Evening star., 1928-05-06
WASHINGTON HUB
OF us. ACTIVITIES.
Declared Center of "Ameri-
can Universe" PWoting Here
All important Endeavor.
By FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

the people OF the United States that
Washington has been converted from
the merslv political center OF the
Nation into the hub OF the American
universe. Events OF the past fortnight
have graphically produced that realiza-
tton They are cumulative in their
effect an6 therefors impressive and sub
stantial
The brains" Of the country are the
Official sponsors Of WsShIngton'S new
StatuS-the scientists. the editors. the
engineers the lawyers, the physicians
end tn, surgeons In coincidence
Of succession. the most eminent repre-
SentativeS of each one Of these major
professions have Just been IN session
at the Capital. discussing its problems
and mapping its future. Thy now
assemble here regularly for that pur-
pose. They are finding that Washing
ton is the center from which American
intellectual effort in virtually all di-
rections is coming more and more to
radiate.
Ranks With World Capitals
In oth,r words. the Capital of the
United States at length has taken rank
with the capitals of the world notably
London Paris Berlin and Rome Wash
ington is unique among her sister capi-
tails in one respect Unlike them. she
is the only one that is not also the
metropolis and financial center Of its
country
During the past two or three weeks
the National Academy Of Science the
American Society of Newspaper Editors,
the American Law Institute, the Ameri-
can Society Of International Law. the
American Society OF Civil Engineers and
the Congress OF American Physicians
snd Surgeons have held conciave in
washington. They are not the only
national organizations which were in
session here. They arc singled out
merely because of their professional pre-
eminence and the significance which al
taclss 10 Washington as their point Of
eSsemh.age. Their members make no
secret of the magnet which draws
them 80 the Potomac. They say that
Washington has a distinctive "atmcS-
phere" Of culture. repose and dignity
which is as unique among American
cities as its physical environment.
Metropolitan Growth Impresses.
The scientists. editors, engineers.
.urlsts and medical men who came here
n their leeionS this Spring continuously
n1arveled al the metropolitan growth Of
Washington and were curious to know
its cause. They could not reconcile Il
with the fact that the city is supposed
70 be 8 purely political and govern
mental community. without industrial
life or the other ordinary ingredients of
municipal expansion The average pro-
1esSlonai visitor to Washington learns
with surprise that practically without
exception every important organized
form OF American activity now has its
principal. or q subsidiary headquarters
IN the District Of Columbia Day By day
some new headquarters IS established.
That explains why downtown Washing
ton is filling up with new Office build
ngS that scTape the sky 70 the full limit
o. height the law permits.
The country's two largest religious
enominatlonS-the Methodist EpiS-
copal Church and the Roman Catholics
are represented here in highly influ-
entisl ways The MethodistS in Offices
that fac. the Capitol maintain their
principal propaganda agency al Wash
tngton. their well known and energetic
Board OF Temperance and Morals
The Catholic University in Brookland.
Trinity College for Girls and the Ma
tlonsi Catholic Welfare Council are
the outstanding exponents OF Roman
Catholic educational and social activ-
tiles IN the United States.
Others Have Offices Here.
The Baptist Association and the Fed
e<al Council Of Churches Of Christ
have Washington Offices. The National
Cathedral under the militant I.ader-
ship Of Dr.. Freeman, the Episcopal
Bishop Of Washington, is on the way
TO becoming the Westminster Abbey Of
America. Already two Of the republics
honored sons. George Dewsy and Wood
row Wilson, are buried there.
In fields OF s7ni-religlous endeavoF
Washington is headquarters for the
Anti-Saloon League Of America, whose
achievements are part Of national his
tory. and the National Council for Pre-
venti0n Of War It was mainly al the
tngtigation Of the pacifiSt organization
just named that vox Populi last VIM
ter successfully was propagandized into
persuading Congress 20 defeat the
Coolidge administration oig-Navy bill
The American Red Cross. Uncle Sans
great alEnon-r conducts fts world-w wide
operations from its beautiful memorial
premises in Washington.
Business and Industrial Pivot
In business and industry Washing
ton is today the acknowledged national
pivot The Chamber Of Commerce Of
the United States. with its ramificatiDns
into every nook and Granny Of the cou7-
1Ty. Is enscOnsec In temple that almost
rivals the Library Of Congress In mar
plec raagniAcence The American Fed
Grafton Of Labor. the International As
sociatlon OF Machinists and the Big
Four railroad brotherhoods occupy
Washington Office buildings Of their
own, from which the Nationwide inter-
ests of those key branches Of commerce
and trade are administered. All Of the
big farm groups have legislative bu-
reaa1s and national Offices ncre
National wornens activities all radi-
ate from Washington, including thLse
" the Daughters Of the American Rev
olut.on. the National League o. Woman
Voters, the General Federation Of
WonaeD'g Clubs, the National Womans
Party. the War Mothers Memorial As
Sociation, and the American Association
of University Women. Nearly all ot
them are housed IN imposing buildings
og their own.
Leader in Education and Art.
Eoacstaonaily and artigticaIly. Wash
srgtoF9 IL increasingly Schles ng unriY-
aled distinction. Within the Gtlnulat-
ing origG of establishments Ike the L.
bfaFy Of Congress. the Smithsonian In
stitutAon, the Carnegie Institution. tne
National Academy of Sciel3ces the ia
tional Research Council. the Bureau NJ
Standards. tile Corcorsn Gallery VI Art.
end the FreeF Gallery. four universities
half . d0zen colleges, especially Jaw
sclsoolE and numerous preparatory and
finishing schools for girls maintain a
steadily Eoufishing existence George
Washington Unlyefs!tys richly endowed
new College " Government and the new
EYesokings Graduate EcbO0l u Politics
and gsaGecraft will shortly be significant
additions 10 WasbingtonS intellectual
plant"
III would require fun newspaper
column merely ~ iiAt the names III ma
fionSl associations of one Kind and au-
other, largely commercial and Industrial
;n character, that have pitched TIER
hesA0garteYe' tentA In Washington They