Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-05
FORD INTERESTED
IN LEE BIRTHPLACE
Restoration of Stratford Hall
Assured by Speakers
at Dinner.

The restoration of Stratford Hall
the birthplace of Robert E. Lee, which
has been undertaken by the Robert E
Lee Foundation, was held to be assured
of success by speakers who discussed
the movement at a dinner meeting last
evening attended by about 700 men,
bers of the foundation and guests.
The interest of Henry Ford in the
enterprise was reported by Mrs Charles
Lanier, life president of the foundation
She told the dinner guests that the au-
tomobile manufacturer and his wife &C
companied her and Miss Ethel Armes,
executive secretary of the foundation,
on a tour of Stratford during the day.
A statement which Mrs. Lanier said MI.
Ford had prepared for reading at the
dinner in praise of Lee was presented
by her along with comment that Mr..
Ford had seemed unusually Interested
in Stratford and the foundations plan.
Ford Displays Interest.
''Mr. Ford has been making a deep
study of the historic landmarks and
treasures in America" said Mrs. Lanier,
land showed himself to be unusually
interested in Stratford Hall. We have
no news of a gift from him, however"
Mr. and Mrs. Ford arrived in Fred
ericksburg yesterday en- route to Sa-
they met the officials of the foundation
and motored out to Stratford, 40 miles
east of Fredericksburg. Following the
trip. they resumed their journey South,
where they will remain for vacation.
Representative Henry st. George
Tucker of Virginia, one of the speakers
of the evening, predicted certain success
for the foundation, declaring that I've
lived long enough to know that when the
women of this country undertake to do a
thing, Stonewall jackson and Robert
E. Lee combined couldn't prevent then"
Confidence in State Groups.
Mrs. Lanier announced that $50, 900
already had been paid on the property,
which is being purchased by the foun-
dalton for $4,000, and that $4,000
of the remaining sum was lin sight,
though not in hand" She expressed
complete confidence that State groups
would organize to complete the pur-
chase as fast as suitable directors could
be appointed for the organization work.
Twenty-one States already are organ
lied, she said. Two gifts were an
nounced by Mrs. Lanier, also-one of
$1,000, given by the family of Mrs.
Mary du Pont Laird of Maryland, and
the other. $4,000. received from Mrs.
William NJ. Reynolds of Winston Salem
~. ~. LII dOU!IlUl, LLlS OEiSlIldl UldIlu-
script of a speech on Robert E. Lee,
which had been delivered last month
before the Dixie Chapter. United Daugh-
ters of the Confederacy, Columbus, Ohio,
was auctioned of twice. Representative
Sol Bloom bought it each time. paying
a total of S270 on his two high bids. 1t
was later presented to Mrs. Bloom.
List of Other Speakers.
Among the other speakers were RAN
dolph Leigh, financial secretary of the
District of Columbia Foundation; eX-
Senator Blair Lee of Maryland, Repre-
sentative r. Walton Moore of Virginia,
all Of whom paid glowing tributes to
Lee; Rev. John d. Ryan of Catholic
University, who read one of the poems,
THE Sword of Lee" of Father Ryan,
the priest-poet
Mrs. Joseph E. Washington, director
of the District of Columbia Foundation,
presided. Among the other guests at
the speakers table We're Mrs Woodrow
Wilson, who assisted in receiving earlier
IN the evening; Father Ryan, Mrs. En-
erson Newell, State director for Connec-
ticut; Bishop James L. Freeman. Mrs.
Edwin G. Gregory. director for North
Carolina; Mrs. Edward @. Gibson, direc-
tor for Maryland Mrs. Walter r. Tuck
erman, vice director OF the local COM
m1ttee; Mrs. Rose G. Hoes. secretary;
Mrs. Theodore j. Pickett, Mrs. Caleb
G. MacGruder, H. Latane Lewis and
Walter Davidge, members of the execu-
tive committee.
Two granddaughters Of Gen. Lee, Mrs.
Hanson Ely, jr., and Mrs. William H.
De Butts, were present.
The invocation was pronounced by the
Right Rev. James E. Freeman. Bishop of
washington. Misses Rebecca and
Penelope Tarwater of Tennessee sang
Negro spirituals during the evening.