Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-08
THE PICNIC WAS HELD
BUT NOT ON WHITE HOUSE
GROUNDS, AS EXPECTED.
Trouble Said to Have Been Caused by
Leagues Exclusion of Color
ed Children.

|
| on the lawn south of the White House.
under the auspices of the woman's Rescue
League. was given on the White Lot near
the intersection of street
There Were only about 200 children pres
| ent the small attendance being the result
OF revocation of the permit to the
White House grounds. which action was
taken at the last moment.
| The members of the league are said to
| be indignant at the treatment to which
| they have been subjected and declare that
the reason therefore is that only white
| children were invited to the entertain
| ment.
For several months the Woman's Rescue
| League has been giving outings to the poor
| children of the District. The entertain
| mentS of the league are for all the poor
children of the city. Tickets to the picnics
are distributed through the police depart
ment. with the sanction of the District
| Commissioners and Major Sylvester
Some weeks ago it was decided to give a
much larger entertainment than had been
attempted before this summer and steps
were taken to secure the White House
grounds, so that large number of children
| could be accommodated.
Arranged for Flag Drill
Mrs. H. Cosgrove. one of the members of
the league, organized a company of children
to give flag drill. Songs and choruses
| were taught to others. There was no oppo-
sition or objection to the use of the White
House grounds by the league. and Colonel
! Symons, superintendent of public buildings
| and grounds, informed Mrs. Smith and her
| associates, it is said that he would be
| pleased to do anything in his power to help
| them with their plans
| 1t was then arranged that the bandstand
| used for concerts at the White House
| should be erected this morning and that
an entertainment including the flag drill
should be given on that. In addition to
| this, the Marine Band was to give a con-
| cert. Mrs Smith also secured permission
| to use several long tables and one or two
rooms In the basement of the White House.
She arranged to borrow water buckets from
| the White House for lemonade. Children
were to be brought in at the leagues ex-
| pense from Takoma Park and other outly-
| ing points. Mai. Sylvester was provided
| with Jo0 tickets, which he ordered to be
| distributed.
The only requirement of the members of
the league was that the tickets would be
distributed to white children.
The final arrangements tor the picnic
We're made yesterday morning when Mrs.
Smith received a letter from Col. Symons
informing her that the band stand would
be erected and everything would be In
readiness to receive the children. A piano
was secured and all arrangements were
complete. At 3 O'Clock in the afternoon
Mrs Smith received a commune alton from
Col. Symons. which read. in part as fol-
lows:
COL SymonS' Letter.
Il regret to inform you that it has be-
come necessary to revoke the permit
granted YOU on the 4th instant to use the
iEclosed grounds south of the White House
on Saturday. August s. from 8 am to s
pm. for entertaining $40 of the children
of Washington.
In lieu thereof. you may use for the pur-
pose indicated any portion of the grounds
in the Presidents Park. CWh:te LoO. out
side the iron fence inclosing the White
House grounds. and it is hoped that this
change in location will be found conve-
nient and agreeable"
Continuing Col. Symons stated that it
would not be practicable to erect the band
stand on this part of the lot, as 1t would
have to be used later in the afternoon for
the regular concert at the White House and
there would not he time to take it down
and move it.
The receipt of this letter threw the Rescue
League into state of excitement. Mrs
Smith rushed to the War Department to
see Col Symons. This official was not
seen, but the clerks in the office minated,
II Is SAID that the order came from high
er authority than the superintendent Of
| pubic buildings and grounds.
Mrs. Smith called meeting of the league
at the Arlington Hotel yesterday evening.
Aften a long discussion. it was decided to
| give the picnic anyhow, and to take the
children into the streets if necessary
1t was too late to make any arrange
ments for the change of base of operations
was therefore on hand early this morning
to countermand old orders and give new
ones.
Orders Were Counterma nded.
Ice cream had been ordered to be deliv-
cred at the White House, as had also can
dy, cakes sandwiches. bread sugar, ETC.
1t was necessary to countermand the order
for the piano. the ice cream and some Of
the other things. Some time was spent in
| securing a place to hold the picnic When
| it was finally decided to use that portion
of the White Lot opposite the intersection
of e street 1t was necessary to secure ia
| bles. buckets and make arrangements for
| the water supply.
Boards and barrels ware secured with
which to make the tables, and buckets
| were purch9 sed in which water could he
| hauled. Arrangements We're de with
persons In the neighhorhood for the water
| supply and by o'clock things were in
readiness for the reception of the children
| Some of the children had already arrived
| at the White House grounds however and
| finding no one there to receive Them went
! back to their homes.
The women in charge of the groups of
| children who lived on Capitol Hill and in
the suburbs were notified not to bring the
children in. hut to give them picnic where
! they were. Therefore only about two hun-
dred out of the 500 put in an appearance
The day was nassed very pleasantly by
the children. They enjoyed the good things
! served tncfn ana played games and danced
| to the music of the hand organ
1t had been Mrs. Smiths intention to
| march the children TO their homes through
the principal ST eets of the city, each wear
ing an American flag and poster on which
was printed:
WELCOME. Children to the White House
Lot Saturday. August Sth. 1903 Womans
! Rescue League"
The poster contained n picture of the
leagues device. a woman assisting a fallen
| sister to rise. After the order had been
| revoked Mrs. Smith and her assistants set
| to work revising the wording of Their DOS
| ter. and If the children march home this
afternoon they will wear posters proclaim
| ing that they We're:
| mot
| WELCOME CHILDREN
to the
White House Lot etc"
| In the entertainment Of the children to-
| day Mrs Smith assisted by almost ev-
| cry member of the league among whom
| were Mrs. ". Cosrrove. Mrs. o. Bxby
/ Miss Hill, Mrs. ohenholtz Mrs Bunny and
| Mrs. MacTcrorph
Colonel Symons. SUPERINTENDENT Of public