Evening star., 1933-08-20

The support of the District Of Co.
himbia Department, Veterans OF Foreign
Wars, was thrown behind the move
naent inaugurated several weeks ago by
Maj. Gen. Anton Stephan, commanding
the local militia, to have an armory
constructed for the National Guard of
the District of Columbia out Of the
public works funds.
The department commander, Daniel
<. Campbell. has written letters to the
public works administrator and 70 the
District OF Columbia Commissioners,
urging favorable action on the $2,500,-
600 appropriation for local armory pur-
poses, sought by Gen. Stephan, and
pointing out that it is nothing short OF
. tragedy to have the local citizen
forces housed In q building that may
collapse at any moment.
AT the regular meeting of the Coun-
Gil of Administration OF the Veterans
of Foreign Wars Of the District of Co
lumbis held on the evening of August
T." says the letter to Secretary Ickes,
lit was unanimously voted that We go
on record as unqualifedly indorsing
Gen. Stephan'S request.
In this connection" the letter con-
tinues, lit may not be amiss to say that
for many years past this department of
the Veterans Of Foreign Wars has urged
upon the Congress of the United States
the essential need for a building of the
character desired by Gen. Stephan so
that this essential branch of the Ma
tons defense forces may be suitably
housed.
1T is nothing short of tragedy to
flnd this admirable auxiliary of our
armed forces housed at present in
building that may at any moment col
nd foE vr-itH af ho 6y,-
est young manhood of the city We
hope V will not be necessary to wait for
SO dire q calamity to focus attention
upon the type of buildings heretofore
assigned to the District National Guard.
but that realizing the importance Of
properly housing these men you will
approve of Gen. Stephan's request and
make necessary appropriation"
In the letter to the District Of Co.
lumbia Commissioners. transmitting q
copy Of the letter which was sent to
Secretary Ickes. Mr.. Campbell requested
your hearty support Of the erection OF
Columbia National Guard. The men,
bership at large of the organization be-
speaks your full measure Of indorse-
ment Of the project as q part Of the
plan for the District Of Columbia, con-
fdent Of the belief that 1t will receive
merited approval by the Board Of Com
missioners."
It Is probable that other veterans
organizations will follow the lead of the
Veterans of Foreign Wars and seek to,
through the weight Of their influence,
get behind the move to get Federal
funds for this project, on which various
Guard oficials have been working for
more than quarter Of century. Pre-
viously, when the move was inaugurated
to have the Pension Once Building
turned over to the local militia for drill
purposes. not only the veterans organ
tzations, but the local civic bodies united
In a drive to bring this about. How
ever. no decision on this was ever
reached, as the building has not been
vacated by the General Accounting
Office which occupies it at the pres
ent time.
The building which was referred to
in the letter of the commander of the
Veterans of Foreign Wars Is the old
National Hotel Building at Sixth street
and Pennsylvania avenue. which Is used
as training quarters by the largest unit
of the local militia. the 121st Regiment
Of Engineers. This building Is owned
by the Government, being included in
the area which Is to be used eventually
Is the municipal center.