The Colorado statesman., 1922-04-01

larly impressed with the great ops
pOrtunity afforded for Identification
of section of the city which has
been notably neglected and which will
thus be made an important link in
the scheme of parkway development
To Preserve Historic Document.
The old marriage register of Fred
erick county. Virginia, beginning with
the year 1882, has been ordered re-
copied by the Circuit court. after
which the original will be securely
stored and never allowed to be used
In the future. The court took this
action to prevent the valuable record
from being mutilated; 1t already is
torn in places and some pages have
their edges clipped off.
The old register contains the rec
ords of some notable marriages.
Among these are the marriage IL
censes of President James Madison
and the vivaciOus and petite young
widow, Dolly Payne Todd, whose we'd
ding was solemniZed at colonial es-
tate near Winchester; of Gen. Daniel
Morgan, often alluded to by historians
olution," and of numerous nleces and
nephews of George Washington. and
of the Lees, Carriers, Burwells. Mel
sons, Pages and whole nest of young
lovers representing the bluest of the
blueblOods of the Old Dominion, who
in the early days of the country gave
luster to the fair name of the COM
monwealth and who achieved distinc-
tion in the annals of their country.
There is agitation by American
Legion officials for obtaining home
and headquarters for the Amer
lean Legion posts in this city. De-
partment officers of the District of
Columbia, headed by Watson B. Mil
Ter, commander, are united in their ef-
forts for this project and are backed
by the officers and members of the 2S
posts of the city.
1t is believed at the Legion's head
quarters, now held in small room on
the fourth floor of 1923 New York ave-
nue., that such a building, whether
erected as a war memorial to those
who made the supreme sacrifice,
victory memorial perpetuating the tri-
umph of American arms on foreign
soil or n clubhouse where Legion tro-
phies could be kept and meetings held.
is necessity in Washington.
At present the Legion in this city
numbers about 5000 men, which is
rapid growth from the small number
that applied for a charter more than
three years ago while they were still
in France. The Legion in this city has
grown, its posts are flourishing, out
the membership would be greatly in
creased If a home was procured. The
district had some 10000 sons and
| daughters in the service, including the
yeoman Fs and the marinettes, and II
real clubhouse could be had, the
membership of the Legion undoubted-
ly would be greatly increased.
The posts now meet in widely scat
tered places. Two or three meet in
the District building, several at the
present headquarters on New York
avenue, some in the New Ebbitt hotel,
some at the various local clubs, some
at the armory, and others in halls and
clubs all over the city. Most places
are inadequate. When a dance or en-
tertainment is to be held, permission
has to be obtained from some organi-
cation or firm for use of a hall and
| large fee paid.
Suffer by Comparison.
Those in charge at the present head
quarters make the best of it, but feel
Inundated when strangers finally
struggle up the rickety. worn steps
that lead to the fourth floor and COM
ment on the surroundings. Among the
first things a visiting Legionnaire does
is to make comparison between the
Washington offices and the offices of
his home town. There isn't really any
comparison; it is just a pointing out
of differences. The visitor asks, "Why
is it this way?" to which the man in
charge can only answer, I'll bite; !;
why is it?"
The reason is hard to explain. other
cities by various means have erected
splendid buildings for the Legion.
Small cities and towns have not been
remiss. Funds have been obtained in
many ways. Some buildings have been
erected through public contributions,
others are gifts from rich merchants
and other residents, and still others
are the result of appropriations. In
Washington there have been so many
of these Conations and gifts to every
cause that the people look askance at
the proposal of another.
Building Urgently Needed.
Col. E. Lester Jones of the geodetic
and coast survey, former department
commander of the district, and called
the father" of the American Legion,
is heartily in favor of erection of
building here. There is practically
not an available hall that can be Sc
,,-I,o,o,ra, paada1 e,titohla for