Evening star., 1934-04-16
PATRIOTISM PLEA
LAUNCHES D. A. R.
CONVENTION HERE
Negative Thinking and At
tacks on Youth Draw
Fire of Mrs. Magma.
SEES PREPAREDNESS
AS NATIONAL NEED
Society President Deplores Law
Disobedience as Menace
to Nation.

Declaring the world was "ted I'D
with negative viewpoints and pro-
testing attitudes" Mrs. Russell VIII
liam Magma, president general of the
Daughters of the American Revolu-
ton, today opened the colorful forty
third Continental Congress of her or
ganization with call for new faith"
in youth, in Government and In
your own country"
Adequate preparedness was stressed
as prize requisite. The speaker
warned that in these days Of ankle
ties and changes" it was high time
to talk America up, not down." to
rely upon patriotic education" as the
front line Of our national defense"
Mrs. Magma stirred the thousands
Of daughter" gathered from all cor
ners of the United States, with her
/ challenge for a better understanding
Of young people Of today. II refuse
to accept any sinister imputation in
the use Of the term YOUTH" she de-
clared. I'VE must ally ourselves with
our American youth" To them, she
declared, the D. A. r. should hold out
programs, bright, entertaining, full
Of hope, promise and vision, with the
main objective, constructive charac-
ter building"
Raps Law Violations.
Mrs. Magma warned of an "un-
precedented disregard for law" She
called upon the daughters to create
in themselves and associates IAN at
titude of observance of law" Public
officials need to be bulwarked by pub
lie opinion in their fight against
crime. she said.
Unqualified were the president
generals declarations for adequate
preparedness on land, sea and air. and
the many ramifcations of national
security against crime, subversive
forces, intrigues and exploitations."
The first formal session of the con-
gress in Continental Hall was color
full and musical. 1t marked the off,
cial beginning of series Of brilliant
events morning. afternoon and eve
ming. which will carry the D. A. r.
program through to the annual ban
quet Friday night.
Greetings were extended to the Con-
gress by distinguished speakers as the
gathering assembled this morning to
hear the annual address of the presi-
dent general This afternoons pro-
gram was marked by important reports
from national officers of the society.
Afiliation Issue Up.
The old issue Of proposed "afilia-
ton" with other patriotic groups,
which stirred the Congress last year,
bobbed up again today.
Mrs. Magma, in her official annual
report to the Congress delivered at
the close of her formal address,
strongly reiterated, the position taken
by the Congress Ast year against
"affiliation" with any other organi-
zation, although offering "co-opera-
ton"
Nevertheless, it was learned author
| itatively a progressive group of dele
gates, who are in favor of affiliation
are starting movement to bring the
| question up again for a vote this year.
| if possible The Congress last year
| refused, after some controversy, to
affiliate with the Patriotic Conference.
Mrs. Magma in her report declared
"I yield place to none in my loyalty
to the society and in that love of
country which is inbred In the very
! fiber Of being of each and every
member of the organization.
Middle Course Urged.
During my administration I have
%yia Il e. cf4 II
| on the one hand the Scylia of vision
ary enthusiasts, who believe that all
that is necessary to insure peace is
to disarm and that the United States,
without any guarantees from other
nations should cease to prepare even
| for defense, as well as the professional
pacifists who, perhaps for reasons
best known to themselves, advocate
the reduction of protection to the
zero point; while on the other hand
I have tried to steer clear of the
Charybdis of militarists who, inspired
by motives of self interest, on every
possible occasion beat the tom-toms
and call to arms
Tonight at Constitution Hall the
daughters, whose position for strong
national defense is traditional, will
hear from Secretary of War Dern and
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Henry
L. Roosevelt. There will be a musical
program of distinction, featuring Lou
McIlvain, soprano of the Milan Lirico
Opera Co., and the United States
Marine Band Orchestra.
Pleads for Stability.
Mrs. Magma, in her presidential
address, made strong plea for a
more optimistic steady point Of view
even in this dizzy whirl where it Is
most difficult to obtain q mental
bearing"
'In these days fraught with anxieties
and changes" she admonished. talk
America up. not down Avoid adverse
criticism, think straight and with af-
firmative convictions. 1t takes no
longer for an affirmative thought than
for a negative. Therefore, adopt the
former"
"The world is fed up with negative
viewpoints and protesting attitudes"
declared the president general. 1T is
time, we the people decided to think
straight, calmly and with a common
sense, everyday viewpoint. II banquet
speeches contained inspiration and
hope rather than pessimistic attitudes,
hopeless encouragement and despair,
much more could be accomplished. !
believe In the faith of our forefathers,
the hope Of improvement, and the
charity of human kindness. These
form n daiIv religion necessary tn the