Evening star., 1927-04-19
D. A. R. CONGRESS
FORMALLY OPENED
Members Receive Letter of
Greeting From President
and Hear Noted Speakers.


Renewed assurance that women to
day can stand on their own feet in
solving financial problems as well as
in other phases of life was attested
bv Mrs. Alfred J. Brosseau president
general, National Society Daughters
of the American Revolution, in max
ing her report on the Constitution
Hall committee at today's session of
the Thirty-siXth Continental Congress.
now holding forth in the Washington
. Auditorium.
Explaining the stand of the national
board Of maagement TO defer the
building of the proposed ID. A. Fl. Au-
ditorium at an approximate cost or
$2,500 900. until $1.000,000 in ready
cash is raised, Mrs. Brosseau declared
that the psychological time to raise
money for such project is before the
building is erected, rather than attef-
ward.
"The action of the Thirty-fifth Con-
tinental Congress in reducing the
mortgage from 81 500 900 to S1,00O,00
was a wise move" said Mrs. BrOsseau,
"but it presented a new financial prob
lem"
So it was the consensU7 Of the com
/, mittee and the board that this million
dollars should be the limit of debt as
sumed by the society, she added.
President Coolidge's Letter Read.
letter was read from President
Coolidge, by Mrs, Brosseau, as fol-
lows:
"As I indicated to your hast conven-
ton, the duties OF the President are
such that it is impossible to make an
annual address to your organization
Already / have appeared before 1t for
that purpose at least four times, and
perhaps can come again at some fu-
ture occasion. ] wish you would eX-
press 10 your delegates my deep ap-
preciation of their firm support OF the
American Government, They stand
for the Constitution and the flag.
They believe in adequate military de-
fense and represent the principles
that have made this country free and
prosperous They are always on the
alert to point out the difference be-
tween license and liberty, the destruc-
tion of our institutions and the promo
tion of human welfare. For all of
,this patriotic work they are entitled to
the appreciation of all loyal Ameri-
cans.
Mrs. Coolidge and I are looking
forward TO the privilege Of receiving
yourself and your delegates according
to invitations already extended"
Greeted by Distinguished Guests.
High officials, members OF the diplo-
matte corps and a large contingent
from residential circles were the spe-
cial guests at the brilliant formal open
ing of the congress last night in the
auditorium Mrs. Brosseau, escorted
by her personal pages, Miss Barbara
Hight and Miss Mildred Overman Nor
veil, and her three military aides, rep
resentative of the Army, Navy and
sAIarine Corps, Col. John j. Fulmer. Z.
S. A: Comdr. Aubrey ". Fitch, L. S.
n, and Maj Randolph Coyle, Z. S. NJ.
c., walked down the center aisles of
the auditorium TO the platform, where
she called the session to order
Dean Bratenahl of the Washington
Cathedral gave the invocation and
pronounced the benediction.
An effective musical feature was the
nine harpists, dressed in classical cos
tunes with gold bindings on their hair,
members of the Dorothy Johnston
Baseler Harp Ensemble of Philadel-
phia. The Marine Band Orchestra
gave concert before the opening of
the session and played the march The
Stars and Stripes" as the pages
marehsd in procession down the aiSles.
Miss Nora McGin Keefer, mezzo so
prano, sang '"The Star Spangled Ban
ner," accompanied by the Marine Band
Orchestra.
Secretary Nilbur's Address.
Secretary of the Navy Wilbur in
making the principal address at the
formal opening of the congress last
night emphasized the uniting infiu-
ences produced by the Constitution of
the United States. "The more perfect
union sought to be established by the
Constitution is still in process of for
nation
In the earlier days it was the faith
bf George Washington Secretary VIII
bur continued, land of his associates
in the endurance of the Government
IL equipped with ample powers to de-
Veiop into great nation that brought
about the constitutional convention
and the drafting of the Constitution.
s'And it was the faith of the people
In George Washington, inspired by his
conduct, by his character and his in
telligence, that led them to approve
the Constitution with its restrictions
upon State sovereignty and it's am
plif1cation of national sovereignty. 1t
was the faith anA.the works of those
who fought in the Revolutionary War
and their successors, which perfected
the organization thus initiated"
Speaking of the Governments ma
tional defense agencies. the Secretary