Evening star., 1925-02-23
AID OF PRESIDENT
ASKED BY BORCLUM
Sculptor Urges Coolidge
Name Committee to Settle
Memorial Row.

has suddenly enveloped the Stone
Mountain Memorial comes the sugges
tion by Gutzon Borglum. the sculptor,
and one of the principals in the pres
ent situation, that Presidept Coolidge
appoint A national committee to see
the undertaking carried to success
full conclusion.
This was made known when the
sculptor made public here last night a
letter that he had sent to the Presi-
dent. urging the Chief Executive to
appoint such a body. The communica-
tion suggests that the committee con-
sist of - or Is of the prominent non
political men.
In reply to a statement accredited
to Holling NJ. Randolph. president of
the Stone Mountain Confederate Me-
mortal Association. which said that
Mr. Borglum had been paid S50.OO0 in
the last year, Lester p. Barlow of
Cleveland, the sculptor's consulting
engineer, last night said that Mr..
Borglum had received s50,000 in the
! last year. but that 100000 OF il was
| Reimbursement of a loan"
$4,000 for Services.
THE other $50, 900 was for service
| covering almost nine years in the
| preliminary work and carving. of the
! projected Confederate Memorial on
! the face of Stone Mountain in Geor-
| gia," Mr.. Barlow asserted, adding
| that Mr.. Borglum has not received
| since the beginning one cent for re-
/ endorsement of the expenses, which
| have amounted in these years to
/ sum of close TO $4,000" Mr.. Barlow
! recently offered to turn over. for the
| Stone Mountain project 100000 of
claim against the Government for
royalties on bonds used during the
| war.
Calling attention to press dispatches
/ last night which quoted Randolph as
/ criticizing sharply the work of
! BorgIum, Barlow said in his state
! ment:
III Mr.. Randolph did make these
| statements l am frankly amazed he
should have committed himself to
such easily proven untruths. and il
is only explained in that he knows
less of the true state of affairs than
| thought he did.
Says Motive Is Puzzling.
Randolph is quoted as questioning
Borglum even as to the authorship
I of his own work. 1t would be diff
| cult to accurately analyze his motive
! in trying to discourage so firmly es-
| tablished a fact"
| Referring to the gift of part of his
| claim, Barlow continued:
| Il have been careful that these
! funds shall not be misplaced, and
| have placed in the hands of the war
! claims committee of Congress dec
laration of trust stipulatin that
| they shall be expended only for di-
| rect sculpture and work on the
mountains. This is a fair sample of
! my confidence in the sculptor. whom
| ! have known so long and with
| whom I have worked for years.
disagr with Mr.. Randolph. Borg
lum is he man., big enough to
make the plans and execute the me-
mortal work in spite of jealousy and
unnecessary distractions which be-
/ set the path of any great doer"
Text of BorgIum Letter.
Borglum's letter to the President.
! under date of January 81, responding
| to the Executives request for further
| information concerning the proposed
| national committee to act as ad-
| visers in the matter of presenting
! the memorial half dollar to the Ma
| ton in commemoration of the carv-
| ing on Stone Mountain, said in part:
| About a year ago l put before the
| Stone Mountain Memorial Association
| having in mind then the possible ma
! tional Significance of the activities
| resulting from the building of n
| memorial of such dimensions and
| touching a subject as vital in the life
! of our country. l had in view the
necessary material support. the intel
| lectual appreciation and the historic
| Importance, but, most necessary of
all, / had in mind the steadying pow
! err of big men about a big work, to
| protect 1t from any of the failures
| that dog all human efforts. to wit,
| lack of means. lack of understanding
| and to safeguard it from what is
| worst of all, direct misconception.
Glad for Coolidge Aid.
| by eternal vigilance the big and
nationally delicate undertaking has
| been launched You yourself were
| selected by President Harding to rep
resent the national administration at
! the beginning OF the work. SO far
from the first you have become part
\ of this work
| 1T was to you we first presented
| the thought of coin. and from that
day to this your indispensable aid
and your personal human interest
| have continuously supported every
step in its development
To-day the products of the coinage
! 4
| a dozen of my monuments-have been
struck from the presses of the United
States Mint in Philadelphia, and in
| the course of a few weeks 100000
half dollars will be ready for circu-
| lation throughout the world. This
/ half dollar, the largest special issue
in the history of our country. carries
on it's diverse side the equestrian
portraits of two great Americans, Lee
and Jackson, under the caption In
God We Trust men defeated in a
war against the Government. which
now so signally honors them. On the
reverse side. under the protecting
| wings of the eagle. is the inscription.
Memorial to the Valor of the Soldiers
| of the South
Wants Act Protected.
mo such act was ever before exc
cuted in the history of government
upon this earth, and | want. and |
know .ou want. tie nobility of the
act protected. the profound serious
| ness and national significance of it
/ fttingly affirmed.
so respectfully urge upon you
ito suggest the appointment by your