Evening star., 1936-07-05
AMERICA IS SAFE,
CLAYTON STATES
Tells Oldest inhabitants July
a Belongs to All Nations
of World.

The American people never will be
shifted from their twin rock of
safety"-the Declaration of Independ-
ence and the Constitution of the
United States-except by their own
consent, William NICK Clayton, Wash
ington attorney, declared yesterday in
an Independence day address before
the Association of Oldest Inhabitants
of the District of Columbia.
Fourth Of July exercises of the as
sociation were held In the quarters in
the Old Union Engine House at Nine
teenth and H streets, where the bell
was tolled at the noon hour to mark
the occasion.
This day." said Clayton, belongs
to no political party nor to any seq
ment Of the people, but belongs m all
its glory to the entire United States,
and to all the nations of the world,
because the Declaration of Independ-
ence proclaimed the rights of man
against those of a sovereign illegally
used Our country Is looked to to-
day to lead the nations of the world
to higher mounts Of political achieve
ment."
Referring to the Spanish American
War; the speaker showed the United
States had repudiated cries of con-
quest raised against it by coming out
of Cuba, and now we will be out Of
the Philippines SOON"
Pays Tribute to Founders.
Paying tribute to the Nations faith
ers, who wrote the Declaration, Clay
ton asserted "the only way we can rid
the Nation of the worship of wealth
is by delving deeply into the archives
of the American Republic and
drinking deeply Of the Declaration Of
independence"
II do not believe" he said, that
any political platform can ruin this
country The descendants of the early
settlers have enough sense to know
what is right and wrong in govern
ment. The Constitution has fulfilled
in every detail every promise it has
| made"
John Clagett Proctor. vice president
of the association, presided, using in
his duties a gavel that was owned
and used by Benjamin Franklin.
! On motion of c. j. MacMurray, a
resolution was adopted expressing
regret at the absence of the associa-
tion's president, Theodore w. Moves,
who is in Atlantic City and it was
voted to send him a telegram bear
! ing the message.
Proctor Reads Poem.
Others on the program we're Proc
/ tor. who read an original poem para
phrasing The Star Spangled Ban
ner" and referring to the fact Dis
trict citizens are voteless and with
out representation: Mrs. Dorothy
Sherman Pierson. who rendered pa
triotic vocal selections, accompanied
by Miss Margaret c. Tolson; Hor-
ace j. Phelps, who read the Dec
laration of independence. and the Rev
John Edward Fort, pastor of Union
Methodist Episcopal Church, who de-
livered the invocation.
Pictures were taken Of the two old
est members present. E. D. Godfrey,
| 1411 Monroe street. who was 81 in
January, and Christian Heurich,
| 1907 New Hampshire avenue. Wash
ington brewer, who will be 81 in
September.
Members voted in business session
not to accept any additional relics
for their building unless they were
directly related to the history Of the
District.
Accept Key Picture.
The association accepted a picture
of Francis Scott Key that originally
had been presented to the Old Glory
Chapter, Junior Order of United
American Mechanics by the Francis
Scott Key Memorial Association for
its efforts memorializing the author
of The Star Spangled Banner"
twenty-five dollars was appropriat-
ed for a giant electric light in the
engine house tower, to be lighted on
meeting nights, the first Wednesday
in each month.
The Entertainment Committee for
yesterdays exercises included Elra
c. Palmer. chairman; j. Eliot Wright,
association secretary. assistant chair
man; Frank w. Dowling. James F.
Duhamel, Fred A. Emery, B. r. Nc
Cauley and Proctor.