Evening star., 1939-04-18

Distinguished guests attending the
opening included Senator and Mrs.
Millard Tydings, Chairman Hatton
Summers of the House Judiciary
Committee, Chief of Naval Opera
tons and Mrs. Leahy, Miss Mabel
Boardman, DR.. and Mrs. Gilbert
Grosvenor, Maj. Gen. Allen w. Gull
lion. judge advocate general OF the
United States Army, and officers OF
patriotic societies.
The Right Rev. James E. Free
man, Bishop of Washington, Offer
ing the opening invocation of
D. A. R. for the sixteenth time,
prayed that men might literally
peat their swords into ploWshares'
IN these dark times and great con-
fusion"
Mrs. Charles Blackwell Keesee,
national chairman of the Commit
Tee on Correct Use of the Flag, gave
the>pledge of allegiance to the flag
William Tyler Page, for the twen-
tieth year, led in reciting the Amer
leans Creed, of which he is the
author, and Mrs. Leland Stanford
Duxbury, historian general, led the
singing by the whole assembly OF
the national anthem.
Hazen Praises Patriotic Stand.
Extending greetings to the dele
gates, Melvin c. Hazen. president
OF the District Board of Commits
sioners. praised the organization
stand for patriotism and said there
was never time for greater need
OF such an organization as yours"
Greetings were also extended by
Mrs. William H. Pouch, national
president of the Children of the
American Revolution, and by Mess
more Kendall, president general of
the Sons of the American Revolu-
ton.
Mr.. Kendall scored the critics of
patriotic organizations, saying they
are not attacking the societies but
patriotism, which they would destroy.
He declared there has been "a splen-
did revival of patriotism by Amer
leans who fear for their liberties.
Miss Cathreen Carrico, soprano,
sang several numbers. Music was
provided by the United States
Marine Band Orchestra, under the
direction of Capt. Taylor Branson.
The concern of the D. A. R. with
national defense-a recurring topic
on the congress programmes in
dicated by capacity attendance at
a mass meeting yesterday afternoon
in the MayhoWer Hotel ballroom
when this subject and neutrality
were discussed.
Senator Key Pittman of Nevada,
chairman of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee, one of the
three guest speakers at the meeting,
told more than 1000 intensely in
terested listeners that there is grave
cause" for preparedness in this
country.
"The fear I have is in violation of
the Monroe Doctrine" the Senator
declared. IF the totalitarian coun-
tries in the world should happen to
conquer Europe and Asia, they
would accumulate enormous power.
They might be satisfied with Europe
and Asia. But I do not think so.'
Dies Urges Hands Off,"
Both Representative Martin A.
Dies of Texas, chairman of the
House Committee Investigating Un-
American activities, and Maj.
George Fielding Eliot, U. S. A., re-
tired, the other speakers, appealed
for "hands-off" policy on quarrels
in Europe.
Mr.. Dies decried attempts Ito re-
vive the crazy notion that the United
States should make the world safe
for democracy" but did not directly
mention President Roosevelt's ap-
peal to Hitler and Mussolini.
Maj. Eliot, an authority on mil
itary affairs, declared there is mo
safety save in strength" and mo
security save in the vigilance of our
arms"
Mrs. 1mogen B. Emery of Cedar
Rapids, Iowa, chairman of the Ma
tional Defense Through Patriotic
Education Committee, sponsor of
the meeting, presided.