Evening star., 1927-05-16
LEGION AUXILIARY !.
NOT IN Ceremony
Withdraws From Service at
Capitol in Memory OF
Dean Emma GiIlett.

Although it had accepted an invita-.
ton to participate in the memoriaI
services held at tho Capitol YESTERDAY
afternoon for Dean Emma GlIielt,
founder of the Washington CoIese ot
Law and q pioneer feminist, tne
American Legion Auxiliary OF the DIS
trict of Columbia withdrew from It's
part in the program rev hours oe-
fore the ceremonies began.
Mrs. Thacker V. Walker. Depart
ment commander of the auxiha.y' en-
planned today that the Wltnurd"dI
from the memorial was brought ABOUT
by orders from national headquarters
at Indianapolis. because 1t was not
a patriotic demonstration. ohe
denied that the national headquarters
acted on reports that the Woman ia
triot Publishing Co. and Frank IL
Peckham, vice president OF the SEN
tinels of the Republic; had filed pro-
tests against he use of the Capltoi
for memorial services by the Natlohal
Woman's Party, under whose auspices
the services were held.
Reason for Acceptance.
"The national headquarters knew
nothing about that" Mrs. Walker de-
clared. 1--WE were invited to partici-
pate and accepted because 1t was a
very lively sentiment for Mrs. Glllett'
whom l knew personally ana whom
we all loved. Some one informed me,
however, that the auxiliary could not
act in such matters without the ap-
proval of the Legion itself, so called
headquarters at Indianapolis yester-
day morning and was told IT would
not be good policy to attend" Mrs.
Walker said that as far as she knew
= fnft n
Gus other national organizations like
wise had no bearing on the decision or
the Legion.
The services yesterday marked the
second time in history that a woman
has been honored by a memorial at
the Capitol, the first occasion being
the tribute in 1915 to Inez Milholland,
the suffrage leader.
To music furnished by the United
States Marine Band Orchestra, a pro-
cession of banner bearers carrying
the emblems of leading women's or
ganizations, marched in from opposite
sides CT the erotunda and came
to attention as a guard OF honor
behind the speakers. Twenty young
women of the Church of the Trans
figuration, Miss Gillett's church, and
so members of the National Woman's
Party, in which Miss Gillett headed
the lawyers council, carried the BAN
ners while the orchestra played For.
ward Be Our Watchword."
Choir Music a Feature.
Immediately following the process
sion, the choir of the First Congre-
gational Church, with Ruby Smith
Stahl as director, entered, singing as
they marched Services were opened
with the invocation by Rev. DIR. John
]. Queally of the Church of the Trans.
f1guration. Mrs. Harvey w. Wiley,
chairman of the memorial committee,
presided and addresses were given by
Dean Grace Hays Riley. of the Wash
| ington College of Law; Judge Kathryn
Sellers of the Juvenile Court. repre-
senting the Woman's Bar Association.
and Mrs. Donald r. Hooker, national
council chairman Of the Woman's
Party
Mrs. Wiley, I'm introducing the
speakers, linked the name of Miss Gill
lett with Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth
Cady Stanton and with Susan E.
Anthony, a marble statue Of whom
stands in the crypt.
Dean Riley sketched the life Of
| Miss Gillett while Mrs. Hooker EN-.
phasized her contribution to the fem
| mist movement. "She opened one of
| the great professions to- women" Mrs.
| Hooker declared. miss Gillett's life
| interprets to the present generation
| of feminists the sacrifice of the early
| pioneers. and bridges over the gulf
| which separates the unsuccessful from
the successful feminist movement In
this country"