Evening star., 1938-05-23
10000 WITNESS
MASS|NG COL0RS
R|TESYESTERDAY.
2
Cathedral Again Is Scene Of
Impressive nth Annual
Ceremony.
LA GUARDIA APPLAUDED
-
AS HE HITS DICTATORS
New York Mayor Warns of War.
Pershing Is Sent Telegram Of
Love and Gratitude
BY JAMES WALDO FAwCETT.

BY JAMES WALDO FAWCETT. :
The eleventh annual massing OF
the colors service in the ampitheater
Of Washington Cathedral, Mount Saint
Aiban, yesterday afternoon brought
together q congregation of 10000 peo-
pie who, breaking an old tradition,
wildly applauded an attack on dicta-
tors by Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia
Of New York, principal speaker OF
the occasion.
Never before, so far as the record
shows, has such a demonstration oc-
Cured. Again and again, the assem-
bled throng signified approval Of the
Mayors sentiments. Mr.. La Guardia
told the crowd:
ITO be a good citizen, one must
practice religion and patriotism every
day of the week and every week Of
the year. If we all do our duty for
peace We shall require less military
service in the future. Twenty years
ago we believed that We were fighting
to end war. As our leader in those
times looks down on Europe today he
must say: They have not kept the
faith
Warns Of War Danger.
I'VE must be very careful. or We
shall be dragged into another world
conflict. have no fear that war
will come from any important issue.
Some trivial incident may so move
some little dictator to set his armies
marching before there is opportunity
to call halt. But we ought to re-
solve that not one American dough-
boy should be sacrificed for any dicta-
tor anywhere.
II know that relationships are sup
posed to be efficient, but I wouldn't
change the errors of a democracy for
the efficiency of any dictator I ever
heard about. We make mistakes. That
is the privilege of a democracy. But
they are our own mistakes. We have
the most perfect form of government
that imperfect human beings can
| have"
The mayor warned against political
strife in the United States. This Is
no time" he declared, "for petty par
tisan politics. No one can be satisfied
with economic conditions here at home.
There Is chance for patriotism here
in solving these problems. We have
enough to do to keep peace and pro-
tect justice In the Western Hemisphere.
I advocate close friendship with Latin
America. We don't want any en-
croachment on South American ter
ritory. If there is an epidemic of
danger, 1t is good thing for us to
establish our own quarantine. want
my country to be not the land of the
highest buildings. but of the highest
idealism; not the richest land, but the
most contented. Our struggle ought
to be for justice, security. righteousness
and peace"
DR.. Phillips Delivers Sermon.
| Mr.. La Guardia was introduced by
Brig. Gen. Albert L. Cox, commander
Of the District of Columbia Chapter
of the Military Order of the World
War. He spoke Immediately before
the sermon of the day. preached by
Rev. Dr. ze Barney T. Phillips, rector
of the Church of the Epiphany and
chaplain of the Senate, who urged
"reasonableness" as a force for har-
mony in international and domestic
affairs, but praised President Roose-
welt for insisting upon adequate pre-
paredness against unavoidable perils.
In the parade from the Cathedral
down the Pilgrim Steps to the amph.-
theater, 674 representatives Of veter-
ans, patriotic and civic societiei
marched. The number of flags car
ried in the procession and banked
around the woodland altar was 375.
The Very Rev. Noble c. Powell.
dean of Washington, was in charge of
the sacred program. He was assisted
by the Rev. Arlington A. McCallum.
rector of st. Paul's and chaplain of
the Military Order of the World War;
Col. Alva j. Brasted, Canon Anson
Phelps Stokes, Canon Albert H. Lucas,
Canon Edward Slater Dunlap and
other clergy. The Marine Band, un-
der the command of Capt. Taylor
Branson, played, and the Cathedral
Choir, directed by Robert G. Barrow,
sang. Taps" was sounded at the
moment of commemoration by Prin-
cipal Musician Winfred Kempt, U. S.
NJ. C.
At the suggestion of Gen. Cox the
congregation sent a telegram OF "love
and gratitude to Gen. John Jay
Pershing, wishing him complete re-
covery from his recent illness.