Evening star., 1936-01-28

who was to have delivered the in
vocations, also withdrew. All sent
their regrets.
Officially. at Marine Corps head
quarters. the sole statement was that
"Gen. Holcomb finds himself unable
to deliver his scheduled speech" Capt.
Duff said he had been called away on
important business.
A navy yard spokesman denied that
the White House had taken a hand
in calling off the Nays speakers He
did say. however. that I'VE owe some
obligations to the commander in chief
of the Army and Navy"-President
Roosevelt.
The mimeographed copies of Ad-
miral Upham's address before the
conference were given to the press
two days ago. Up until shortly be-
fore noon today. the Navy Depart
ment had not officially withdrawn
copies of the speech. It was sched-
uled for delivery. at 1890 am.
Some delegates to the conference,
particularly those representing the
American Legion Auxiliary, said blunt
ly that they had been assured that
nothing of a political nature would be
discussed during the entire conference.
They said Mr.. Colby had failed to give
the Program Committee an advance
copy of his address-a further viola
ton of the rule, it was stated.
Saw No Politics.
Mrs. Harriet Vaughn Rigdon, chair
man of the conference, said that she
did not consider Mr. Colby's address
political and was sorry that many
delegates gained that impression. Il
don't consider the Constitution politi-
cal in itself and do not know that
any party had adopted the Constitu-
ton as a platform. Mr.. Colby was
unanimously selected to appear on our
program by the Program Committee,
which consisted of myself and all the
vice chairmen."
Mrs. Noble Newport Potts, prom
inent local clubWoman. and president
of the National Patriotic Council. took
another view of the speech, and said
she thought it was political and in
execreble taste. Il am Republican
and always have been," she said. But
] consider it an offense to every one
who attended our patriotic confer
ence for Mr.. Colby to inject politics
into the program"
The Constitution retained PROM
inent position in the conference this
morning when delegates approved IA
resolutions. one Of which Endorsed the
Supreme Court for upholding the
Constitution in all its branches. THE
welfare of the people always has de-
pended and always will depend upon
its wise and just decisions" the reso-
luton read.
Mai. Gen. Andrew Moses of the
Office Of the chief of staff was speak
ing to the conference on "Our Army"
when word was received of the with
drawal of the Navy speakers.
Miss H. G. O'Neil, private secretary
to Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Henry Latrobe Roosevelt, is prominent
in the affairs of the conference. She
was among those who objected vigor-
ously to the Colby address,
Conspiracy Held U. S. Danger.
Colby, principal speaker last night,
termed a conspiracy to nullify the
Constitution by those Gin our midst)
who do not understand America" as
the greatest danger facing America
today.
The former Secretary of State also
asserted that the Socialists have come
close to capturing the Democratic party
and converting it to their own uses.
Personally, I think the Socialists
have come pretty near accomplishing
precisely what for years, in their text
books and propaganda, they have
urged their followers to attempt,
namely, the capture of one Of the
established parties and its. conversion
to Socialist use and Socialist pur-
poses," he said.
Describing military and naval de-