Evening star., 1936-04-07
ARMY DAY MARKED
AMIDST REARM|NG|
Many Women and Children
in Procession of 4.MiIe
Column.

AS the echoes of marching feet in
the Capitals greatest Army day pa
rade died away, the Nation today was
going ahead with the greatest mill
tary defense program in its peace.
time history.
The record War Department appro-
priation bill was in conference between
Senate and House, nearing the end of
the legislative path to enactment;
Navy construction on a great scale
was in progress, with additional con-
struction to follow, and great Army
and Navy aircraft programs were in
motion.
Despite its peace-time character,
with many women and children
marching In the 4-mile column, yes
terday afternoons Army day parade
along Constitution avenue took on a
new meaning in the face of the Ma
tion's great military program. the
armament races abroad and the war
clouds which hang threateningly over
many nations.
Foes of War Honored.
While the parade's military units
maSsed on the Capitol grounds and
swung of down Constitution avenue
to the tunes Of 1917, ceremony was
held at the Capitol honoring the six
Senators and so Representatives who
voted against United States partici-
patton in the World War. Twenty
nine of the Sc are still alive, among
them Miss Jeanette Rankin Of Mon
tana, first woman to sit in the House,
who was present at yesterdays cere-
mony.
Representative Lundeen of Min
nesota, who, with Senator Norris of
Nebraska and Representative Knutson
of Minnesota, comprises the trio still
in Congress who voted against war.
spoke at the exercises, sponsored by
the National Council for the Preven-
tion Of war. He was glad, he said,
there is no blood on my hands" He
pledged he would never "be a party
to plunging the youth of America into
the wars of Asia. Europe and Africa"
In a radio speech broadcast from
the Capitol under the auspices Of the
Peoples Mandate Committee, Senator
La Toilette of Wisconsin spoke in
favor of neutrality laws, legislation to
take the profits out Of war and the
munitions industry and a constitu-
tional amendment which would give
the people the right to vote against
entering any future war
Thousands See Procession.
Although the afternoon was cloudy,
with occasional light spatters of rain,
the parade was colorful and attracted
thousands of spectators, among them
cherry blossom and pre-EaSter yiSi-
tors to the Capital The procession
emphasized the passing of Pennsyl-
vania avenue as the Capitals great
display highway. the marchers set
ing foot on the old Avenue only at the
point where Constitution avenue
crosses it at John Marshall place.
Led by Maj. Gen. Albert w. Bowley,
commanding general of the Sd Corps
Army Area, the parade began moving
promptly on schedule at AS pm. the
final unit swinging into column nearly
an hour and a half later. 1t was
nearly $50 pm. before the end of
the column passed through the court
Of honor at Sixteenth street and Con-
stitution avenue.
The column was composed Of four
divisions, the first of soldiers, sailors
and Marines of the Regular services;
the second Of National Guard and Or
ganized Reserve units; the third of
r. o. T. c. and c. M. T. C. outfits and
high school cadets from District and
Virginia schools; the fourth of veteran
organizations and patriotic societies.
The local Army day observance
came to close last night with COM
memorative banquet at the Mayflower
Hotel, under the auspices of the Mill
tary Order of the World War, which
also sponsored the parade. Members
of the congressional Military Affairs
Committees, officers Of the three serv-
ices and leaders of veteran and pa
triotic organizations we're among the
banquet guests.