The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-04-30
PLAN DRIVE
A I BIG
MEET
Managers to Put Proposition
Before Convention May 20
at Nashville, Tenn.
BY GEORGE FRANKLIN.

By GEORGE FRANKLIN.
Necessity for national head
quarters building here, in design
properly expressive of the patri-
otto purposes and strength of the
organization, is being impressed
on local societies Of the Sons of
the American Revolution through
out the country, and when the
organization holds its annual
Congress at Nashville, Tenn,
May 1922, plans to raise the re-
quired building fund will be for
mulated.
Sees Success Certain.
Major Overton c. Luxford, reg
istrar OF the District of Columbia
Society. is directing the campaign
to secure for the National Capital a
building which will compare favor
ably with Memorial Hall, erected by
the Daughters of the American
Revolution.
The necessity for a national head
quarters, where national organiza-
ton can have its offices, has be-
come SO apparent that little appre-
hension is felt over the outcome OF
the issue when II is presented
sQuarely before the congress in Nash
Vile in May" said Major Luxford.
"The building will necessarily be
imposing in appearance, of fire.
proof construction, and provide
archives for the preservation of
historical and revolutionary records
as well as offices and an auditorium.
May Merge Offices.
"In connection with the organiza-
don of national headquarters staff
1t is proposed, and / believe is
acceptable to a majority of the
members of the society, to combine
the offices of secretary general and
registrar-general in one. selecting
q washington man to fill the pc.
sitiun thus created.
with a. national headquarters
building here. future congresses
would be held in it's auditorium.
This seems right, for Washington
IL accepted now as the great center
of American patriotism, and is
selected by practically all Of the
national organizations as their ma
tional headquarters. BY co-ordinat-
Ag the two offices and holding
future congresses here the public
the patriotic work of the society,
while its usefulness win be material
ly increased" "a
Discussing the plan to merge the
two general executive offices. Major
Luxford stated that no criticism had
been raised over the administration
of either office, but that the merger
idea was the result of q desire to
facilitate the work of the society in
the natIonaI field.
Eelden Marvin Ely, who has just
completed his second term as presi-
dent of the Washington society, is
epoken of as a popular candidate for
the new post to be created through
the merger of the two offices. he
is supervising principal over a num-
Der of Washington public schools
He is also president OF a. citizens
association which has been active
in securing various city improve.
ments, and is conceded to be among
the best-informed members OF the
society on matters connected with
the Revolution and on the history
of the society since it's founding.
1t is understood that offices Of
the secretary registrar general, in a
fireproof building, will he provided
temporarily free of charge should
the merger be effected and Ely
named to fill the post.
While members of the society
have not expressed an opinion as
to the location of the proposed ma
tional headquarters building, it is
understood that Congress will be
asked to donate a site in a neigh.
borhood where several of the most
imposing organization structures
stand. The proposed national head
quarters building, it is snid, will be
planned to cost from 100000 to
$500 900, and will provide quarters
for various society activities.
A large delegation from the
Washington society will attend the
congress. 1t will include practi-
cally all of the influential and rep
resentative members.
Americanization Work.
Washington. in a patriotic sense,
IL Americas shrine said Major
Luxford, Hence the propriety of
having b national society headquar-
tiers here from where the construc-
tive AmericaniZation work of the
society can be carried on in all Sec
lions of the country. The society
is constantly working toward the
CTCdLIOH VI DdLItOI1c IuSdS
not only among Americans, but
among the men and women who
come here from other lands. We
do not say much about what is
being done. but it might be inter-
esting to note that we have printed
the American Constitution in six
teen languages and circulated thou
sands of copies among foreign.born
residents. The society has mem.
bership of approximately $4,000 and
1t is steadily increasing"
Rumor has 1t that a merging
OF the Sons of the American Revo-
luton and the Sons OF the Revolu-
ton may be effected in the not
remote future. None of the local
members Of the Sons Of the Ameri-
can Revolution would discuss the
possibility, but 1t is understood that
IT will come before the congress when
that body assemblies in Nashville
in May