Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-04-07
VETERANS DECRY
LITTLE AID GIVEN
Presidents Coolidge and
Doumergue Exchange Cor
dial Messages.

| Echoes Of dissatisfaction with
! Americas attitude toward the vet
Grams and problems left by the war
| remained in the air today follow
| ing several meetings yesterday and
| last night commemorative the tenth
anniversary of the declaration of
war. Three speakers seized upon the
| OCCASION to comment on what they
considered signs of forgetfulness.
The only official recognition of the
day came in an exchange of tele-
grams between President Doumergue
of France and President Coolidge.
| which were marked by extreme
| friendliness and good will. Presi-
| dent Doumergue declared that ION
this glorious anniversary all France
is thrilled to recall those memories
of American intervention on behalf
of Threatened civilization" Presi-
dent Coolidge said on behalf of the
American people that ut is a mat
ter of just pride that they We're en-
ab1ed to assist with the sons of
France and of her allies in the
triumph of democratic principles"
Thanks French President.
President Coolidges reply read as
follows:
'T thank your excellency for the
cordial message which you sent to
me on the tenth anniversary of the
entrance Of the United States into the
World War, the friendly sentiments
of which ] highly appreciate and
which / shall not fail to make known
to the American people, to whom it
is a matter Of just pride that they
were enabled to assist with the sons
af LN.soyn nd Of ho
triumph democratic principles"
Bitter criticism of the attitude of
Congress and the people of Washing
ton toward veterans here marked an
address by Capt. Paul j. McGahan,
American Legion national executive
committeeman for the District and
past department commander, to a
joint meeting OF Sergt. Jasper and
Belleau Wood posts last night at the
Thomas Circle Club.
Congress and the people of Wash
ington, he declared, have failed gen.
orally to pay tribute to the valor
and willingness to serve of our Dis
trict veterans. On a nickel-anddim
basis Washington has given. Yes, and
even to the extent of some old clothes.
But beyond that, very little"
Congress has done for the District
only what it has done for all veterans.
Capt. McGahan declared. Practically
every State has done something addi-
tional, but Congress has not localized
its treatment Of veterans Ito the ex-
tent that is their due because of its
paternal legislative relationship to the
disfra nchised Capital City" he as
serted.
Congress hasn't provided a memo
rial to the veterans of the District
thing almost every other State Legis-
lature or City Council in the land
has done. Had it not been
principally for the veterans them
selves the memorial trees that line
Sixteenth street would not be in place,
and thus 10 years after the start OF
the World War, excepting for those
memorial trees, Washington would
have been without any outward mani
festation Of esteem and tribute to the
valor and fidelity and patriotism Of its
dead sons and daughters"
Warns of Pacifism.
Representative Lamar letters of
Alabama warned the veterans to be
continuously on their guard to COM
bat the spread of pacifistic propa
ganda. A spirit of pacifism is sweep
ing the country, he said.
ford Mac Nider, addressing the stu
dent body of the University of Mary
land at memorial exercises yester-
day, declared that America is over
run with apologists and organizations
whose members make a practice of
holding the country's international
dealings up TO scorn. America has
the smallest army in the world, he
said, and those who favor further
disarmament must so to more mill
tant nations.
Reference to charges that the Fed
eral Council of Churches has been
dominated by pacifistic principles
was made at the meeting of the
Washington Federation of Churches
last night. when DIR. John NJ Moore.
general secretary of the Federal
Council. declared that the organiza-
ton was happy for the attack.
Capt. Frederick Reynolds delivered
a memorial address to soldiers of the
war at a meeting of the Kenneth
H. Nash post. American Legion, last
night at the Gavel Club.