Evening star., 1934-12-25
ROOSEVELT URGES
UNITY Of PEOPLE
IN YULE MESSAGE
Tells Nation Such a Spirit
+ Will Lead to Greater
Happiness.
10000 HEAR ADDRESS
4 IN LAFAYETTE SQUARE
Official Greeting Is Sent to Navy,
Marine Corps and Coast
Guard.
President Roosevelt, in a Christ.

President Roosevelt, in a Christ.
mas message to the Nation last night
called upon Americans everywhere to
make the spirit of the Christmas OF
1884 that of courage and unity
Speaking from a stand in Lafay-
cite Park after he had lighted the
national community Christmas tree
and signaled to the Nation the Off
cial beginning of the Yule observ-
ance, the President declared that
through such spirit lies "the way tC
greater happiness and well-being."
AS the President stood before g
distinguished gathering of the Ma
tons leaders and spoke into micro
phones which carried his message tc
the whole country, he faced the
newly lighted tree, with the statue
of Andrew Jackson and the White
House beyond. Jackson, said the
President, embodied the belief that
in union rests the welfare of the
American people.
Entitled to New Hopes.
"That," he said, sis a part Of q
Christmas union. That message
grows in importance with the years,
The past year, the President said
has witnessed the fulfllment of many
things that year ago were only
hopes. This year again, he added,
Eve are entitled to new hopes and
new anticipations." Such anticipa-
tions, he intimated, may be fulfilled
by a united people working in spirit
Of unity.
"In these days" the President said,
cit means to me a union not only OF
the States but a union Of the hearts
and minds of the people in all the
States, a union of their many inter
ests and purposes, devoted with unity
to the human welfare of the whole
country"
In the distinguished gathering
which assembled around the President
at Lafayette Park we're four genera
tions of Roosevelts, including his
mother, all of his five children except
Elliott, and his granddaughter, little
"Sistie" Dali.
10000 at Ceremony.
Nearly 10000 persons were on hand,
many Of them perching on the limbs
Of trees in the park, when the presi-
dental party arrived by automobile
during the concluding number of a
half-hour program of Christmas music
by the United States Marine Band
and carol singing.
Through lane formed by a guard
Of honor of Girl and Boy Scouts, the
President was driven to the rear OF
the stand. After the invocation by
Rev. Joseph R. Sizoo, Secretary OF
Commerce Roper, who presided, voiced
praise Of the Community Center De-
partment which sponsored the tree
lighting ceremony, singing out its
director, Mrs. Elizabeth K. Peoples,
for special commendation.
Pauline Martin and Stanley Whalen
representing the Girl and Boy Scouts,
offered the Capitals Christmas greet
ings to the President and Mrs. Roose-
velt. There was brief, uncomfort-
able pause when, after the President
had thrown the switch which was to
light the tree, nothing happened for
q few seconds. Then the lights flashed
on, the President smiled broadly, and
q massed male chorus launched into a
group of Christmas carols.
After the Presidents address, the
brief ceremonies closed with bene-
diction by Rev. Edmund A. Walsh,
S. j.
Tree Planted for Purpose.
The Community Christmas tree
this year is one of two planted in
Lafayette Square a few weeks ago for
the purpose. The other tree will be
used next year. During the coming
week the lighted tree will be the
center Of carol singing, beginning
at o'clock this afternoon, when
Community Center groups from the
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