Evening star., 1930-11-30
Member Of the Associated Press.
A Loss to the Bicentennial.

The resignation as associate director
Of the Bicentennial Commission Of Col.
q. 9. Grant. 3D., is the most serious
setback received by q body which up
70 this time has not been particularly
successful in moving forward. Col.
Grant bases his resignation wholly on
the press of other duties. Every one
realizes, Of course, the Importance and
the multitude of tasks that fall to his
lot. But his acquisition as co-director
Of the Bicentennial Commission was
considered at the time as supplying a
necessary link between the Nationwide
and the National Capital observance Of
the bicentennial year, between the
legislative and the executive branches
Of the Federal Government, and, In
addition. secured the services Of an able
and peculiarly qualified oficial In
directing the commissions preparatory
work. As such, Col. Grants appoint
ment was important and the duties Of
the job were extraordinarily important.
His resignation, however, has been
carefully considered and submitted only
after he had convinced himself that he
could not fulfill his obligations to the
commission because Of conditions over
which he has no control. His loss is
not to be easily replaced and is greatly
to be deplored.
Only Q year and month remain now
before the time set for the opening cele-
bration Of the bicentennial AS far as
the public or anybody else seems to
know, the chief accomplishments of the
commission to date consist in progress
on the edition Of definitive writings Of
George Washington. to be issued in
connection with the hicentennial year
10 libraries: the dissemination Of PAM
phlets containing suggested programs
for celebrations, pageants, plays, ETC.,
with reference lists Of authors who have
written Of George Washington and his
times: authorization for the manufac-
tMru Of automobile tire covers, bearing
shs picture ef George Warrington; the
disssnaanA*Aon under Government frank
q Q patriotic Newspaper printed IN
A11xandriA: an appeal for the formation
q STATE @ city examinations that for
tl1s naost part n thsy have been formed,
aRe mmrk1ng time waiting 10 know what
70 %, an6 IAst but not least, the dedi-
oAt4on q q hicentennial march b1
Jonn phflip Goiisa. There may be
otk1sr things and tlae record Of what
has besn done 10 satisfactoFy a. far o.
- goes. But tt does not % far enough.
Some of the plans for the celebration
continue TO be confusing word pictures.
Col. Grants resignation leaves, as the
remaining director, Representative Sol
Bloom Of New York. Mr.. Bloom has
been eninently successful In private life
an the real estate and theatrical busi-
ness. But representing, as he does, q
popuious district IN New York City, he
probably finds many demands upon his
thought and time from his large con-
stttuency. The direction on q Nation
wide scale Of q great and significant
patriotic observance win naturally de-
masid more Of his time than he is now
able to give, II at the same time he
continues his exacttng duties a. q
member Of Congress.
The commission might hnd it advis-
able, now that the time for the celebra-
ton b nearing, to engage the services
Of "a able and qualified executive to
take over the tedious work Of definitely
planning its form and scope. Such a
man could set up an eficient organiza-
ton. and, being responsible to the COM
mission, devote all Of his time to assur-
ing the success Of q movement that
must not be allowed to slip into failure.
The celebration in 1882 Is for the
most part designed as a stimulating
appeal to patriotism, and patriotism Is
. rather Intangible emotion. II can
and does find tangible expression. Ade-
quate expression Of patriotism and all
that it implies must be the keynote
Of the bicentennial year.