Evening star., 1922-03-21

Enthusiastic approval Of the pro-
posed George Washington Victory
Memorial and pledges to support the
| campaign for funds to erect and en-
dow the magnificent structure planned
| to be erected in the Mall at 9Th and b
streets northwest were voiced at, a
patriotic rally last night at the home
Of Mrs. Henry F. Dimock. 1901 18th
street. There were present about
| 300 young women who wore the uni
iform during war service. and officers
Of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps:
| ready by next inaugural, Mrs.
Dimock announced, and pledges were
made by both men and women to as
sist in the campaign In washington.
| Plans for the nationwide drive are
under way. and within few days an
| nouncement may be made cohGernnns y. a
the organization by which 1t is plan
ned to raise a total of from six to ten
/ millions to finance the structure. The
! corner stone already has been laid py
President Harding.
Mrs. Dimock. opening the program
of the evening. sketehed the history
of the development of the George
! Washington Victory Memorial Asso-
E, ciation, explaining how 1t haa its
| inception long before the world war
| in the desire to perpetuate the me!n-
! ory of Washington, and carry out s .ns
desired to promote an institution Tor
the general diffusion of knowledge:
The efforts made to carry TINS
out were described by Mrs. Dimock.
referring to the connections with
Washington and Lee University, and
with former Columbian College, now
George Washington University. and
adding that still there remained to
| be accomplished the one thing which
Washington wanted done, and which
we have not done"
Efforts Before War.
The speaker tbld of efforts before
the war to erect the memorial to
Washington, explaining that Elihu
Root, then a senator, had introduced
a bill by which land was given for the
site. Raising money for the memorial,
she said had been interrupted by the
war.
The war, Mrs. Dimock continued.
provided an additional impetus to
the purpose of the memorial. when
our boys went over and fought for
the country and for freedom. as the
boys of 1876. Those were two wars
of independence. There is nothing
too great to do for our boys" So the
two purposes were combined, she said,
with plans now to commemorate in
the structure a fusion of the great
ideals for which both generations
fought. And l think" said Mrs.
Dimock, with feeling. as she de-
scribed the projected auditorium.
that whenever you go into that
place and hear the strains of the
organ and see the national service
flag you will be proud of your ma
ton and of your boys who fought.
DR.. Thomas Edward Green of the
American Red Cross. who is to take
a prominent part in directing the
national campaign, declared there
was great danger in putting off too
long the erection of such a national
memorial, for already, he said. the
time was now ripe for pushing to
successful and speedy conclusion"
the vision which already Mrs. Dimock
had done so much to realize. THE
holy glow of ardor and cleansing
spirit of devotion" of war days
posed memorial, which. the speaker
said, would be "one of the noblest
and most beautiful buildings in the
world"
Practical Utility Cited
Rear Admiral Thomas J. Cowie de-
clared the proposed memorial "em-
bodies the most exalted sentimets in
utility. 1t will not be merely beauti-
full" he said. ut will be useful In
the vast auditorium great gatherings
will take place. great speeches will
be made there; great music will re-
sound. The minds and hearts of all
will be stirred anew. Finer ideas,
greater resolutions, nobler deeds will
result"
Referring to the service stars, to
be placed in the building in honor of
those who served, the admiral declar
ed: THAT was really wonderful
horn
brain of a poet. High in the arching
dome they will flash. memorial con-
stellations that will ever through the
upturned eye bring to mind the
thought of those stirring days The
and the people of the country" in
having Mrs. Dimock at the head of
the memorial organization.
Women In their country's uniform
in washington were highly COM
mended by Rear Admiral J. l.. Latl-
mer. judge advocate general of the
Navy, who declared that the associa- :
ton was fortunate to have enlisted
the interest, enthusiasm and adapta-
bility" of such able helpers" Most
efficient work had been performed
marinettes and nurses, the admiral
said.
! Promises Aid of Post.
Mai. T. v. Walker vice commander
of George Washington Post, No. 1,
American Legion. and president of the
Alabama Society. regaled the COM
pany with humorous touches from
his post. He asserted his belief that
if the American Legion could get
its men interested to cooperate with
the women in the association great
results would be forthcoming. George
Washington Post will do its part" he
declared. "If we can get the legion
boys all over the UAited States to
help" he said, ut will be great
aid"
Lieut. Howard S. Fiske, U. S. N. R..
maid further tribute to the efficiency
Of yeomen CD. who performed the
work of men, under his supervision
during the war here. AS past COM
mander Of George Washington Post.
No. /, Lieut.. Fiske declared the Amer
lean Legion men here were deeply
interested in the building of the me-
mortal. that the structure was needed
for a, home for all the legion posts
in the District and as place where
not only District but also national
conventions Of the body could be held.
I'VE have no hall here in Wash
fngton, like several cities in the
west" he declared. He recalled con-
yentions of the American Legion at
st. Louis. Minneapolis, Cleveland and
Kansas City. where great halls well
provided accommodation for several
thousand people"