Evening star., 1932-05-15
PRESIDENT LEADS
TRIBUTE TO MORSE
Three European Countries
Join Program Marking
Idea of Telegraph.

Tributes from ths United States and
three European countries to Samuel
r. B. Morse upon the centennial of his
conception of the telegraph were heard
In the Capitol room yesterday from
which the inventor dispatched the first
electric telegram almost 100 years ago.
A presidential message from the
White House. relayed over a modern
electric printer, opened the program
the international radio broadcast of
Morse's first telegram, What Hath
God Wrought" sounded by a telegraph
instrument IN the Morse code
Then, from London, England, came
radio message of praise for the in
ventor by Marconi, who perfected the
wireless. Morse's daughter, Mrs. Leila
Morse Rummel. spoke from Paris and
a great German electrical manu-
facturer, Carl Won Sieman, added a
tribute from Berlin.
Granddaughter Speaks.
The sending of the first electrical
message was described from the law
library Of Congress and the Supreme
Court, in the presence OF gathering
of diplomats and other notables, by the
granddaughter of the inventor, Miss
Leila Livingstone Morse.
The inventor himself could scarcely
have forseen the amazing development
in electrical communication demon
strated at the commemorative exercises.
The foreign program, which was broad
cast throughout the United States
over the National Broadcasting Co.'S
system, came through without hitch
and only slight static interference.
Morse was praised as a painter as
well as inventor by the speakers, who
called attention to the fact that Morse
was attending a notable exhibition Of
his work in Paris when he first con-
ceived the idea of the electric telegraph.
First Message in 1874.
The IL years which followed, it was
pointed out, Morse spent in perfecting
his invention and pleading with Con-
gress for an appropriation large enough
to finance practical demonstration.
The joy of Morse was described when
he finally was granted $50 900 by Con-
gress to erect a telegraph line between
Washington and Baltimore, over which
the first message was tapped out May
"a, 1874.
The original instrument was brought
from the National Museum for the ex-
ercises and deposited near the spot
where it was first demonstrated.
The instrument, parts of which were
constructed from sections of frame
for an oil painting. attracted consider
able interest.
Schools and civic organizations are
taking part this month in a program of
memorial celebrations commemorating
Morses achievement.
The distinguished assembly here yes
terday listened with rapt attention
while speakers related the story of the
successful American painter who at the
age of Al years turned from his art
and strove for years, often penniless
and hungry and ridicule, to demon
strate the feasibility Of instantaneous
electric communication.
Presidents Message.
The Presidents message follows in
full:
IT am glad to open this worldwide
centennial celebration of the invention
of the Morse telegraphic code and of
the electrical transmission of these
signals
TT is source of pride to all Ameri-
cans that the vast system of instan-
taneous communications by means of
the electrical telegraph originated in
the mind Of an American, Samuel F.
B. Morse, whose culture was an honor
to his country and whose character was
an inspiration to mankind"
In starting this message the Chief
Executive touched a telegraph key that
has figured in the lives Of four other
Presidents, Taft, Wilson, Harding and
Coolidge.