Evening star., 1934-02-13
PRESIDENT VISITS
L|NCOLN'S SHRINE
Roosevelt Takes Informal
Part in Birthday Pro-
gram Here.

As q fitting climax to day of ma
tional tributes to the memory Of
Abraham Lincoln on the one hundred
and twenty-fifth anniversary of his
birth, President Roosevelt paid a SUR
prise visit yesterday to the Lincoln
Memorial to take part informally in
the ceremonies being conducted there.
He drove into Potomac Park from
the White House with Mrs. Roosevelt
and Secretary of the Interior Ickes.
The President waited in the car In
front of the memorial, while Mrs.
Roosevelt, accompanied by the cab
met officer, carried a wreath to the
foot of the Lincoln statue inside. That
simple act of homage accomplished,
the presidential party whisked away.
The District Commandery, Military
Order of the Loyal Legion. had charge
of the ceremonies and Representative
Kent E. Keller Of Illinois eulogiZed the
Great Emancipator in an address.
After describing the period in which
Lincoln lived, the Illinois Representa-
tive said Lincoln not only had liber-
ated the Negro, but that in so doing
he had also liberated white slaves"
from the economic bonds caused by
the institution Of slavery.
Universal Liberty.
"He first understood the rights of
white men, but in due time he saw
with tremendous clarity that liberty
is universal thought and was not
hidden under any one color OF skin"
Keller said ITO him it was clear that
as long as a good Negro slave car
penter could be rented for a dollar
day that free white carpenter could
not receive more than dollar a day"
Senator Fess, Republican, of Ohio
delivered a Lincoln day address in the
Senate, as that body paused in its reg
ular routine to hear the eulogy.
The deeds of Lincoln stand out
like towers in a city" the Senator
said. LAS long as the principles of
Lincoln dominate any republic there
can be no doubt of its perpetuity."
Senator Robinson. the administra-
ton leader said: Lincoln is loved
and respected throughout the South
land because when opportunity came
to oppress he proved himself just
and fair despite prejudices then run
ming riot through Congress"
Senator Lewis Speaks.
At the First Congregational Church,
where the G. A. R., Sons and Daugh-
ters of Union Veterans attended
service, Senator James Hamilton
Lewis Of Illinois was the orator. He
said: Perhaps the most remarkable
thing about Lincoln was his conf
dence in the masses and his belief the
masses could work out their own
problems"
The United States Marine Band
furnished the music at the program
and Lieut.. Col. U. S. Grant, Sd,
grandson of Gen. Grant, read Lin
coins Gettysburg address.
Throughout the country yesterday.
and especially in places where Lincoln
left his indelible imprint by personal
contact, the anniversary Of the Civil
War President was observed.
At Springfield, ILL.,, Lincoln's home
for 20 years and where he lies in
death, the Abraham Lincoln Associa-
ton had charge of the observance.
Hundreds made pilgrimageS to the
Lincoln tomb in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Gitt Is Interviewed.
Throughout the country anecdotes
OF Lincoln and personal recollectionS
Of the President were told. Inter-
viewed over a National Broadcasting
Co. network, George Gitt. 81. who
knew Lincoln and who also heard him
speak at Gettysburg, described the
former President as "a tall. serious
man who would smile at times and
with a personality that reached out
and took hold Of you
Gitt was in Gettysburg to hear Lin
coins address. Because of the crowds
he was unable to obtain seat. How
ever, he did manage to get under the
very platform from which the PreSi-
dent was speaking From a crack
Gitt was able to see and hear all that
took place. Gitt now lives in Han
over, Pa. During his visit to Wash
ington he went to the Lincoln Memo
rial for the exercises yesterday and
the old Ford Theater where Lincoln
wac shot