Evening star., 1916-10-20
PARK VIEW BODY
HONORS M'GRATH
President Of Citizens Associa-
tion Is Presented With Gold
Watch and Chain.
SPEAKERS LAUD HIS WORK

John G. McGrath, for many years
president of the Park View Citizens
| Association, last night was given one
of the biggest surprises Of his life.
when. in the course of a reception ten
dered by the association to officials and
members Of other civic bodies. he was
presented with gold watch by the
Park View organization and a gold
chain by the Federation of Citizens
Associations.
The presentation was the feature OF
the fourth of the series of community
celebrations being held at the Park
View School. Newton and Warder
streets, in commemoration of the COM
pletion of the building and the paving
of Georgia avenue. J. c. Hoyle. vice
president Of the association. and Ed
ward F. Colladay. president Of the Fed
Grafton Of Citizens Associations, made
the presentation addresses.
AS Mr.. Hoyle finished his remarks. In
which he lauded the work done for
Park View by Mr.. McGrath. and also
read a tribute to the latter's public
spiritedness by e. J. Ward. who was
unable to attend on account OF illness;
he stepped to the front of the stage ana
proposed three cheers for our presl-
dent" There was rousing response.
Mr.. colladay Is Heard.
At this point, Mr.. Colladay took
charge of the proceedings and an
nounced that Mr.. McGrath's associates
in the federation, desiring to give some
expression to their appreciation OF his
services to the entire District as well
as his own community. had purchased
a chain to go with the watch.
The meeting developed largely into
an ovation to Mr.. McGrath, with lauda-
tory references made to his labors as
community leader by all the speak
C. ]. James Of Petworth. Evan H.
Tucker, Charles r. Burr of Anacostia
and others. Despite the inclement
weather the exercises attracted a good
sized crowd
The new Park View Band, organized
only six weeks ago. played for the first
time in the auditorium of the school
and made a favorable Impression. The
was contributed by Mrs. A. B. Crane,
who sang a dozen or more catchy
verses written by her husband about
Park View and the men and women
who have helped to put it on the map.
Other Numbers on Program.
Other contributions to the musical
program were Miss Zelda L. Miller. a
piano solo; Mrs. Thomas A. Hulhsh and
Maurice Fitzgerald. vocal solos, and
Chester Crawford. cornet solo.
President Co1laday was the principal
speaker. To prove that the Park View
Association has been accomplishing g
things, under Mr.. McGrath's admins
tration, he referred to the fact that
this organization. as far back as 1900,
went on record for cheaper gas; that
in 1912 1t passed a resolution for ade-
uuate fremen's and policemen's PEN
sions. and since then has urged other
improvements, including the need of a
school in Park View. loan shark law,
maintenance of the ha1f-and-half plan
of legislation for the District. and 9TH
been realized.
Mr.. Colladay gave Mr.. McGrath and
the Park View Association credit for
starting the Federation OF Citixens As
sociations. He declared that Wash
ington's citizens associations have a
prototype in the early clans and that
the organization Of the federation
Of the efforts of local citizens to take
a more active part in the affairs Of the
government. While the federation has
been given semt-omcial status
through the recognition Of the Com
misioners. Mr.. Colladay declared that
the evolution begun will not be COM
pleted until the Constitution of the
United States has been amended to give
the people Of the District right to
branches Of Congress.