Evening star., 1938-06-02
PRESIDENT GIVES
@ M|DSH|PMEN
THEIR DIPLOMAS
Be WelI-Rounded Men as
Well as Technicians,
He Advises Class.
SENDS WAVE OF MIRTH
INTO GRADUATE RANKS
Recalls Another Roosevelt's Wish
to Be Congress Also for
Five Minutes
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
ANNAPOLIS, Md, June 2.-presi-
dent Roosevelt, after causing waves of
laughter to ripple through ranks of
midshipmen, advised members of the
1888 Naval Academy graduating class
to know their country and its
problems.
The President, speaking from the
rostrum in Dahlgren Hall, the
Academy Armory, told the white
uniformed, brass-buttoned young
officers that, regardless Of the way
they planned to spend their lives,
they should be well rounded in their
knowledge.
The President suggested this broaden
ing would come by experiences OF their
daily lives, and by the opportunity
constantly to widen their knowledge
by their own individual efforts.
In telling story about a difficulty
President Theodore Roosevelt had with
Congress-. the President quoted his
predecessor as saying: LAS every Presi-
dent had said at least once-first or
last-I wish I could be for just five
minutes both President and Congress,
too"
Receives Jones' Quadrant.
He brought laughter by telling how
he went to sleep at another Naval
Academy graduation when he was As
sistant Secretary of the Navy.
After the President had told the
graduates that your Commander in
Chief is proud of you," he was pre-
sented with a quadrant--a nautical
instrument-once owned by Com
modore John Paul Jones. the naval
hero. The presentation was made by
L. D. MacLaren, Mayor of st. John,
New Brunswick, who said the qua
drant was a proud possession of his
father.
Mr.. Roosevelt. in presenting Mr..
MacLaren TO the nidshipmen and their
girls who formed colorful background
for the white dress uniforms, said
that, number OF years ago, "our
close neighbor. the government of the
sister nation of Canada" sent back to
the United States flags captured in
the War of 1872. Shortly thereafter,
he related, the United States sent
back mace of the Canadian Parlia-
ment captured by Americans during
the same war.
The President cited as new proof
of friendly relations between the
United States and Canada the pres
ence at today's ceremony of Sir Her.
bert Marler, Canadian Minister to
Washington, and MacLaren.
After accepting the quadrant from
Mr.. MacLaren, Mr.. Roosevelt said:
Before hand out the diplomas max
ing you bachelors of science, I want
to stress one thing Do not place too
much emphasis on the word bach
eler.'"
He laughed while the midshipmen
and the girls-cheered loudly.
Regiment Gives Him AN"
Before the long white line of grad
uating midshipmen marched in single
file past the President to receive
diplomas the academy cheer leader
led the regiment in the Navy yell for
Roosevelt"
Mr.. Roosevelt, in presenting the
diplomas, gave each graduate a hearty
handshake, a smile and a nod of the
head. The regiment gave each a
lusty cheer.
The Presidents address was de-
hvered before the largest class since
442 received diplomas in 1895.
The President saw the graduates
follow the traditional ceremony of
tossing their white midshipman caps
away to be scrambled for by the girls
present. He heard the midshipmen
give him laundering greeting, their
famous AN" yell, that has resounded
over athletics fields for many years.
Presidents March" Played.
The audience rose as the President
entered the armory and remained
standing until he took his place in the
speakers stand The Academy Band
signaled his entrance with four rufles
and fiourishes and played "The Presi-
dents March" His flag, as COM
(Cao MInSUTPNEN Paoo A-ol