Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1925-08-20
Plan National Memorial
To Bryan and His Faith
$1,000 PRIZE OFFERED FOR BEST
DESIGN-FAVoR FLORIDA SITE
TO AVOID CONTROVERSY
BY PAULINE DEsHA

A nation wide movement for the
erection of an extraordinary memorial
to William Jennings Bryan, at Clewis-
ton, Florida, was announced today by
Miss Dionessa Bryan Evans, god
daughter of the late Commoner. Miss
Evans, whose home is at 1886 Grafield
Avenue, Minneapolis, arrived at the
Hotel Roosevelt, New York, to estab-
lish permanent organization for the
project
There is to be a committee compos-
ed of conspicuous leaders of thought,
industry and finance from all sections
of the country. This incorporated com,
mittee will have general charge of the
enterprise.
There is to be a contest for the
most appropriate design for the mem
orial, and already Miss Evans has Sc
cured donation of 81 900 from B. G.
Dahlberg of Chicago, to be awarded
for this purpose The funds for the
erection of the monument are to be
supplied by the children of the public
and Sunday schools of the country in
dime contributions. Charles f. DAILY,
President of the Liberty National
Bank in New York, has promised the
services of that institution as custo-
dian of these funds.
Miss Evans proposes that the mem
orial be built in Clewiston, Florida,
on the southwest shore of Lake Okee-
chobee Miss Evans explains that she
selected Clewiston as the place for
the monument of her late godfather
first, because it is in the Commoner's
adopted state and second, because it
is beauty spot he favored.
"The proposal has met with such
enthusiastic approval as almost to
sweep me off my feet" Miss Evans
said. 1T is true that when / proposed
Washington, d. G. as the place for
the memorial, found a number of
objections. Critics suggested that any
effort to secure a site at the national
capital would produce a suggestion
of political significance. The monu.
ment is so great and broad in its con
ception and in it's meaning, that |
thought it would be folly to assume
any hazards of political controversy.
Moreover, the fear of partisan objec-
ton brought forth the additional fear
of sectarian discussion.
ut was logical, therefore, to re-
move the undertaking from all politi
cal, partisan, sectarian or other criti-
cism. No one could possibly object to
the selection of Florida, the state of
the great Commoner's adoption, as
the site for the first memorial to be
erected to his memory and thus Flor
ida was chosen.
my vision of this memorial is clear,
of any thought of sect, or school, or
party" Miss Evans said "It is an ex,
preston of his love of that faith in
others"
Briefly, besides the general commit
tee which will handle the establish
ment of the Memorial, there will be
committee which will award the
prize of a thousand dollars to the ar
fist submitting the design which best
incorporates the idea of Bryan and
Faith.
There will be a separate contest and
prize for the finest epitaph expressing
that splendid faith by which Bryan
lived, and there will be committees to
promote the contribution of dimes by
school children.
The announcement Of the personnel
of these committees will be made as
soon as Miss Evans has applied for
the incorporation of the general com.
mittee in New York.
The invitation for designs for the
memorial will include the title Bryan
and Faith" Miss Evans vision of
the granite structure includes heroic
effigy of Bryan, bible in hand. sur
rounded by group of school children
In continuance Miss Evans said: "It
is my uppermost desire in this under,
taking to exclude all controversy. Al
memorial linked to the story of fight
must always be associated with the
memory of controversial subject"