, has been
the remarkable manner. in which II
has risen above party lines, many OF
the largest contributions being from
republicans.
In fact, in Washington. R. w. Wool
ley, local chairman. said, the largest
two contributions have been from re-
publicans and one of the checks In
hand-for a small amount, true-was
obtained from one of the men tnat
President Harding named in his canl-
net.
Recognition of Services.
The foundation is to be created by
public subscription, according 70 the
official announcement, in recognition
of the national and international
services of Woodrow Wilson. twice
President of the United States, VINO
furthered the cause of human freedom
effective methods for the co-opera,
tion of the liberal forces of mankind
throughout the world"
The awards from the income OF the
foundation will be made from time
to time by q nationally constituted
committee to the individual or group
that has rendered. within specihed
period. meritorious service to pubic
welfares democracy. liberal thought
or peace through justice.
In other words. America, through the
foundation, seeks to establish its own
Nobel prizes.
A group of women met on Christmas
eve, 1920, to consider what was then
nebulous wish to pay some sort OF a
tribute to the war President. In their
minds were no doubts as to % what tne
verdict Of history would be. Their in
tention primarily was to establish a
precedent, if possible. and honor Wood
row Wilson while Woodrow Wilson yet
lived. Two weeks after Mr.. wilson had
left the White House and had assumed
the role of private citizen a meeting was
held at New York hotel. where plans
were crystailized into the proposition
| of creating the Woodrow Wilson founda-
ton.
Under Committee OF go.
A national committee Of $50 men and
women was organized as the vehicle Tor
attaining the goal Of the foundation. The
i or more. The appeal issued was worded
to "au who believe in those liberal and
democratic principles that Woodrow
Wilson has so conspicuously champion
ed and who wish to perpetuate the IN
| fuence of Americas great war leader.
orr
the country began during the week OF
January Is. 1922. Headquarters for
| the national campaign were estab-
lished at $50 Nassau street. New
York, and for Washington at 7z9 14th
! street. the latter having now been
moved to the Continental trust
| building. room f03.
| Cleveland H. Dodge was named
| chairman of the executive committee.
Franklin D. Roosevelt was made
1 chairman of the national committee
and Hamilton Holt executive director.
r. W. woolley was placed in charge
of the District Of Columbia area, with
Mrs Kate Trenholm Abrams as chair
man of the woman's committee for
! the District.
in Washington. with a quota of $685.
600, got under way on January Is.
Before the end Of the month the S20.-
600 figure was in sight, and on the
night when the knickerbocker Thea
ter catastrophe fell upon Washington
a huge mass meeting had been plan
| ned at the Masonic Temple. 1t was
| expected that the mass meeting
| would bring the final figure within
| easy striking distance, but the snow
| storm which kept many away from
| the Knickerbocker that fatal night
| also blasted the hopes of a success
| full mass meeting and marked the
start of hiatus in the campaigning
for funds in the District. Neverthe-
less, checks continued to come In un-
til more than $4,000 actual cash is
in bank and approximately $4,000 in
Immediately collectable pledges is
outstanding.
Washington Quota High.
The quota assigned for Washington
was regarded as rather high In view Of
the comparative quotas for other cities.
Baltimore was set at $4,000, Boston at
$4,000, Philadelphia at $4,000. Rhode
Island at $25.000 and Oklahoma at
$4,000 The fixing of a large quota
here, however. was accomplished be-