Evening star., 1933-12-04
ROOSEVELT ASKED
TOL|GHT BIC TREE
Senator King to Extend lnvi-
tation to Ceremony in
Sherman Square.

President Roosevelt will be invited
to light this years national community
Christmas tree at exercises scheduled
for 5 o'clock, Christmas eve, in Sher-
man Square, south of the Treasury
Building.
Three reviewing stands will be erect
ed for the convenience of the presi-
dental party and distinguished guests
expected to witness the ceremony. An
elaborate musical program of carols
and orchestra numbers will be given.
1t was hoped the President and Mrs.
Roosevelt will be able to participate in
the exercises, as have other White
House couples since the community
Christmas tree was inaugurated in
1925.
Senator William H. King, chairman
of the National Committee in Charge
of Arrangements, probably will deliver
the committees official invitation to
MT. and Mrs. Roosevelt today.
Three Permits Issued.
The exercises are being sponsored
by the Community Center Department
in cooperation with the Office of Ma
tional Capital Parks. The latter Office
has issued permits to erect three Yule-
tide trees on park property, including
as well as others at Seventh street and
Massachusetts, avenue, just east Of the
Public Library, and near the Martin
Luther statue at Thomas Circle.
The office Of parks is giving con-
slderatlon to a proposal TO have two
or even four trees serve as the ma
tional community tree, to avoid the
danger of killing living tree through
the continuous weight and heat of the
electric lighting system. 1t was said
tree used for previous Christmas
ceremony died from that cause.
GIee Clubs to Sing Carols.
One of the stands will be occupied
by the United States Marine Band and
another by the George Washington
University Glee Clubs, which will pre-
sent a program of carols. The Marine
Band concert will begin at 4:30 O'Clock
and continue until the arrival of the
presidential party.
Mrs. Elizabeth K. Peoples, director of
chairman of the Executive Committee
in charge.
Among those who have accepted in
vitationS to be present at the ceremonies
Hayden johnson, president of the Board
Of Education, Mrs, Grace Morrison
Poole, president of the General Fedora
gonlery. president of the National Capt
tal civic FUND, Melvin {. Haven. DYel.
director Of ne omee Of PaFEs: Iuiid-
ment of the Interior: Representative
Mary T. Norton, chairman Of the
District Committee of the House; Daniel
c. Roper. Secretary of Commerce;
Joseph Lee, president of the National
Recreation Association. and Lieut.. Col
U. S. Grant, Sd, U. S. A.
Others Also Invited.
Others who have been invited to
serve as members of this honorary
national committee are Mrs. Jonathan
Buckley, president of the Garden Club
Of America; Senator Arthur Capper.
j. J. Caddigan of the National Electric
League Council of New York, Frederic
A. Delano, chairman Of the National
Capital Park and Planning Commis,
Scouts Of America, Robert Fechner Of
Wsr tHs Civilian Vii He0S EoS Scouts GsmP o
AiAtiiso, lAuAlJ ~. AAVPhulo, tVuVAui
Emergency Relief Administration
Harold L. Ickes, Secretary of the In
terror; Mrs. John Alexander Jardine,
National Federation Of Music Clubs;
Newbold Noyes, District of Columbia
Community Chest; George D. Pratt,
American Forestry Association; Robert
L. Vann, assistant to the Attorney
General, James G. Yaden, Community
Center Council.
The carol singing at the tree will be
under the direction Of a subcommittee
on music, headed by Mrs. Gertrude
Lyons, president of the District Of Co
lumbia Federation Of Music Clubs,
and including Capt. Taylor Branson.
leader of the Marine Band, and DR..