Evening star., 1925-03-11
CHILDREN TO BACK
PATRIOTIC PROJECT
Navy Secretary Announces
Fund Campaign for Recon-
ditioning Constitution.

inauguration OF a nation WlQe cam
paign to obtain funds with which
to recondition and preserve the his
torical frigate Constitution has been
authorized by Secretary Wilbur of
the Navy Department, and its direc-
tion has been placed in the hands of
Rear Admiral de Steiguer, United
States Navy, commandant of the
Boston navy yard.
Congress authorized the recondi-
tioning of the vessel, but did not
appropriate any fluids, and 1t is the
plan of Secretary Wilbur to have
each school child contribute on an
average of 212 cents. Incide ntally.
the first contribution came to the
Department today from Daniel Jen-
nings. son of a Civil War veteran,
who lives in Boston, Mass.
Secretary's Letter to Admiral.
Secretary Wilbur in a letter to Ad-
riral de Steiguer suggests that the
patriotic societies should be ap-
preached to aid in the collection of the
funds and suggests that in connec-
tion with the movement Associate
Justice Holmes of the United States
Supreme Court might be willing to
write a couple of new StanZaS to the
poem which his father dedicated to
the reconditioning of Old Ironsides.
Secretary Wilbur's letter follows:
Congress has just passed a bill re-
garding the reconditioning of the
Constitution. The Secretary of the
Navy is authorized under that act to
replace the ship in as near as it's
original condition as possible and to
receive private donations for that
purpose. No money is appropriated
for the work and no limit of cost is
fixed in the bill.
Il am putting this whole matter in
your charge. and as there are 1s,0c0,
900 children in the United States at
tending school a contribution of ~
cents per child would rebuild the
Constitution. l would suggest that
the amount necessary for the recon
ditioning of the Constitution be ap-
portioned among the States in the
proportion that their school children
bear to the total cost on the basis of
2ls cents upon the theory that 16,o00,-
900 are attending the schools, COL
leges and universities of the country.
You have already been in COM
munication with the Daughters of
1912, and it seems to me appropriate
that the campaign be managed by them
under your supervision
Special Objects Sought.
II think that there are two things
to be accomplished by the campaign.
arousing of patriotic interest in the
history of wars, particularly in the
history of the War of 1912, and of the
Navy IN that and of other wars; sec
ondly, renewed interest in the Con-
stitution of 1877, for which the ship
was named. I think that the real
benefit to be derived from the recon
ditioning of the ship is this aroused
interest.
LAS you know, we have here in this
Office the silver urn presented to Capt.
Isaac Hull by the citizens of Phila-
delphia and the gold sword and the
gold mounted dueling pistols given him
by the citizens of Connecticut.
with regard to contributions it
seems to me the theory should be to
get permission from school authori-
ties to present the matter to public
schools throughout the country and
that this be urged as far as possible
on a competitive basis-that Is, hav-
ing secured permission from some
States use this in other States show
ing a reluctance in regard to the mat
ter of contributions.
Plea to School Authorities.
I'm presenting this matter 1 think
school authorities should be advised
that the real purpose is patriotic and
that the collection of money is sec
ondary and that no more than IA
cents per scholar will be permitted,
ana that It Is desirable to have every
scholar contribute. The total amount
contributed by each school should
not exceed the apportionment based
upon 212 cents per scholar. With
regard to larger contributions, it
seems to me that citizens of each
State, through chambers of commerce,
Kiwanis, Rotary. Lions, commercial
and other clubs, might secure dona-
tions not exceeding 81 for each sub
scriber. In those States. however,
in which there may be difficulty in
securing these amounts in this way
large subscriptions might be secured
from private individuals, and it
might be permissible for any donor
of large amount to make the do
nation on behalf of some State
which he might wish to favor with
that contribution, either his own
State or some other.
''Tt is important that we should
make clear we are not trying to help
out the Government in an economy
program. The real matter involved
is the interest of the people of the
United States in an historical re-
minder of the progress of the Ma
ton, and if the people are not willing
to support such q proposition they
ought not be compelled to do so by
sppropr iation of Congress, which in
effect takes the money out of their
pockets without their consent
Hint to Justice Holmes,
1T occurs to me that Associate
Justice Holmes of the United States
Supreme Court mil ght be willing to
write a couple of new stanzas to the
poem his father dedicated to the recon-
ditioning of Old Ironsides:
LAY, tear her tattered ensign down,
Long has II waved on high.
And many an eye has danced to see
That banner in the sky!''
Il am not sure that he would be
willing to do this, but it strikes me
that he might be approached by
some one from Massachusetts in re-
gard to the matter.
Il will cooperate fully with you
in connection with this campaign.
but wish to place the matter in your
hands.
In view of the small amount of
contribution from each school child
1t will probably not be possible to
give any souvenir in the form of a
receipt or otherwise to the individual
child, but 1t might be arranged for
some souvenir to be given to
school. 1t seems to me that prom
jsa fch he