Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-26
''BOOS" DROWN OUT
HIGHWAY LEADER
Boulevard Hearing in Turmoil
as Lincoln and Lee Are
Compared.
By a staff Correspondent OF The Star.

by q StdH correspondent Oh i lie sur.
ARLINGTON COUNTY, July Go
Charge that persons sponsoring the
proposed Lee Boulevard are CONNER
cializing the name Of Robert e. Lee,
made by Maj. f. w. r. Ewing, the
leader in the straight-to-the- bridge.
route movement, followed up by the
declaration that there was no COM
parison between Lee and Lincoln,
caused hySterical demonstration
near the conclusion Of the conference
If more than 800 residents before mem.
bers of the State Highway Commits
sion at the courthouse here this
afternoon.
A salvo of boos and other express
sions of disapproval, accompanied by
kissing, drowned out any remarks
that Maj. Ewing contemplated rela-
tive to the comparison of Lee and Lin.
coin and for the moment it appeared
that the conference would break up in
wild disorder with Fl. G.. Shirley, chair
man, vainly pounding for order.
Pepper Demands Apology.
The difficult situation was accentu-
ated when Col. j. G.. Pepper rose to
his feet and demanded of Chairman
Shirly that an apology be eXacted
from Maj. Ewing. Maj. Ewing, how
ever, replied they led me to it," The
situation was saved at this moment
when a woman rose from the rear
Of the courtroom, sobbing convulsively
and informing the spectators that she
had two sons in the World War and
that both Lee and Lincoln were
equally great men.
Scores in the crowd who had begun
to leave to emphasize their disap-
proval of Mr.. Ewing's expressions
settled back in their chairs and the
conference resumed it's orderly course,
adjourning a few minutes later for a
luncheon, when the State commits
sioners are to be the guests of leaders
in both the straight-tothe-brid and
Lee Boulevard factions.
Says He Speaks for South.
Maj. Ewing in prefacing his sensa-
tional charge that the Lee Boulevard
adherents are commercialiZing the
| name of Gen. Lee, and that the whole
project Is a business proposition with
them, explained that he had been a
secretary of the Sons of Confederate
Veterans for six years, and that he
believed that he spoke for the men
anu women OF LTe oOuIiidiIu wien he
| said he resents this "commercialism.
1t was Immediately following this
Introduction that he made the declara-
| ton that there was no comparison be-
| tween Lee and Lincoln causing the
hysterical outbreak.
One of the most caustic assailants
of the Lee Boulevard route was Col.
Ashby Williams. who characterized
| it as wholly impractical dream"
II have no quarrel with dreamars,
| but dreams are usually carried on at
night. But this Lee Boulevard dream
| is day time dream. One that in the
name of common sense should not
be realized"
Favor Direct Route.
M. e. Church Of Falls Church i'm
pressed upon the Commissioners that
| in their selection Of route they are
charged with a grave responsibility.
| Mr.. Church said that both roads are
desirable, but that the straight-to-the-
bridge route is absolutely necessary at
! this time.
| Charles r. Jesse, another speaker
for the straight -to-the-bridge faction,
told the Commissioners that the bust.
ness interests Of the county are SOL
idly behind the bridge
route. George r. Harrison, a repre-
sentative Of Fairfax County, told the
commissioners that Fairfax County is
1Continued on page 2. Column 81