Evening star., 1939-04-25
Maj. Brown Praises
Soap Box Derby
As Constructive
Reports Members Of
Police Boys Clubs
Will Compete

Describing the Soap Box Derby as
a constructive, helpful and stimu-
lattng project for all boys" Mai
Ernest w. Brown. superintendent OF
police, gave his support today to the
summer racing contest sponsored by
The Star and the American Legion
and announced that members of the
Boys Club of Metropolitan Police
would take part in it,
The elements of creative genius
and good sportsmanship appeal to
me particularly, said Maj. Brown
who is member of the General
Committee on Arrangements for the
Derby, which will be held early in
July.
Il am glad to approve the Derby
as head of the Police Department
and as head of the Police BOYS
Club. The club will take part in the
Derby this year and I am urging the
club director and the club leaders
to encourage the members to enter.
hope one of our boys will make a
strong bid for the championship.
1T might be we'll at this time to
say a few words about the safety
element in the Soap Box Derby.
Before Washington's first Derby last
year I wrote to the chiefs of police
OF number of cities and was graft
fed to find the Derby in those cities
CID not present a safety problem.
Reminds Boys of Pledge.
Il want to take this occasion. how
ever, to remind boys in the Derby
and their parents, as we'll, of the
safety pledge they signed when they
entered. They must be careful to
observe this pledge, SO that no boy
Will try his racer out on any street
without proper supervision. Parents
can provide this supervision, and so
can the police. One supervised test
run was held last year for boys fur
mshed with Derby racers and similar
arrangements will be made later this
year.
I'm conclusion" said Maj. Brown,
z think the Derby offers clean,
wholesome amusement and diver
SION. and this year believe WASH
1nston will have one of the biggest
SDap Box Derbies in the country
Boys 10 to Is years old, inclusive,
are eligible for the Derby, and anna
reur coaster racing competition held
in more than 100 cities throughout
the United States.
More Entries Filed.
The list of entries for the event
continued to grow today and
brought into the Derby fold for the
second year the three Raeder
brothers, Joseph and Paul, 10-year-
old twins, and Louis, l3, of 1925
Thirteenth street NE. sons of Mr..
and Mrs. Louis Raeder. Last year
they combined forces and. built a
single racer which Louis piloted in
the New Hampshire avenue derby.
At present they are undecided
whether to put in a single entry
again or each build his own soap
poX car.
Paul and Joseph attend st. An
thongs School, while Louis is a
student at Immaculate Conception
Other veterans who are back in
the Derby include two Of last years
heat winners, Paul Boertlein, IA, of
Route No. l. Benning, D. c.. who
goes to Maryland Park High School
1T Seat Pleasant, Nd. and Herman
Hollerson, 13. Of 1922 Eighth street
1.W- Shaw Junior High student.
Others Enter.
The following boys also have en-
tered the Derby:
Eugene Stocker. 10, of 1924 Neal
street NE, Wheatley School.
Carl C. Conner. II. of 1916 Ingra-
ham street NV. West School.
Huntley H. Soyster. II, of GALS
Western avenue. Chevy Chase, Md,
Lafayette School.
Danny O'Brien, 13, of 4514 STAN
ford street. Chevy Chase, Nd,
Leland Junior High.
Robert Cassell, IL. of 1923 Twenty
seventh street NV, Force School.
John Gunnarson, 13, of 3519 Pat
terson street NV, Alice Deal Junior
High.
Kenneth Zimmerman, Is, OF
Kendall Green, Mckinley High.
William Suit, 13. of 1921 Trinidad
avenue NE, Wheatley School.
William Mischou. IL, of 822
Seventh street NE, Holy Name
School.
Howard Hodges. IA, of 1924 Neal
street NE, Wheatley School.
Edwin j. Uhthoff, jr., II, of 72 V
Street NV. Gage School,
Richard WEIGH, 10, of 1908 Second
street NE, St. Martins School.
Marshall Howard Mason 10. of
30l M street NV, John F. Cook
School.
Directions for entering the Derby
are printed elsewhere on this page.
(Watch The Star for Derby NeWs.)