Evening star., 1931-12-20
HOOVER TO OPEN
YULE TREE RITES
President to Press Button
Lighting Sherman Square
for Ceremonies.

For the ninth consecutive time a
President of the United States will
touch an electric button to light the
national community Christmas tree in
Sherman Square On Christmas eve.
The ceremony, which will begin
promptly at o'clock will be attended
by the President and Mrs. Hoover and
prominent officials of the Federal and
District governments. as we'll as hun
dredS who will gather around the open
space in the square. When the myriad
o. lights flood the living tree in light,
Boy Scout buglerS stationed throughout
the city will blow the tidings and a
great star flare will light the sky in
token Of the star of Bethlehem
Elaborate preparations are being
completed for the most impressive GER
emony ever held around the community
tree. The ceremonies will be presided
over by Vice President Curtis. who is
national chairman of the civic celebra-
tion.
Concert TO Precede.
Although the actual ceremonies will
begin at o'clock, when the President and
MILO I1OONtl, tSCOl Itu ny DOy dIlu Vii
Scouts, make their appearance. a
Christmas concert by the United States
Marine Band will take place at 4 80
O'Clock. The band. conducted by Capt.
Taylor BranSon, also will play during
the ceremonies. Four choral groups will
sing during the program, which will be
broadcast over a Nationwide hook-up.
The lighting arrangements for the
tree are being made by the Electric
League of Washington. as in the past.
1t was during the administration of
President Coolidge. in 1923, that the
league first undertook this service.
Each year efforts have been made to
secure different lighting effects. This
year the Electric League has had a
special bulb manufactured of different
color and shape from any previously
used to light the community tree.
The Executive Committee in charge
of the celebration is headed by Mrs
Elizabeth K. Peoples, director of the
Community Center Department She
has arranged, with the cooperation of
the American Automobile Association,
to issue Christmas greetings invitations
to attend the ceremonies, which will be
sent to all guests in the city stopping at
various hotels on Christmas eve.
The subcommittee of the Electric
League in charge of the lighting in
cludes L. T. Souder, Carl Gershanlck,
R. J. A. Kaemerer and M. c. Clay, work
ing in cooperation with Harold Snyder
of the Community Center Department..
A. F. E. Horn. chairman OF the league S
Lighting Committee, and M. c. Turpin,
league president. are members OF the
Executive Committee.
Forestry Groun Co -operateS
The American Forestry Association,
which is represented on the Executive
Committee by Ovid Butler. vice chair
man of the 1881 Committee, is CO.
operating closely in preparation for the
event this year and is providing for the
colorful souvenir programs being pre-
pared for the occasion.
Headed by Vice President Curtis, the
members Of the National Committee are
Senator Arthur Capper, Representative
Mary T. Norton. Col. U. S. Grant, Sd;
Representative Sol Bloom, D. c. Com
missioner Luther H. Reichelderfer, j. q.
Yaden, DR.. Cloyd Heck Marvin, DR..
Abram Simon, Frederic A. Delano,
Mrs. Frederick Edey of the Girl Scouts
of America, Walter W. Head of the Boy
Scouts Of America, Joseph Lee of the
National Recreation Association, Mrs.
John F. Sippel, General Federation of
Women's Clubs; Mrs. william A. Lock-
wood of the Garden Club Of America,
Marshall E. Sampsell of the Society for
Electrical Development, Maj. R. Y.
Stuart of the Forest Service, Mrs. Elmer
j. Ottaway of the General Federation
Of Music Clubs, E. c. Graham, Dr. E. N.
Barnes and George D. Pratt of the
American Forestry Association.