Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-23
PRESIDENT LEADS
GLOWING TRIBUTE
PAID WASHINGTON
Hoover Attends AIexandria'S
131st Celebration of Birth
day of Nations Father.
INTER-CITY TRAFFIC
is DELAYED BY CRUSH
Executive and First Lady, With
Virginia Governor, Review Two
Hour Parade.

George Washington's home town,
which has been celebrating his birthday
anniversary for 1s1 years, surpassed its
splendid record yesterday in paying
honor to his memory. 1t was the big
gest celebration In the history of Alex
andria, the most ancient city on the
Potomac.
washingtons home State and the
Nation joined with the enthusiastic citi-
ZenS of Alexandria to make the 198th
anniversary of his birth day long to
be remembered.
President Hoover, with military and
naval aides; Secretary of War Hurley
and units of the Regular Army, Navy
and Marine Corps represented the Ma
ton. Gov. John G. Pollard, escorted
by the resplendent and historic Rich
mond Light Infantry Blues, represented
the State of Virginia.
World Pays Tribute.
While Americans the world over, and
many who are not Americans, were
honoring Washington's memory, it
seemed fitting to Alexandrians and to
their thousands of guests yesterday that
the most elaborate anniversary program
OF all should be carried out in the place
with which he was most intimately as
sociated, next to his beloved estate of
Mount Vernon, only seven miles away
It seemed as If every man, woman
and child in Alexandria we're on the
Sunlit streets. From many parts of the
Old Dominion, from the District of Co
fInbia and Maryland came military
organizations, bands, fire companies
and civic bodies, to join the big parade
and to add to the throngs Of persons
On the streets.
Alexandria Was fret IA nelatro Re
Washington's birthday, but it did not
walt until his death to pay him honor
Washington himself was present on
February %, 1899, and watched SOL
diers Of the new Republic march over
the same streets that resounded yes
terday to the tread Of American SOL
diers and sailors.
But Alexandria residents had become
accustomed to honoring Washington
even bsfore that memorable occasion,
only about 10 months before his death.
They greeted with enthusiasm the
youthful Col. Washington when he re-
turned, covered with glory, from that
disastrous battlefield on which the Brit
ish general, Braddock, lost his life
fighting against the French and Indians.
They honored Gen. Washington when
he returned victorious after a long and
soul-trying war for American inde-
Prh0CA1CC. 4Lcg JOyOuSAg IebeO ETeSl-
dent-elect washington as he started on
his journey In April, 1889, for New York
to be tnaugurated as the first President
Of the new Republic.
Celebrations Increase in Reverence,
Alexandria's celebrations in honor of
washington have increased in rever-
ence and magnihcence as the years
have rolled by
So many persons from the District
and nearby sections of Virginia and
Maryland took advantage of the Spring.
Ike weather to visit Alexandria yester-
day that an almost unprecedented traf-
nc jam occurred at both ends of the
Highway Bridge and on the two main
roads leading there. Thousands of per-
sons were nearly three hours getting
from the Capital to Alexandria and as
long getting home again. Thousands
had to park their automobiles a mile or
more from the center of the town and
walk to the line of the parade.
The parade, almost miles long
and which required more than two
hours to pass the reviewing stand on
which President Hoover, Gov. Pollard
and other members of the official party
sat, was only one feature of the celebra-
ton, but it was the most spectacular.
Three other PreSidentS-Taft, Wilson
and Coolidge-had gone to Alexandria
60 honor Washington on the anniversary
of his birth. When President Hoover
motored from the White House to Alex
andria yesterday afternoon he was ac-
conpanied by Mrs. Hoover, Capt. Allen
Buchanan his naval aide: Capt. Camp
bell Hodges military aide; Lieut.. Comdr
Joel T. Boone, White House physician:
Secretary of War Hurley and Mrs.
Hurley, George Akerson, one Of his Sec
retarieS; Walter H. Newton, another of
his secretaries, and Mrs Newton.
During the almost two hours that
ing stand he chatted with Miss Susie
Virginia Pollard, the attractive daugh-
ter and official hostess of the governor
IConttnued on Page 8, Column ID