Evening star., 1925-09-06
GAR. DEMANDSU.S.
DROP LEE SHRINE
incenSed by Plan to Restore
ManSion-Warns Old
Hates Will Flame.


national encampment at Grand
Rapids, Mich, has called upon Con-
Gress to repeal its action ordering the
shrine established.
The resolution, presented to the
encampment by Hosea B. Moulton.
commander OF the District of Co
lumbia Department Of the G. A. r.,
was unanimously adopted at the ses-
sion held Thursday. The mansion,
the members of the veteran patriotic
order declared, should be left as 1t
is for use of the superintendent of
the cemetery
Copies of the resolution are being
sent to President Coolidge. to the
members Of his cabinet and To every
member of the Senate and the House
OF Representatives.
Sees "0ld Fire Rekindled."
The resolution declares the Grand
Army Of the Republic was distressed
at the thought of a memorial to Lee
in the heart of a cemetery dedicated
10 the memory of those who died for
the Union. and adds a warning that
its creation would rekindle the old
fires which burned so fierceIy in the
sixties
The resolution reads:
The Congress of the United States.
IN the last hour of the last day OF it's
last session, adopted a joint resolution
which authorizes and directs the res
toration Of the Arlington mansion in
the Arlington National Cemetery to
the same condition, furniture in
cluded. that ii was when occupied by
Robert Z. Lee, at the time he re-
signed his commission in the United
nn Ia
ate Army.
Said mansion is surrounded by the
graves of our loyal patriots who died
to save the Republic. which Robert
Lee sought TO destroy, and now to
make that house in the midst of our
sacred dead a shrine to him, comes
as a great shock to this encampment,
distressing, lamentabIe alike to the
men who fought for the Union, the
Constitution and the old flag, and TO
all lovers OF liberty and justice;
ITO honor the chattels and name
of Robert L. Lee, who was more in
Strumental than any other Confed
crate officer IN the slaughter of tens
of thousands of loyal patriotic citi.
zenS of the Republic, and make that
mansion house and his furniture a
shrine to and for him is most un-
thinkable, Tor it would be an insult
and disgrace to the Nation. to every
grave in Arlington Cemetery and to
every officer and soldier who fought
10 save and preserve the Union and
defend the Constitution and the Flag.
and
Sees Propaganda Aided.
ITO restore said mansion in the
manner directed by the joint resolu-
ton would not only take 1925, 900 from
the public treasury, but would re
kindle the old fires that burned so
fiercely in the sixties, and would
greatly encourage the demons who
are spreading propaganda of all kinds,
favoring a disregard of law and gov
ernment, and lead them to think that
treason was. or might be made, hon
orable, all of which would be a great
damage to the Republic. Therefore.
be it
1--WE. the members of this fifty ninth
national encampment of the Grand
Army of the Republic. in regular ses-
sion assembled. this Sd day of Septem-
ber, A. d. 1925, do most earnestly ap-
peal to the Congress of the United
States to repeal said joint resolution,
and permit said mansion to remain
and be used by the superintendent and
other officers of said cemetery, as it
has been for so years and more past.
Commander Moulton, in a statement
to the encampment accompanying his
resolution, declared: I'VE should not
and do not object if the sons and
daughters of the never established
Southern ConfederaCy build monu-
ments to the memory of their dead.
We do not object if they wear close to
their hearts the flag under which their
fathers fought, for to them II is
memory, and should not in any degree
weaken their allegiance to the flag of
the United States and the republic for
which it stands. But we do object,
with all emphasis, to the Government
of the United States assisting in pay
ing homage TO the vaIor of Confed-
crate soldiers in that Civil War"
Cite Lincoln Statue Care.
Commander Moulton cited the re-
moval of the statue of Abraham Lin
coin from Judiciary Square here
0ater restored) and the helping
hand" which the Federal Government
gave to the carving of the figures of
jefferson Davis and Gen. Lee on Stone
Mountain, Ga, as instances Of
activity of the "unreconstructed" of
the South.
The helping hand" referred to was
an act of Congress authorizing "the
coinage of 50-cent pieces in COM
memOratiOn of the work of
carving on Stone Mountain
a monument to the valor of
the soldiers of the South"
The resolution of the last Congress
ordering the establishment of the Lee
shrine was vigorously attacked by
Commander Moulton and his COM
rades. Complaint was voiced espe
cially to the fact that Congress had
adopted a resolution praising Gen.
Lee as "one of the great military lead
ers of history whose eminent
services are recognized and esteemed" ="
Commander Moulton declared our
legislators should not forget that the
valor, the remarkable aptitude as a
military leader, was all displayed by
Lee when his sword was drawn in
battle against the United States"
Full Restoration Provided.
The resolution which raised the
storm of protest by the Grand Army
of the Republic was approved by
President Coolidge March 1. 1t di-
rects the Secretary of War to restore
as nearly as practicable the Lee man
sion TO the condition in which 1t eX-
listed prior to the Civil War and to
procure, if possible. articles of fur
niture and equipment which were
then in the mansion and in use of it's
occupants. The Secretary of War
also was authorized to procure repli-
ces of furniture used by the Lees in
order to restore the interior of the
house as near as possible to its ap-
pearance at the time Gen. Lee lived
there.
A report on the resolution, made by
Representative Robert Luce of Mas
sachusetts drew fire from the Grand
Army.
"The condition of the Lee Mansion"
said Mr.. Luce. lis not in harmony
with it's surroundings. Its interior