Dear Miss Addams:
We are getting underway with our organization for the campaign to establish the Bryan Memorial University at Dayton which will be in honor of the great leader who has recently left us, and which will stand strongly for the fundamentals of Christianity in the interest of which he showed such great leadership.
We will launch our campaign for $100,000. by popular subscription in Rhea County this week. Of the success of this we feel assured, and the county and town will also vote $150,000. in bonds so that Rhea County will start off by furnishing $250,000. of the five million, which is our objective.
We are, while we conduct these premliniary steps, setting up a National Committee of about one hundred leading men and women in the religious and educational world who will sponsor our national campaign. You will recall, of course, having seen a statement from Mrs. Bryan in the press in which she states that "If a memorial college to Mr. Bryan is built anywhere, it should be built at Dayton."
Mr. Josephus Daniels, Chairman of the Committee to establish a memorial to Mr. Bryan in Washington is quoted as follows in the Washington Times of September 12th: "In closing Chairman Daniels said that there will be other memorials in other parts of the Republic seeking to carry on the principles and teachings of Mr. Bryan and that the memorial committee now gathered wishes them God's speed."
Mrs. Bryan furnished us with a list of about sixty of Mr. Bryan's dear friends, a number of whom will constitute the nucleus of this National Committee.
We are attaching hereto a list of those who have so far accepted a place on this committee.
We feel sure of your interest in this enterprise and of your desire to [cooperate] in running up a flag and building a rampart here for the cause for which Mr. Bryan labored so zealously during his last days. We attach hereto a subscription blank showing the basis on which we will pitch this campaign.
Inasmuch as we desire to complete this National Committee at as early a date as possible, we will appreciate your wiring us collect your willingness to serve with us on this committee.
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