Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-04-24
Director of Great Memorial
Project to Be Asked to
Give Another Year of His
Time
BY O. 3. KELLER

BY o. d. KELLER
A year ago, lacking one week, Hol-
Inns Randolph was somewhat hest
tatingly apprised that he had been
elected president of the Stone Noun
tain Memorial association-the first
word Mr.. Randolph had received
that he was being considered for the
post, which at that time offered OPP
portunities almost unique for pes
simism. The association had as it's
object the realization of a beautiful
dream, a dream of seven years, and
a small start had been essayed on
the realization. But even the teasl-
bility Of the plan was yet undemon-
strated. And a year ago, when Mr..
Randolph took over the leadership
of the association, there was q def-
icit in the treasury; no way estap-
Hshed for, the raising of funds; and,
in short. obstacles that might we'll
have appeared, to Mr.. Randolph as
well as to others, insurmountaDle
and solid as the granite mountain
itself.
Next Wednesday, April %, there
is to be another annual meeting OIL
the Stone Mountain Memorial asso-
citation. And there is to be an eIec-
tion of president. And this time
tberA is no doubt as to what the
association is going to do. 1t IS 60
ing to ask Of Mr.. Randolph another
vear of his time and his talents ana
his devotion to a great cauSe- az
other wear. as an irreducible MINI
mum. ,;ol
chose Hollins Randolph a year ago
on faith. now elects to keep MN Oh
works as well.
Dream Turned to Reality
Mr. Randolph, to tell the story
bIuntlv, started out with beauu-
ful dream, an empty treasury anu
debts. ,o+o.
the realization of the dream had be-
come a demonstrated feasibility
Lees head is on Stone mountain
The idea. Of the memorial has Deeh
natfonaIized. Two presidents OF the
limited States have given 1T thelr
warnest Endorsement and approval.
The largest special issue OF SILVER
coins ever automatically 900, 600 half
dollars. commemorative of the be-
shining of the memorial-has pass
ed both houses Of congress imam,
mously. And without single PAD
agent, $450.000 in cash ana git
edged subscriptions has peen
achieved for the memorial tuna, at
an overhead cost of less than . per
cent.
steadily forward, and June ), the
birthday of Jefferson Davis, the
heads of Davis and StoneWau Jack
unveiled; and before the next winter
arrives the figure Of General Lee
will he completed down to the sad
die with a proportionate part Of
the horse. The studio modelling OF
the central group is done, with much
of the detail work for other groups,
and all the design and detail work
for the exterior and interior of Me
mortal hall.
Starting with an empty treasury
and debts, and the honest doubt that
then existed in the general mind as
to the possibility of this gigantic
plan, how has the year shown such
progress?
Enlisted Presidents Aid
The resumption Of work; Of the
campaign toward the great objective
how was it resumed?
If you ask Hollins Randolph that
question, the chances are he Will say,
as indeed he has said once to SINH
lar query:
THE way to resume obviously was
by resuming. The debts were paid
first Of all. And then we showed our
faith by resuming, or re-enterlng,
the work at the same time we be-
gan toseek for funds"
This was faith, accompanied by
works, you might say, in accord
with the Scriptural Injunction.
But who was the man to supply
the impetus, the initial impetus, for
so vast a project?
"By q process Of elimination" asys
Mr. Randolph, ~ arrived promptly
enough at the answer. The enter
prise was as great as possible. 1t
was the greatest thing Of the KIND
that could be done in this nation.
Then who should give the word? The
nations chief. obviously; the presi-
dent Of the United States"
Mr.. Randolph went to see Presi-
dent Harding at Augusta, accOmpan-
led by a committee. His faith COM
municated itself to the president.
The ultimate result was a letter, a
stronger word than Mr.. Randolph
had hoped for From that moment
on, the naturalization Of the memOr-
ial progressed to the point where the
largest special issue Of silver coins
in the history of the United States
mint was authorized.
Years Progress Remarkable
That was the idea of Harry Still
well Edwards, it seems-the special
half-dollars for which GutzOn Borg
lum is now making the design. Mr..
Randolph went TO Washington to see
President Coolidge, and President
Coolidge was more than receptive
Senator Reed Smoot, a Republican,
was called in. He introduced the
measure in the senate, and Repre-
sentative McFadden in the house.
Both houses passed it unanimously
and it was signed by the president
last March-the final act of nation
alization Of the Stone Mountain Me
mortal.
Roll, for subscribers Of one thousand
dollars or more; a roll that is grow
ing by something like twenty a
month at the present time, still with
no paid agent in the field; the prin-
| clpal source of that wonderful reye-
nue. that has been obtained at an
actual cost OF s and $40 per cent.
And the Children's Roll, increasing
at the rate Of hundred a day, with
a special enrolment in prospect for
Memorial day, and an estimated
total Of million names for a mil
/ Lon dollars, the ultimate result Of
this beautiful development Of the
fund.
All this in less than one year. be