Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-03-04
Lihrnry n "ncnI MemnrInl."

, - IN" FGltpr or the Times Dispatch
Sir.-I sometimes near in discus
rr"ssions Of opinion that the me-
mortal - tho soldiers should De n
real memorial
II ia because hclicvc "A library "a
be real memorial that have ad-
v"catcd at every opportunity tn. cs-
tahl!shment of one. The object OF a
memorial ia To keep In the minds OF
N" living vivid recollection Of the
services of the dead
maintain that nothing can do thi IS
so well Az "a library. 4 library is
something more than 4 building. y
building is merely tn. home of n
library. though in common speech
sometimes called tho library. The
real library ls. however. tho books
! organized and served by an Intcili-
gent STAFF
Tn" great memorial library build
ing contemplated by IN" General As
s"mhly a, tn" last session would in
itself hay" vast memorial value. /,
would be seen and admired by thou
sands. vino would b." reminded Of the
services OF our soldiers E,:t the
books themselves. each one having
| In IL Il suitable inscription. would he
of tcnfold greater memorial value.
They would b" used hy the people
who came Ia tho building and they
would be used In over-incrcasinG
numbers by tho people Of the whole
state, being sent 10 them ny express
or parcel post. Whenever user
looked at on" OF the hookplatcs he
would II" reminded ~ the services of
our soldiers. Could any plan he de-
vised which would pat a greater mum
her ~ people in mind Of their ser
vices?
At the same time. many Of tho
books would give accounts Of these
services and would show what were
tn" principles actuatinr our soldiers.
They would show tho dangers from
which We were saved. They would
teach tru" democracy as opposed. on
the one hand. to autocracy. and. on
the other 10 Bolshevism. These spc-
rial hooks would have tendency TO
tablish our people in the political
faith OF their fathers, and all the
hooks would make for enlightenment.
stage OF education would he
reached In course Of time in which
the great majority Of tho people
would he fitted to appreciate the
BENEFITS OF tho government under
which they lived and be slow to run
after flrcfiy lights
The Impression seems to have got
ton abroad that IA" American Legion
does not care especially about the
memorial library. Members OF the
Legislature have asked me why the
representatives Of the American Lee
ginn were not seen in numbers in
the lobby asking that the memorial
library act he allowed to stand. The
answer is that about three weeks ago
the executive committee OF the Nir-
Rinia Chapter Of tho American Legion
held meeting at the Westmorciand
Club. and. after agreeing to ask the
General Assembly to allow the prcs-
cnt memorial library law to stand.
with Il simple amendment requiring
the memorial library commission and
the Library Board. when considering
memorial library business. to act as
one body. resolved that IL was hardly
delicate for members OF the legion to
pursue the General Assembly with
opportunities They took the high
ground that. having made known
their preferences Ia the General As
Scmhl*. they ought to adopt n hands
az policy.
regret that they did this. for the
enemies OF the memorial library plan
are using their absence from tho
Hobbies as an argument that the mem
Hcrs OF the legion do not care for
the plan. The fact Is that they care
for 1t greatly. II we arc to believe
their official expressions. 1t would
he uncndingly rcgrettable IL the Gem
eral Assembly were now. from a mis-
representation OF the wishes of n ma
jority OF our soldiers and sailors, In