The Washington herald., 1917-08-23
CITIZENS Bid
NEWMAN ADIEU
Retiring Commissioner Re
ceives Practical Gift from
Park View Community.

Civilization discovered in Prussian-
ism a poisonous growth that threat
ened everything decent and worth
while in the world. 1t must be cut
out. l thought long and seriously upon
the question, what / ought to do.
didn't want to leave you folks here
at home. But 1 came to feel that in
the years ahead I couldn't live with
myself If / didn't offer now to do my
part In this tremendous, ugly Job"
In these words Mai. Oliver p. New
man, who leaves the office of presi-
dent of the Board of District Com
missioners this week to enter military
service as major of artillery, summed
up the reason for his decision I'm a
farewell address at the Park View
Community Center yesterday after
noon.
In opening the meeting John G. Nc
Grath. community secretary and
president of the Citizens Association.
explained that the community had
planned a large farewell demonstra-
tion in honor of Mai Newman.
The governments order that you
report at Petersburg next week pre-
vents our carrying out that plan,"
said Mr.. McGrath, addressing the re-
firing Commissioner, but we didn't
want to let you get away without at
least saying 'good-by,' for we have
learned to like you, and we hate to
see you go.
Praises Newman's Work.
"As a newspaper man." continued
Secretary McGrath, you showed an
intelligent, human interest in getting
things done that the people wanted
done. You put yourself and your
ability as a writer into securing i'm
provements that would benefit all the
people, not just a certain class OF the
people. Then, when you became Com
missioner, you didn't climb up on a
pedestal where you couldn't be got
at, and you didn't spend your time
just holding down the job. You opened
the doors OF the District Building to
the people as they had never been
open before. And when you found
what folks wanted, you put a mans
sympathy and a mans enthusiasm
into the work OF getting 1t done.
This school building" he conclud-
ed Its character and the fact that
the people of this section have a
place where we can cooperate, and
where community life can develop ac-
cording to the peoples own desire,
is largely due to your efforts and in
terest. 1t is a good expression OF the
service you have rendered and the
spirit you have shown. When you go
away. we the people of Park View
and all the people Of the District lose
a friend"
Among others who voiced apprecia
ton of Mai Newman were George II.
Russell, Park View representative in
the Federation of Citizens Associa-
tons: Miss Frances Farley. princi-
pal Of the Park View School; E. F.
Hartley. representing the Park View
Social Club. and Miss Cecil B. Norton,
general secretary of Community Cen
tiers.
Following these speeches, in which
admiration for the genuinely demo-
cratic character of Mai. Newman, re-
-ret at his leaving and hope for his
safety and speedy return were ex-
pressed, Mr.. McGrath made the pres
entation of a receipted order for
pair OF artillery officers boots.
Mai. Newman Replies.
In the response Mai. Newman said
in part: Il don't like to say Cood-by.
OF course, have the feeling that
every soldier has, that I will be
among those who will come back. And
If I do come back when the job is,
done. l shall come back here. l have
no idea Of continuing as a professional
soldier beyond this war. This will
not change the course Of my life. 1T
Will continue to be devoted to helTinG
on in human advancement. through
perfeCtig the machinery and processes
of democracy. I expect to come back
here and to go in some form of ci-
william service"
Commissioner Newman then said
that it was very gratifying to have