Evening star., 1925-12-13
COOLIDGE FAV0RS
: :: NEGRO MEMORIAL
Proposed Building Here, Ded.
icated to Race, Has Sup
/. port of Public Men.

Commemoration of the heroic deeds
of a valiant negro population, whose
patriotism and devotion to country
has never failed the Nation in any
Of Its trials and conflicts from Revo-
auttonary days to the present is the
goal of the National Memorial Asso-
citation. The proposal is to build in
Washington. half by contribution
from the Federal Government and
half by public subscription, a struc-
ture containing a national hall of
fame, art and music rooms, library
and reading rooms. an auditorium
seating 5000, and space for tablets
to memorialiZe the men and women
of the negro race whose deeds entitle
them to such honorable mention. The
building would be dedicated TO the
dead and living heroes of the negro
race.
Indorsed by Coolidge.
The proposed memorial has the in
dorsement OF public men, headed by
President Coolidge and of various
patriotic and civic organizations OF
the Nation. A resolution already has
been introduced in Congress by
Representative William X. Wood OF
Indiana. providing for commission
to prepare plans and designs and to
erect such a memorial.
Mr.. Wood has given hearty sup
port to the movement, and last ses-
sion when the Senate committee on
library held a hearing on the pro-
posed measure he paid high tribute TO
the American negro and his deNotloh
to country during nearly a century
and a half of its existence.
Calling attention TO the fact that
there was not in the Capital City.
x
MORALS, one to the bravery, patriot
ism or devotion of the negro soldier,
Mr.. Wood said: II think 1t Is hlgh
time that something should be done
in this direction. The first lie that
was offered in the colonial period as
q sacrifice to American independence
was that of a negro who was killed
in the Boston massacre in l1IO. Inc
first memorial to the Continental Con
Gress for bravery and distinguished
service was introduced in December,
ITS, naming Salem Poor, a colored
soldier Washington had under his
direct command more than a regi-
ment of colored soldiers. South Caro-
lima had in the War of the Revolution
5000 able bodied negroes, and they
were found in every branch of the
Army from Bunker Hill to Brandy
wine and from Valley Forge to Mon
mouth and from Saratoga to York
town. In the Civil War $4,000 me-
groes died upon the field of battle.
World War Record.
In the great World War a larger
percentage of negro soldiers partici.
pated in behalf of the United States
than that afforded by any other racial
group, and they gave a splendid ac-
count of themselves wherever en-
gagged. as is attested by the reports
not only of their own commanding
officers but by the commanding Off
GERS of their allies.
1T is proposed to build a memorial
In honor of the colored soldiers who
have fought in the various wars, this
memorial to take the shape of a brick
public building, rather than a tower
ing shaft or a useless pile of stone.
1t is thought by those who have given
their attention to this project that
tnasmuch as there is no large public
building in the City of Washington
where public meetings may be held
and where the development of the
negro race along the lines of invention
and art is exhibited. that it would be
we'll that this memorial should be
used for this purpose.
The colored people of the United
States have taken long forward
step in various lines of educational
advancement. They have contributed
much to literature and invention. II
would be a splendid idea if all this
could find place in a public building
here, at the seat of the Nation, where
it would reflect the greatest possible
good throughout the country
The headquarters of the associa.
ton, of which Ferdinand D. Lee is
president, is at 923 r street north.