Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-12
S.PRESENTED
FOR COUNTY WORK
Montgomery Federation Pays
Honor to First Three !"
Presidents.

By a STAFF Correspondent of The Star
BETHESDA. Msi., May 12.-The first
and second presidents of the Montgom-
cry County Civic Federation-Oliver
owen Kuhn and eCol. A. B. Barber
~eere presented last night with gavels
and sounding boards fashioned from
wood taken frolw the roof OF the White
Holye. as marks of appreciation OF
signal service rendered during the early
years of the federation.
Stephen James. now president, also
received a similar gavel and sounding
rhe gil,s were purchased at the d.
rection of the Executive Committee
mom the Office of Public Buildings and
Public Parks. The wood from which
the gavels and sounding boards were
made was part of the roof OF the White
House which was removed in 1927 and
had sheltered Presidents OF the United
States since 1917.
Presented by James.
The presentations were made by Mr..
James. The federation is nearing the
end of its sixth year." he declared.
During that time it has accomplished
many things for Montgomery County,
but its achievements during its first
years were more notable, in certain re-
spects, than in the years that followed.
1T was due to the initial efforts of
these who founded the federation that
it has represented SO effectively the
wishes of most of Montgomery County.
Honor should be paid these early leaders
in the battle for recognition. Our pres
ent success is due to their efforts.
When the federation was organized
and the first battle was over, the leaders
of the early members selected their
leader and made him their first
president
Conduct Is Lauded.
His conduct as president has since
been looked upon as an example-an
end to which we have sought to attain. !"
Mr.. James then told Of the history
of the gifts and placed a gavel in the
hands of Mr.. Kuhn, president from
1925, the date of the federation'S
organization, to 1927.
Mr.. Kuhn replied that he was keenly
sensitive of the spirit prompting the
presentation. The federation has
reached its present eminence, he de-
clared by the sincere work OF all its
delegates. He lauded the "far-seeing
efforts of the citizens of the county who
took part in the deliberations OF this
adjacent to the District of Columbia."
In this room the federation was born
six years ago." Mr.. Kuhn continued,
"and those six years have witnessed
Montgomery County'S greatest growth.
During that time the federation has &C
complisfed much and contributed much
toward that growth.
Cooperation Praised.
'This accomplishment would have
been impossible but for mutual faith
and cooperation between the fedora
ton and county authorities" he added
Calling attention to his apparent re-
tirement from active work in the fed
Grafton, he said that during the period
when he appeared to be inactive he has
maintained an active interest. The
federation has gone far, Mr. Kuhn as
serted. and will continue to go far be-
cause of its spirit of unity and faith.
In introducing Col. Barber, who
served as president from 1927 to 1923
Mr.. James said that when the fedora
ton chose him as leader: they turned
to a different type from the first presi-
dent. After the initial effort of organi-
cation and fight for prestige, he de-
clared, it was necessary to seek new
fields Of activity and to install routine
and business methods.
The delegates turned to Col. Barber
for this work. he said.
Even more important than the ON
cial acts and accomplishment of the
federation" Col Barber declared In
replying to the speech Of presentation,
has been the close personal under
standing and human relationships
which have developed among the dele
gates. This gift is an example Of that
feeling"
He praised the spirit manifested in
all federation activity when he became
president and said that such spirit
is stronger than ever new.