Evening star., 1930-05-05
By DONALD A. CRAIG.

By DONALD A. CRAIG.
An the national features Of the
George washington bicentennial cele-
bration, under the direction Of the Fed
ersl Government, are being planned to
be held, month after month, in the City
Of Washington through the year 1882.
Lieut.. Col U. s. Grant, Sd, who with
Representative Sol Bloom of New York
ts associate director of the celebration,
hsralded as "the greatest known to his
tory" predicts that an unprecedented
number of visitors will come to this city
during that year-especially between
February "a and Thanksgiving day,
when the observance will be concen-
trated.
But Col Grant said that he desires
particularly to impress upon the people
Of the country that this series of cele-
brations will not be confined to this
city, nor to any one locality.
After referring to the principal ma
tioral celebrations that will be held here
and will doubtless draw an enormous
increase In visitors here in 1892, Col.
Grant added:
"But this Is not to be misunderstood
No concentration Of the celebration Is
proposed in any one locality. Washing
ton was the father Of the entire coun-
try, and as the happy effects Of his wise
and patriotic work extend to every
corner Of our far-f1ung land, so should
the celebration of the 200th anniver-
sary Of his BIRTH"
Col. Grant interested.
a. an Army engineer Col. Grant has
always taken q very special interest in
the life and work Of George Washing
ton, particularly those early years OF
his life when he surveyed the trackless
wilderness Of Western Virginia for Lord
ming" for the Capital Of the Nation, and
the various engineering projects which
Washington fathered, such as O canal
along the Potomac River to make 1t
navigable both ways for cargo boats to
Cumberland, and then to connect 1t by
q canal with headwaters Of the Monon-
gahela River and the Ohio Valley.
With all Of his other achievements,
Col. Grant points out that Washington
was an Army engineer. He might be
called the first great engineer OF the
Col. Grant says that all Of 1882 will
Do q George Washington year" As an
Army officer, as well as o citizen. ap-
pointed Jointly to direct the celebrations
all over the Nation with Representative
Bloom, Col Grant Is lending his best
efforts to the plans for the monthly
programs that are to occur In this city
IA 1882 and throughout the country.
Realizing the seriousness OF the re-
nonsibility which the George Washing
ton Bicentennial Commission has placed
upon the shoulders Of the two associate
directors. Col. Grant told o representa-
tive Of The Star that it will take long
time to complete the programs and
ureparations for "the greatest celebra-
Hon thus far known in history" which
& the way it has been described by
Senator Simeon D. Fess OF Ohio, vice
cHlairman and active head OF the COM
mission, of which President Hoover is
tex officio chairman.
Celebration Aii.American.
ave realize the serious responsibility
which rests upon u.s." said Col. Grant,
ain the program now under considera-
tion. It Is work Of such magnitude
that It viii require many more months
to work out anything like . complete
plan OF operation.
"Yet I believe il Is due to the public
that such information as Is now avail
able shall be given, in order that the
men, women and children OF America
can devote some preliminary thought to
their immediate interests In its various
phases.
at is necessary to stress the fact that
this general celebration In the year
1882 Is not matter OF one great cele-
bration In any one place. It Is TO be an
all-American observance, just as George
Washington, the man and the patriot,
belongs to the whole country. And 1t Is
the intention of the United States
commission and those who are directing
its work that the celebration shall be
participated in by all OF the people IN
every school district, hamlet, town and
city In the Nation.
executives have been requested by Con-
gress to appoint State commissions and
other agencies to cooperate with the
United States commission. Some Of
these State commissions have been ap-
pointed and others doubtless will be
named promptly.
"T7he United States commission looks
TO State, municipal and local authori-
ties to cooperate in putting into ef-
feet some Of the plans and suggestions
already decided upon. For instance,
It is hoped that during the entire year
Of 1882, in every church, school, home
and appropriate organization meeting
place, there will be pictures of George
Washington, display of the American
flag and such other patriotic exhibits
as shall serve as constant reminders OF
tnc ucpt IlidI JIG PcOplc "a nACAtSo
owe to the Father Of His Country
and the inspirational value of his ex-
ample in every walk Of life. Special
programs, readings, plays and pageants
Of various kinds will be encouraged
with the aid OF the commission, which
Is gathering an abundance Of this kind
Of material for distribution throughout
the Nation. .-
Radio TO BE Used.
'state. regional and local organiza-
tons will furnish speakers for many
occasions. They Will use the radio
whenever possible. Ministers will be
asked to preach frequently upon the
character and example Of George
washington.
"In addition to this local work and
in support of it. the associate directors
are now completing plans for reaching
the school children of the land through
cooperation with the national organi-
cations of State superintendents, teach
ers and authorities Of parochial schools,
private schools. colleges and uni
I'm this way it is proposed to con-
duct Nationwide participation OF
children, not alone in the various essay.
oratorical and other contests, but by
including during the school year Of
1882 special instruction through addi-
tional patriotic features In the cur
rtcula.
"The associate directors are working
oft many suggestions and details that
At into the general program and these
will be announced as each divisional
subject Is rounded out. We believe that
as the plans mature the public will be
more and more interested In giving us
suggestions and In cooperating with US
so that the exalted character and his
toric achievements Of George Wash
inoton may be fittin9ly revived In the