Evening star., 1938-12-08
Text of Roper's Address
The text Of Secretary Roper's ad-


The text Of Secretary Roper's ad-
dress follows:
President Noyes. members of the
Association of Oldest Inhabitants OF
the District of Columbia and guests
It is q pleasure for me to visit
tonight with the members of this
unique and distinguished organiza-
ton, celebrating its 73d anniversary.
I am drawn to an organization
moved. as this, by high sense Of
civic duty and deep concepts of re-
sponsibility to society. The record
Of this association shows that It's
members are appreciative of our
local and national heritage, and
hence responsibility, not only to the
people of Washington but to all who
love their National Capital. More
over, I am glad to have this oppor-
tunity to express my own appre-
citation Of what Washington through
its schools, through its constructive
citizenship, through its splendid ma
tional and international environ
ment, has done for me throughout
my long residence here, personally
and through its educational and
cultural facilities for my children.
Not to respond, therefore, to an in
vitation to address you and express
my gratitude for these gifts and
favors would be to afflict my own
conscience with a feeling Of in
gratitude.
It is most appropriate that you
should have as your president
man whose vision, life activities and
character splendidly illustrate the
highest ideals and the best spirit
OF Washington. For threescore
years he has wrought here in de-
veloping a city that is the pride of
the Nation and the envy of the
world. 1t is my understanding that
for % years he has headed this
organization, uniting the citizens in
constructive and patriotic lines of
civic pride. We do not measure his
years by the dial plate but by his
heart throbs, realizing that "he lives
most who thinks the most, feels the
noblest and acts the best" Theo-
dore w. Noyes is more than single
individual; he Is an institution, a
fundamental figure during the
greatest development of this city
and Of this Nation.
Progress Is Encouraging.
It is my understanding that this
association throughout its history
has occupied the firing line of prog
ress for this city. Among other
things you have stood for the fol-
lowing: Cd A National Capital City
worthy of the American Nation, CD
adequate appropriations for the up
building of Washington with an
equitable contribution from the Fed
eral Government, 90 political suf-
irage for its residents and 90 INTEL
lectual, moral and cultural devel-
opment.
You are making encouraging
progress in these respects and
hope you will continue your efforts
along these constructive lines.
It is quite unnecessary for me to
recount to you members of this
association the striking development
Of this community over the period
Of nearly 46 years of my residence
here, for as I now inspect this
audience am confident there are
others here who have been in WASH
ington as long as have, and who
no doubt are blessed with better
and more accurate memories than
myself. I shall accordingly speak,
not of the past but of the present
and the future of Washington.
Guard Against Ugliness.
Cities as well as individuals have
their peculiar and distinguishing
characteristics. One of the most
outstanding features of Washington
is It's dual personality. It is the
home of 100000 people who feel
personal pride in it as their only
home, and then this city is the
Nations Capital, in which 100000
900 people have a personal interest,
and to whom we as residents occupy
the relationship of trustees. People
are attracted in increasing numbers
to this city from every section of
the country, as we'll as from remote
parts of the world. AS there Is but
one unique Rome, one great Lon
don, one charming Paris, so there is
also but one magnificent city of
Washington. The fact that we have
no large manufacturing units pro-
tects against the large slum areas
that exist in cities of similar size
In Europe and in our own country.
This situation should spur us on to
make this city an increasing mecca
In beauty, education and culture.
An important step in increasing its
beauty would be more careful safe
guarding against unsightly struc-
lures. Marvellous progress has been
made in this direction in recent
years. The Government has set a