The Washington times., 1936-03-19

UNDERCOVER RUMORS
Whether United States Senator
Royal S. Copeland and Represen-
tative Theodore A. Peyser, Of New
York, were motivated by what
was written here is not impor-
tant. The fact is that in the Sen
ate and House, bills were intro
duced to award George M. Cohan
o special medal of honor for writ
ing "Over There"
Before the House Committee on
library yesterday morning the
Reyser bill was given hearing.
Representative Keller presided and
the case Of the proponents was
ably presented by the author OF
the House bill, Representatives
Connery of Massachusetts, and Sol
Bloom of New York. Your cor
respondent was also heard briefly.
There was no opposition.
On the surface one would be led
to believe that the House resolu-
ton was riding to passage on but
tered legislative ways. Yet there is
opposition. The underground and
tnSidious kind that rarely comes
out into the open.
I discovered it in the corridors
Of the new House Office Building.
It was whispered to me that the
bill had little chance because some
members of Congress considered
it a proposal to 'honor a self
seeking jew"
It seems almost incredible that
such an argument could hold
enough weight at the Capitol to
even be passed on for controversial
purposes. Yet here it was poured
into my ear as a serious reason
why the Cohan bill might be trip
ped on it's way to enactment. I
was advised to keep quiet and the
opposition might vanish when It
was fully informed.
Hanged if I'll keep quiet. It
makes not the slightest difference
to me that George M. Cohan
spells it with "a" instead Of ''E." "
What difference does 1t make
that he was born of Irish parents,
outside of Providence, R. l., in
stead of in the heart Of New
York's Ghetto and Of Jewish
parents?
HEARING is QUIET a.
The facts are that he wrote
"Over There" The facts are, too,
that up to the moment he COM
posed this famous marching song,
the American soldiers in the
World War had no martial tune
SYMBOLIC of our boys and the
cause for which they were fight
ing.
cover there" of course, will live
centuries beyond the petty souls
who are secretly fighting honor to
the composer because they figure
he wasn't ''born right"
The only other argument I
heard suggested was that the
award of such medal would con-
stitute a precedent. That others
might come forward and seek
iaonors for those whose achieve
ments and deeds might be less
worthy of recognition. All right,
! say. Let them petition and hear
each case on its merits.
It was Representative Sol Bloom
Who observed yesterday that the
Capitol would not be large enough
10 hold all the friends of George
M, Cohan had the proponents OF
the "Over There" bill issued a
summons or call to arms for
the hearing. I agree. The Conan
army is so large and inclusive it
would be folly to mobilize it for
O mere skirmish. There can, how
ever, be no harm in warning
about the presence Of snipers.
VOTING CUT DOWN
On last Sunday night Kate
Smith and a galaxy Of stars took
the air in opposition to Major
Bowes' Amateurs. What hap
pened? Variety says that the
Telephone balloting for the fledge-
lings was cut so per cent. None
In authority at N.B.C. or in the
Bowes organization would either
affirm or deny the report of re-
duced voting.
RUDY TAKES A SOCK
Rudy Va1lee is socked in the
nose by George White and the
Scandals will close next Saturday
night. The two announcements
spell the result Of bad box office
business.
Unless somebody comes forward
soon who can write good musical
comedy material it may mean
3KAKETmuIe lsm