Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-24
TESS MAY LEAD
STADIUM FIGHT.
Senator Indicates He win
Sponsor Project After
Talk With President.

The hopes for The Capital for huge
stadium. where great athletic events
could be held. were boosted today
when senator FeSs Of Ohio Indicated
that he likely Will become the cham
mon of the movement to secure the
legislation necessary 10 put through
fhis project. He expressed himself in
This favorable manner At the White
House today following talk with
tht President.
:tenator Tess is vice chairman of
,he United States commission Tor the
celebration Of the 200th anniversary
of the birth OF George Washington,
ank it was for the purpose of discuss
ing matters relating 10 this commls-
sion that he called upon the President,
who is chairman of that body The
Senator said that he would like to
ha 'e the Olympic games held IN
Washington incident to the general
celebration to tie held here in connec-
Iica with the anniversary Of the first
President, in 1882.
For Olympic Games.
TO make it possible TO bring the
famous Olympic games to this city,
the Ohio Senator recognizes the ne
ceSsity of providing a suitable place
for holding these many athletic events,
and as the Capital can offer no such
place at this time, he would like to
see Congress provide one. He would
like to see a stadium erected here not
only of a size sufficient to meet the
demand Of such an event as the Olym-
pic games, but one that would he ar.
chitecturally beautiful He said he
oil Sff Ia iS1 t1n
supposed a suitable one could easily
be found.
The Senator stated that the question
Of holding the Olympic games in
Washington in connection with the
Washington birthday anniversary
ceremonies had not been acted upon
by the commission, which is arrang-
ing for this great occasion He said,
however, that he personally is strong
~ in favor of it and intimated that at
the proper time he will bring the mat
ter to the attention of his associates
on the commission. In the event the
latter are favorably inclined toward
The proposal it is to be assumed that
Senator Fess, because of his personal
interest in the matter. will prepare a
bill adequately covering the subject
and Will personally engineer it through
Congress.
Washington Was Athlete.
Senator Fess looks upon George
Washington as one of the great ath-
letes of his day and as champion of
outdoor life. Because of those views
and the steady increase in this coun-
try in amateur athletics, he believes
that it would be highly appropriate to
stage the Olympic games as a part of
oIrTA, H.
has no idea at this time what the cost
would be for a stadium such as he has
in mind, but he does believe that if
congress agrees to the project the
stadium should be one of which the
people of the Nation should be proud.
For some years efforts have been
made to arouse Congress to the need
Of the Capital in the matter of suit.
able place for the holding of large
athletic events. Two years ago a bill
prepared by Col. G. o. Sheriff., who
was then officer in charge of public
buildings and grounds, was submitted
10 Congress, but it has received scant
attention. Those who have been ad-
Focating q stadium in the Capital
wanted one of sufficient size in which
TO hold the annual foot ball game be-
tween West Point and Annapolis and
other such notable games that are
being held annually. The plan offered
by Col. Sheriff. did not contain a re-
quest for an appropriation, but merely
the granting of authority to citizens
OF Washington TO organize a control
ling company to construct a stadium
upon Government-owned property.
Suggestions for Site.
Those who have been behind the
movement have shown q preference
for Potomac Park as a place where
the stadium should be built, although
there have been suggestions that 1t
should be erected in Anacostia Park.
While discussing the subject of
stadium today Senator Tess did not
infer that he brought it to the Presi-
dents attention during their confer
ence. He said that they discussed
principally the details for the cere-
monies to be held in the House of
Representatives February % under
the auspices of the George Washing
ton birthday commission, ON which
occasion a patriotic address will be
made by President Coolidge.