Evening star., 1923-03-29
Tennesseeans Protest Effort
To Remove Jackson Statue
History Of Early Ro,U Over Proposed
Changes of Memorials Location
Recalled by Army.

Many protests have been received
at the War Department from histori-
cal societies and individuals in Ten
nessee and elsewhere against the
proposed removal of the statue Of
Gen. Andrew Jackson, "the hero of
New Orleans" from its me-honored
position In Lafayette Park. They
have been referred for reply to Mai.
Gen. Beach, chief of engineers, who
has supervision over all federal
reservations in the District. Col.
Sheriff.. his assistant. in direct
charge. recently suggested the pro-
priety Of placing the equestrian
statue of Gen. Washington, now an
dergoing repairs, on the site of the
jackson statue and re-erecting the
OF the Washington statue. in Wash
ington Circle, at Pennsylvania avenue
and ed street.
Arguments Support Proposal.
In support of the suggestion it was
stated that if the change were made
the statue of Gen. Washington would
be surrounded by statues of his lead
ing compatriots Of the revolutionary
war, namely Lafayette Won Steuben,
Rochambeau and kosciuszk statues
or whom occupy each corner OF
Lafayette Park. 1t was further stat
ed that the statue of Washington
was more attractive from an artistic
standpoint than the older statue of
Jackson, the first product of Clark
Mills, the sculptor of both.
Previous Efforts Failed.
There have been previous efforts
to move or to interfere with the site
or the jackson statue, but they all
came to naught. The only one that
lad any promise of success occurred
Congress appropriated $4,000 for the
erection or statue of Lafayette and
his compatrtots in this city and left
the selection of a suitable site to a
commission consisting of the Secre-
tary of War, the chairmen of the
congressional committees on the
library and the architect OF the Cap
itol. That commission favored plac-
ing the statue in the center of La
fayette park, then, as now. occupied
position developed to the moving
OF the latter statue, and the COM
mission compromised by deciding to
place the Lafayette statue on the
Pennsylvania avenue front of the
park named in his honor, on the line
of Sixteenth street directly between
the Jackson statue and the main en-
trance to the White House. That
selection also met with considerable
objection, but did not prevent the
tion for the statue at that point in
anticipation Of the early completion
of the statue.
Work Was Suspended.
In August, 1890, however, Congress
directed the suspension of work on
the site selected on the general
ground that 1t fronted and obstructed
the view to the equestrian statue
of Andrew Jackson. which. by au-
where it now is, fronting Pennsyl-
vania avenue and the, White House"
The act Of Congress also directed
the commission TO select some other
site for the Lafayette statue. Deter
mined that the statue should be placed
in Lafayette Park, the commission Sc
lected the site where 1t subsequently,
was erec--d and now stands, at the
southeast corner Of the park, at the
intersection of Pennsylvania avenue
and Madison place. Congress later
appropriated $1,000 to cover the ad-
ditional expense incurred by changing
the site. The foundation at the aban-
doned site, directly opposite the
White House. then was converted
into a large flower bed, and in recent
years has been planted with Gamma
lilies. with their bright-hued flowers.
Records of the War Department
show that there have been many de-
partureS from the general theory
that memorials of heroes and states
men should be placed in parks named
In their honor.
Location of Other Statues.
The Grant memorial: for instance.
is in the Botanic Garden. while
Grant Circle is in Petworth.
The Garfield statue is on Maryland
avenue near the Capitol, while Gar