Evening star., 1936-06-22
5000 DELEGATES
HEAR EDITOR IN
OPEN|NGSESS|ON
Cation, international Head,
Hits Reds, Urges More
Religion.
OUTLINES PROGRAM
FOR GOOD CITIZENSHIP
All-Kiwanis Night Will Be Oh.
served Tonight With Talk
by Fulkerson.

Assailing the New Deal for shock
ing and fantastic wastes" Merle
Thorpe, editor of Nations Business,
told the first formal session of the
Kiwanis International Convention to-
day that rs per cent of public ex-
penditures fall within the definition
Of "boondoggling.
Before about 5000 delegates assem-
bled in Constitution Hall, Thorpe
pointed out that industrial, wealth.
producing, job-creating advancement
always has and always must come
from "the people"
Herein, then, lies the national
menace of increased taxation" he de-
clared. The savings of the people,
from which all taxation must come,
are diverted from wealth producing
enterprises which make for continuous
employment of citizens, that is, capi-
tai expenditures, to the overhead ex-
pense Of the Nation.
Some of this expense Is necessary
to protect and cement society; most of
it is for expensive frills which no
private business or, indeed, family
would or could indulge in. My guess
Is that rs per cent of public expendi-
lures fall within the larger definition
of boondoggling.
Good Citizens Needed.
Not since 1776, Thorpe said, hes the
Nation been in such need OF an in
telligent and aggressive citizenship.
Great political, economic and social
changes are pending" he said. Are
they directed with intelligence or in
accord with desires and best Judgment
of the people themselves? Does the
citizen understand them in all their
implications? If he does, then for
one, am ready to abide by his decision.
But I wonder if our citizenry really
understands-if even you and I, for
tunate with greater opportunities to
know, realize the tremendous issues
facing America today?"
Thorpe and Harper Cation of Mad
isonville, KY, Kiwanis International
president, were the principal speakers
at the first business session of the
four-day convention, which informally
got under way yesterday as the 5000
delegates and their families arrived
in the Capital from all sections of the
United States and Canada.
Assails Communism.
In hitting Communism, Cation
urged Americas $4,000 Kiwanians to
help eliminate unemployment and aid
in restoration of religion as a greater
force for good in the country.
THE three problems that have
heard most frequently mentioned
throughout North America are Com
munism, unemployment and disregard
of religion" he said.
Unemployment still is with us, and
mounting taxes will add to the bur-
dens Of many. Disregard for religion
is evident to those who have counted
the closed churches and open road
houses from 8 pm. to am. seven
nights a week.
Toward the solution Of the prob
lens presented by Communism and
unemployment, Kiwanis, through
stated objectives, suggests:
Intelligent, aggressive and service.
able citizenship; friendliness and un.
derstanding among all citizens; voca-
tional guidance; adequate educational
facilities; simple, economical and
efficient government; directive educa-
ton for the proper use of the new
| leisure"
Support of churches in their spirit
ual aims will aid in solving the prob
lens which result from disregard of
/ religion, the speaker said, adding: 1T
is the purpose of Kiwanians to stress
the unity of aims of our churches and
the principle that the things that unite
are more important than the things
that divide"
Refers to Hooded Group.
Although falling to mention the
Ku Klux Klan by name, Cation obvi-
ously had that organization in mind
when he emphasized the harm OF
| provoking class hatred.
"Twenty-one years ago, in 1915. two
organizations were born in America
the first in Atlanta, Ga, and the sec.
ond in Detroit.
THE first, with its white robe and
| hood, its flaming cross and secrecy,
arrayed the white man against the
black, the gentle against the Jew
and the Protestant against the
| Catholic.
The second gathered leaders In
business and professional life from all
denominations and preached the gos.
pei of brotherly love.
I'm 1924, through a diligent cam.
paign, the membership Of the first
had reached 100000 and it welded
great political power in Oregon, Okla
homa, Texas, Indiana, Arkansas and
California.
Slowly as the years passed and
the wartime emotions ebbed, the
power Of the first waned until it was
thought dead, while the second.
Kiwanis International, has grown
healthily until today we stand more
than 10000 strong, with 1900 clubs
from British Columbia to California
and from Quebec to Florida"
Registration for the convention,
the twentieth in the organizations
history, began yesterday morning and
continued thr4lghout the day until
the opening event on the program
religious musicale last night at the
Sylvan Theater.
Rev. DR.. Bernard c. Clausen of
Pittsburgh, who addressed the Kiwan-
ians on the slopes of the Washington
Monument Grounds, deplored a ten
dency toward disdainful "belittling"
which he said he saw in people to-
| day. !