The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-02-21
$4,000 ON
/ A n D
NOW
Daughters of the Revolution to
Aid in DriVe-CeIebrate
Birthday Together.
By GEORGE FRANKLIN.

v By GEORGE FRANKLIN.
With approximately $11,0OC
0vailable in its treasury, the Dis
trict of Columbia Society of the
Sons of the American Revolution
has arranged to start a drive fol
O half million dollar fund to erect
q national headquarters building
for the society in Washington.
Converting in Nashville in May
for the annual meeting of the
society, representatives of other
branches Of the order from al
sections of the country will be
asked to get behind a great ma
tionai drive to raise the money
necessary for erecting a suitable
headquarters building here which
will provide not only quarters for
the executive staff of the National
Society, Sons of the American
Revolution, but for that of the
Daughters of the American Revo-
luton as veil.
Capital Is Logical Home.
Washington is, of course, the
logical place for the national head
quarters building" said Belden
Marvin Ely, president of the District
of Columbia Society of the Sons of
the American Revolution, today,
'and the campaign to secure a
building fund is practically worked
cut in its major details"
In discussing the future head
quarters building President Ely said
that he did not consider 100000
g. l. g., -,
such q structure.
Zone thing is certain" he stated,
the national headquarters of the
Bociety should be of such an i'm
posing character that residents and
visitors alike will feel it's patriotic
Influence Certainly it will reflect
the great principles for which the
forefathers of those belonging to
the society fought and suffered.
Expect Big Growth.
"As time passes the Sons of the
american Revolution and the
Daughters of the American Revolu-
ton societies will increase in num-
bers. Each of the two societies is
destined to become great patriotic
factors in shaping American char
acter. Properly understood they
Americanism and American ihstitu-
tons as few other societies can do.
Hence their growing Importance in
American life.
1.-The national headquarters of
the societies are maintained here
now, but they are not properly
housed, and the solution lies in the
erection of a national headquar-
tiers building which will be one Of
the finest contributions to the arts
dc architecture of the Capital ar
chitects can design"
Membership in the District Of
Columbia Society Of the Sons of the
American Revolution now numbers
$50. During the past two years
forty-nine new memberships were
taken out. That the membership
can be considerably increased in
the District is known to the Off.
GERS Of the society, and a quiet
effort is being made to awaken
proper interest in the society
among those eligible to member
ship. The society does not indulge
In membership drives.
Daughters Support Plan.
That the Daughters Of the Ameri-
can Revolution will support the
plan to erect a general headquar-
ters building here for the two go.
cieties lie said to be assured. With
the enrolment in the various
that of the total membership in
! the Sons of the American Revolu-
Ation, approximately $4,000 persons
can be counted upon to aid in the
building fund drive when IT is once
hinder way.
A half million dollars for such a
building is not considered too much
by officers of the local society.
Members of the latter point to the
total membership of the country
recording to the last report there
are 1881 active members-and de-
clared that if a war assessment
was levied it would provide the
Necessary fund. The national treas
ury of the society, it is understood,
has a balance of $14,500 which
could be contributed to such a
fund. This would make available
more than $4,000 already on hand.
"Of course we will erect a ma
tional headquarters building in
Washington" said s. Wales, secre-
tary. There is no reason why it
should be delayed longer than
necessary to raise the building
fund. / feel assured that the
project is popular among societies
throughout the country. The an
hual meeting Of the society takes
place in May, at Nashville, Tenn,
and by that time we will have
khings well under way"
Committee Is at Work.
A committee has been appointed
to carry on the work of securing
the building and is reported az
making satisfactory progress.
Election of officers by the District
of Columbia Society of the Sons
Of the American Revolution takes
place tomorrow. The annual meet
ing will be held at the Lafayette
Hotel at noon. The ballot box will
be open from noon until p. m
followed by the business meetint
and the report of tellers. The bust
ness meeting will be featured by thu
reports of the president. the his
torian and the registrar.
A joint celebration of the 1918
birthday Of George Washington will