Evening star., 1937-09-12
CONSTITUTION DAY
WILL Be OBSERVED
BEGINNING FRIDAY
President to Lead Nation in
Celebration With Address
at Sylvan Theater.
BLOOM TO PUT WREATH
ON WASHINGTON'S TOMB
Rest of Program Is Announced,
Senator Borah to Speak
Thursday Night.

President Roosevelt will lead the
Nation this week in observing the
l50th birthday anniversary of the
Constitution of the United States.
With Washington as the focal point
OF the observance. and Friday the
featured day, thousands OF COM
munities throughout the country are
planning programs in honor of one
of the worlds greatest state docu-
ments and those who signed it in
1877.
Fridays program will begin here
Just before noon when Representa-
tive Sol Bloom of New York, director
general of the Nationwide observance
will place a wreath on George Wash
tngton's Tomb at Mount Vernon
At $3.50 pm, President Roosevelt
will speak at Sylvan Theater, his sd-
dress to be broadcast over national
network.
Senator Borah to Speak.
A similarly broadcast address on
the subject of the Constitution will
be made by Senator Borah, Republic
an, of Idaho and veteran constitu-
tionalist at Constitution Hall on
Thursday night.
simultaneously with the placing of
the wreath on Washington's Tomb, So
graves of signers and delegates to the
Constitutional Convention, in 13
States and the District of Columbia,
will be decorated.
The Navy and War Departments
have issued orders for appropriate
ceremonies on all Navy ships, all
Navy shore stations and at all Army
posts. Similar exercises on all Coast
Guard ships and shore stations have
been ordered by Secretary of the
Treasury Morgenthau. Secretary of
Commerce Roper also has ordered
celebrations on all ships flying the
nag of his department.
BY executive order all Federal off,
ces in the District and elsewhere
throughout the country are to be
closed at noon on Friday. This order
followed the issuance several weeks
ago Of proclamation prescribing the
period of the celebration which Off
cially begins on September II, and
continues for 19 months.
State Proclamations.
Governors of most of the States
also have issued proclamations de-
claring State holidays. and others
calling on the people to observe the
anniversary.
While the Federal celebration
covers particularly the signing of the
Constitution. each State will observe
more definitely the anniversary of
the date on which it ratified or was
admitted to the Union. The entire
1s-month program will close on
April 80, 1889, with ceremonies COM
memorative Of the Inauguration of
George Washington as first President
OF the United States.
Senator Borah's address on Thurs
day night is to feature a program
sponsored by Master Masons of the
District and duplicated in Masonic
lodges throughout the country. The
District Masons will gather at
Masonic Temple, New York avenue
and Thirteenth street, at $50 pm.
ana march to Constitution Hall by
way OF H street, Tenth street. Con-
stitution avenue, Virginia avenue.
Eighteenth street and E street
Representative Bloom and grand
masters of Masons in the l3 original
states Will speak briefly at Constitu-
tlon Hall before Borah takes the plat
form.
Rites at Cemeteries.
AT noon on Friday services will be
held In two cemeteries here, under the
direction of Mrs. Marie Moore Forrest
member of the D. c. Constitution
Commission. One of these will be at
the grave of Abraham Baldwin, signer
OF the Constitution, in Rock Greek
Cemetery. and the other at that OF
Elbridge Gerry, deputy to the Phila
delphia convention, who is buried in
Congressional Cemetery. DR.. George
G. Havener will preside at the services
in Rock Creek Cemetery, while Com
missioner Melvin c. Hazen will preside
in Congressional Cemetery.
The wreaths will be placed bv a
Boy Scout and a Girl Scout. The
United States flag will be placed or
each grave by patriotic organizations
including the Sons of American Revo.
luton, Daughters of the American
Revolution, Sons of the Revolution
Society of Cincinnati and the Society
of Colonial Danes.
Maryland has three graves to dec
crate. AT the grave of Daniel Carroll
signer, in st. Johns Catholic Gene
terry, Forest Glen, Roy T. Davis
president Of the National College, viii
preside; at the grave of John McHenry
signer, in Baltimore, George S. Rob.
(see CONSTITUTION, Page B-41