Evening star., 1922-10-28
Bright Future for Washington
Pictured by Simon Wolf, SO
Birthday Occasion,
for ReuieaU of
Progress.
Lal.ds Ciuic Spirit
after 90 Years.
Residence.

From village of unusual oppor-
tunities. Washington has grown to be
city with still greater opportuni-
ties, according to Simon Wolf, who
celebrates his eighty-sixth birthday
anniversary today. and his sixtieth
year as a resident of the National
Capital
Seated in the library at hts home.
at 20l3 Columbia road. the other even
ing. MIR. Wolf was optimistic over
the future of the District, although
seeing clearly some Of the dangers
that confront the capital as well as
the nation.
Paying tribute to President Hard
ing as one Of the line of Presidents
that have kept the welfare Of Wash
ington close to heart, Mr.. Wolf said
mat 1T Is a pleasure to state that
PRESIDENT Harding. in his messages
80 Tar delivered, has been inspired
by the truly patriotic American spirit
Tor the enlargement and beautifying
of Washington.
when. came to Washington In
1862" Mr.. Wolf said. glanctng out of
the window at what had been forest
at that time. "Washington, was truly
the city Of magnificent distances 1t
was a village of large opportunities,
which had been made by President
washington and the SF'rench engi-
neer. L'Enfant.
From Grant to the present. every
fresident has taken deep patriotic
interest in the Identification and de-
Seiopment OF Washington. 1t was
Gen. Grant, under the inspiration of
GOV. Shepherd and Crosby s. Noyes,
who gave the start to the work that
made the city thing OF beauty and
a joy forever.
Commissioners' Lofty View.
Every Commissioner since the
days q change in the form of gov
ernmeht has caught the same lofty
conception. fortified by self -sacri-
hcing citizenship. reinforced by such
organizations as the Board of Trade,
Chamber Of Commerce and a few, un-
fortunately very few, men in Con-
i,ress.
Many Of those who should have
taken pride In making the city what
James Bryce said was the most beau
tiful in the world. were narrow and
provincial In the recognition of what
their own capital should be. Many of
them legislated for their National
Capital In the same spirit they would
have for a small town in their home
state.
My keenest regret" Mr. Wolf con-
tinued. "is that I can't be here fifty
years from now, to see the yet greater
progress made by coming generations
Yes. from village of opportunities
It mas grown to 2 great city of still
prospective opportunity the franchise
to women gives spur and zest,
The time will come, and not far
distant. when the District will have
representation in both branches of the
national Congress. as it should have
had all these years, for it is the most
absurd proposition that the capital of
a nation should not have representa-
tion when the basic principle of that
government is the franchise.
Greater Unity Promised.
There would then be. as there
should be. more unity of action in
what the needs of the city demand,
instead OF dozen organizations each
voicfng It's own demands, and thus
defeating the ideals of a larger con-
ception."
Returning to the Identification of
the city. Mr.. Wolf declared that the
plan submitted to Congress by the
late Senator Mcmillan will be carried
out in all details in the future in
cluding the building of the memorial
bridge across the Potomac at the site
of the Lincoln Memorial, the bridge to
be lined with statues of eminent
Americans.
THE time will come when in every
park and square yet unoccupied will
be the bust OF some man. irrespec-
tive OF nationality, who has made a
record In the arts. invention. letters
or other branch Of human endeavor.
to reduce the sameness of the man
on horseback
Utilization of Great Falls and COM
mercial activities outside the city lin
it's should be the aim of every true
lover of the capital, Mr.. Wolf de-
clared.
washington should be the intel
lectual. social. political and. diplo-
matte center of the world, from which
should radiate an influence for a
broader kinship and 1oftier states
manship than any other country In
the world can offer" he said.
Always an Optimist.
Mr.. Wolf declared that. he had al
ways been an optimist. but that he
could not help seeing some ."clouds
on the bright horizon, which time and
education and a still higher culture
will no doubt destroy"
The strike as a weapon in the
hands of labor: said Mr.. Wolf, must
be dealt with, not in a spirit of CO.
ercion, but in q spirit Of harmonious
cooperation. The law that governs
capital must govern labor. The rights
of one are the rights of the other. and
as Lincoln said when he signed the
emancipation proclamation. what he
did was not only for the coiored man,
but for the white no less. What ele-
waited one elevated the other. Labor
is the great factor in the development
and happiness of man. and must be
dealt with on its merits. and not as
a factor for violence and toadying to
its threats at the polls.
II think the Presidents veto mes
sage of the bonus bill was.Sone of
the great landmarks tof. American
statesmanship. The American soldier