The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1930-09-19

historians, it seems likely that
will be the final word.
The portrait committee whicI
is to make this decision is com
posed of DR.. Leicester B. Holland
chief of the Division of Fine Art
of the Library of Congress, chair
man; DR.. Charles Moore, chair
man of the Fine Arts commission
of the District of Columbia; DR.
John c. Fitzpatrick, Manuscripts
Division Library of Congress; Ez
ra Winter, Fine Arts commission
of New York; DR.. Albert Bush.
nell Hart, Historian, Cambridge,
Mass; Colonel Harrison H. Dodge,
superintendent of Mount Vernon:
and Carl Melcher, artist, of Fal-
mouth, Virginia.
The second task facing the
George Washington Bicentennial
commission is, in a way, the more
difficult. By a specific act Con-
gress authorized the publication of
Washington's writings. DR.. John
G. Fitzpatrick of the Library of
Congress, one of the foremost
authorities on Washington and his
time, has been selected to edit
this work. When completed these
writings will form a Congressional
Memorial of the United States to
the nations most revered son.
While there is sufficient original
material in the archives of the
Library Of Congress for rs vol
umes, there are still many letters
extant which have never been pub
lished. These hidden" letters the
associate directors of the George
Washington Bicentennial commits
sion, Lieut.. Col. U. S. Grant Sd,
and Representative Sol Bloom of
New York, the making every eff
fort to obtain.
Washington was a diligent and
prolific writer. In his habituaIly
frank manner, he expressed his
views and ideals on the leading
problems of his day. The person
who wants to understand Wash
lngton must go to his writings
his papers, journals, diaries and
letters. Washington has left a
more authentic picture of himself
through his writings than is to
be found in any of the hundreds
Of his biographies which have
been written since his death.
The writings of Washington
which are being compiled in con
1ection with the Two Hundredth
Anniversary of his birth, will re-
the fullest available Wash
ngtonia for many years. The I'M
iertaking was made possible only
~ the financial provision of the !
United States government. Such
n enterprise may never again be
attempted. 1t is because of these
acts that the commissioners are
Lesirious of making this compil-
,tion as complete as possible. i
DR.. Fitzpatrick estimates that
My one half of Washington's let s
ers have been published in the
81 years since the generals b
cath. Where are the remaining
9tters? Undoubtedly many of a
hem have been destroyed, some
and some through care Y
9ssness. But there e >still nan v
Unpublished letters of Washington
l existence. These the associate i;
irectors of the George Washing F
IN Bicentennial commission are n
nxious to see. T
Many of these letters are in the Il
ossession Of people who do not s.
ealize their historical value. Ev- Y
y now and then a document is tt
iscovered in a most remote place
I'd usually by accident. Because IL
the westward movement after W
lie Revolutionary war, these let
rs have been scattered through Of
1t the United States. Also, be- al
Luse of the keen interest in
'ashington which has been taken
: collectors and scholars, some e
tiers have found their way into =
lrope and even Australia. An
published letter is likely to turn
at any moment in any part
the world.
The George Washington Bicen-
nnial commission does not ask
y one to part with the original
pies of such documents. 1t mere
requests the privilege of exam Z