Evening star., 1926-11-14
NEARLY 5000 Join
CITIZENS GROUPS
First Day of Membership
Drive Is SuCcess-Presi-
dent Studies Invitation.

Moving into every avenue of Wash
angton's varied fabric Of Government
and business life, civic leaders ant
workers in the organized citizenship
campaign sponsored by the Fedora
tion Of Citizens Associations yester
day enrolled between 5000 and 5000
members in the mighty army O
Washington residents banded together
within the various citizens associa
t!ons OF the National Capital. Report:
at a late hour last night at headquar
ters Of the organized citize nship drive
1896 New York avenue. made it Ger
tain that nearly 10 per cent Of the
$4,000 members set as a goal for the
drive mad been enrolled on the frs
day.
The opening of the drive wa:
marked by an official visit to the
White House Of three prominent civic
workers who sought to enroll the
President in the ranks of organized
citiZenry Of the Capital. Presiden
Coolidge, even though he did not sigr
enrolment blank No. /, which hat
been reserved for him, indicated his
sincere sympathy with the movemen'
and his hope for it's success. Those
who called at the White House We're
James G.. Yaden, newly elected presi
dent Of the Federation of Citizens AS
sociations: Jesse c. Suter, chairman
of the membership campaign, anc
Mai Gen. Eli A. Helmick, an ardent
civic worker.
President Considers Blank.
Thomas f. Lodge, president of the
American University Park Citizens
Association. turned in to headquar'
ters early in the day the first com,
pleted book Of enrollments-10 in all
secured by him in and near the
Municipal Courthouse, where he
worked in conjunction with William
S. Torbert of the Rhode Island Ave
nue. Citizens Association, a former
member of the Citizens Advisory
Council. other completed books came
in later in the day. swelling the total
which grew in number as the after
noon wore on until those in charge at
headquarters estimated the total en-
rollment of the first day would be in
the neighborhood of 5000 persons
One of the first to sign up was Corpl
James Tanner, register of wills. An
other early signed was Col. Robert L.
Longstreet. a son of Gen. Longstreet
of Civil War fame.
President Coolidge did not refuse to
sign the enrolment blank. but indi
Gated he would rather think the mat
ter over and give his answer later.
The White House Is within the
boundaries of the West End Asso-
citation. President Wilson became a
member of a citizens association in
the first big drive in 1910.
The we'll organized movement to en-
roll $4,000 Washingtonians in the
ranks OF organized citizenry began
early in the morning. with workers
going into every agency of Govern
ment and business, gathering momen.
tum as the day progressed, until a
veritable landslide OF applications
swamped the small staff at headquar.
ters. Indications were that tomorrow
with the city really aroused to the
movement within it, would even
eclipse the mark Of yesterday and
that by midweek the goal would be
well in sight.
Will Invade Stores.
Transportation companies were tc
take a hand in the movement today
with the placing of placards on street
cars and of banners on buSSes. bear
ing the slogan, Join a citizens asso
citation today" prominently displayed
The bus companies were permitted tC
display the banners on the outside OF
the vehicles on a special ruling from
Engineer Commissioner Bell, who in.
terpreted the stand of the Public
Utilities Commission in favor of such
action.
Tomorrow morning a canvass Of all
the department stores and women S
and mems furnishing stores in down
town Washington will be undertaken.
Application blanks have been placed
III all the larger stores for the store
tn
The same time the aims of the citizen
ship drive committee will be displayed
on the silver screen of motion picture
houses and theaters throughout the
city in the form of a Berryman-d drawn
cartoon of Father District of Colum-
bia" pointing to a banner. with these
words inscribed: viii You Join in
he shown in all theaters which are
members Of the Motion Picture Opera
Tors Association. comprising virtually
all the Washington theaterS.
While the drive is being conducted
in the District of Columbia primarily
10 bring members into the citizens
associations In the District. it has
spread out into the areas adjacent to
he National Capital as we'll. Co
operating plans have been worked out
n conjunction with authorities of the
Montgomery and Arlington County
Civic Fedora tiOnS.
A street parade and dance were held
under the auspices of the EdSeWood
Citizens Association III the asSoCia
ions territory last night. Third
~treet northeast between Adams and
Bryant streets was reserved for dane
lng, while many decorated automobiles
took part in the parade. The entire
affair was under the direction OF
George r. Marble. president OF the
association.
Bell Urges Joining.
Acting under orders OF Commits
aioner Proctor L. Dougherty. himself
member of a citizens association
and for many years a prominent civic
worker in Washington, the police sta
lion houses and fire houses have sup
plies OF application blanks on hant
ior prospective members Of the banC
OF organized citizenry.
AS the drive swung into its SECOND
day, gathering momentum for the full
week ahead. Commissioner Bell urge(
all citizens to join an association t
insure complete knowledge Of public
affairs. His statement follows:
When the United States wa
formed there came into being a new
type Of Government in which the peO
ple are the Government and the vii
OF the people is the law. On all of u
rests the obligation TO perform ou
duties as part of the Government ant
20 give evidence of our will. Citizens
associations furnish the opportunit.
10 Join with our neighborS in tn
study of public problems, and from
such study comes the knowledge o
public affairs which is the basis o
Intelligent action and good govern