The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-03-28
STADIUM IS
PROPOSED
FOR CITY
Bowl Would Seat 100000
and Would Make Capital
Center for Athletics.

Erection in Washington of an
athletic stadium to seat 100000
people, as a memorial to the
youth of America, and to be built
by nationwide public subscrip-
ton, is proposed in plan sub
mitted to the Washington Board
of Trade by Col. George Vidmer,
cavalry.
Harding's Aid to Be Asked.
Colonel Vidmer proposes to ap-
preach President Harding with the
plan and to ask him to serve as
chairman of what will be known as
Council" Among the members who
will be asked to serve on the coun-
Gil are the Secretary of War, the
Secretary of the Navy, and either
one or two other Cabinet officers,
the general of the armies, the
senior admiral of the navy, the
president of the American Fedora
ton of Labor, the president of the
American Olympic committee and
the president of the Amateur
Athletic Union.
The board of directors will be
formed of the presidents of all of
the various American sport and
athletic organizations, these to be
chosen with great care 80 that the
list will embrace only the most
prominent heads Of the various
activities which go to make up the
sports of America"
Colonel Fidmer proposes to estab-
l1sh a permanent secretary and a
small staff to get the work started
n MT hi l.
leading Washington business or
ganization, such as the Board of
Trade or the Chamber of Commerce,
start the organization.
The stadium. Colonel Vidmer be-
lieves, should be so planned as to
make possible every form of sport.
ID. c. Center of Impulse"
Washington would become the
center of impulse" of every form
of athletics and sports which make
up the life of the American youth.
he declares.
The heads of the army and navv
would be asked to have the annual
service baseball and football games
played here at least once in every
four years and every college or uni
versity would be urged to play at
least one game each season in
Washington.
A national campaign for funds, to
be initiated by the President is
proposed. every athletic organiza-
ton in the nation to take part The
head of the American Legion, under
the present plan, will be appointed
to the council and through him
every member of the legion will be
asked to give "A small amount as a
memorial to a friend who didn't
come back
THE size of the stadium will in
itself draw propositions from vari-
Gus sporting activities" stated Col
onel Vidmer. He explained that not
only the colleges and the service
schools would bring important
games to the city. but that the In.
ternational Polo Association would
be asked to hold the international
games here. The Lawn Tennis AS
ISOLATION would be asked to have
the finals in the international
Every prominent sporting organi.
cation would be asked to send at
least one important match here
every year or two.
Many Other Activities.
In addition there would be con-
certs. pageants, and even grand
opera at popular prices, during the
summer months.
The proposition has been referred
to the Board Of Trades committee on
community affairs, of which Perry
p Turpin is chairman. Turpin to-
day announced appointment of a
special committee headed by Ethel
bert Stewart and composed of Rich
ard y. Daniels, Percy S. Foster, Rob-
ert Marshall, Charles D. Shackelford,
and Edgar c. Snyder, to consider
the plan and report back to the full
committee April 10, The project will
be brought before the Board OF
Trade at its next meeting, April 26,
in the Willard Hotel