The Washington herald., 1911-08-28

Nothing seems to have caught the
humor Of the people of Washington with
equal force as the suggestion made by
The Washington Herald that the city
celebrate the centennial Of the close OF
the war of 1872 along with the opening
OF the Panama Canal in 1915" said Isaac
Cans. chairman Of the publicity COM
mittee Of the Chamber OF Commerce,
last night
The event lends itself to the celeora-
ton idea 90 well that the air is already
fun Of possibilities In the way Of attrac-
tons for a weeks entertainment. and
the only difficulty that will present itself
is selection from among so many good
suggestions that have already been Of
fered.
when the committee meets during
this week. as I hope to arrange" said
Mr. Cans, IT am sure that 1t will meet
with the heartiest support from every
member. I have already talked with
several Of the members and they heart
lily approve OF the proposed celebration.
Washington Topham, member OF the
publicity committee, said that the fea-
ture was one of the best that he had
heard proposed in all the suggestions
that had come to his notice This city
played a conspicuous part In the war
lolE, D6lIlS luc ScLllCi VA O4IS -
the operations. 1t is therefore hitting
that the ceehration of that event take
place in Washington, above all other
places Then the suggestion OF coupling
the great commercial triumph OF cutting
a pathway for the carriers OF the Worio
through the Panama Canal with tne
celebration Of a century OF peace WITH
our great commercial rival is one that
seems to me to be in perfect harmony
with the original idea.
Popular with People.
William F. GUIDE. former president Of
the Chamber of Commerce. said that
the idea is an excellent one and seems
to have aroused popular feeling
throughout the city in surprising de-
gree. The whole sentiment OF the
American people is making for peace.
We have arbitration treaties. which.
while no one expects them 10 put an
end TO war. at least will go long way
toward promoting a peaceful and bus-
inesslike settlement of international
disputes
THE peace sentiment is in the air.
To celebrate a whole century of peace
with a nation that has seen so
much of war in other directions in
that time, while we ourselves have
had pages of our own history
filled with the annals of blood, is
pleasant thing TO do. I am sure that
1t has struck a chord of public favor
that will make the celebration one Of
the best that could possibly be sug-
gested."
TT seems to me that the addition OF
the celebration of the peace treaty
lends an international aspect to cele-
bration that might otherwise have been
only national in its scope. If the plan
of assembling vessels from the navies
OF the world at Hampton Roads be car
ried out, and the entertainment Of Wis
itors from all the great nations of
the world be held in Washington. some
thing of the kind which The Washing
ton Herald has suggested is needed to
carry out that end OF the programme. I
am heartily in favor of the plan"
D. J. Callahan. vice president of the
Chamber of Commerce and chairman of
the subcommittee on advertising Wash
ington as residential city. expressed
himself as very strongly in favor of
the plan of adding the peace centen-
nial TO the Panama Canal celebration
in 1915.
1T is an admirable idea, and one of
the best and most practicable of the
many suggestions that have been put
forward to fttingly celebrate a great
occasion I do want, however, to see the
whole thing pitched on a scale OF such
magnifcence as will reflect credit on the
city.
Unique for Capital.
Il would favor arranging a meeting
between the Commissioners of the Dis
trict and its representative citizens as
soo1 as practicable, to discuss the ques-
tion in all OF its several aspects, with
view to securing one Of the most mag
nifcent celebrations that this city has
history of Washington; the events that
will be celebrated are Of the utmost i'm
portance, the one OF the past the other
of the future.
Il would deprecate any attempt at
anything less than the finest pageant
and spectacular effects that the people
Of the city are capable Of securing
With stop-over privileges to tourists
from the East. going to or coming from
San Francisco, we will, IL the occasion
IL Of sufficient brilliance and magnificence
to attract them. bring to our celebration
vast concourse OF visitors. There is
an opportunity for the citizens of Wash
ington to make 1915 memorable for all
time In local history, and hope they
will make II the great success that its
enormous possibilities would justify US
In expecting"
Seventeen kinds OF sharks inhabit the