Evening star., 1939-04-09
Defense Policy
May Provoke
D. A. R. Split
Disagreement Seen
Over Question
Of Neutrality

National defense. rather than the
Marion Anderson controversy or
even Mrs. Roosevelt's resignation,
will have the Daughters of the
American Revolution working over
time during their convention here
the week of April II, it appeared
today.
Traditionally the strongest COM
mittee of the D. A. r., the national
defense group announced they would
precede the convention with mass
meeting on the afternoon OF the
opening. The speakers, thus far
unannounced, but probably from
Capitol Hill, will outline the Gov
ernment's national defense policy.
Following that up, the opening
speaker at the convention will be
Secretary of War Woodring The
committee will then have until Fri
day to draw up its resolutions for
presentation to the body.
Observers predict a split when
lA1C 4SOO4ullO11o SOlllC aP AVA pug
sage. It's a safe bet that the COM
mittee, backed up by the conven-
ton, will favor further expansion
of the Army and Navy. If the Gov
ernment's 10000 pilot-training pro-
gram comes up, that, too, probably
won't have any difficulty in win
ming support from the convention.
Split Seen on Neutrality.
It's on the question of neutrality
that the 1000 delegates are ex-
pected to disagree. The old-line
members still are strict adherents
of George Washington's mo en-
tangling alliances policy. Many OF
the delegates. however-and this
includes those from the coastal
areas-have expressed themselves
in favor of broadening the neutral
ity laws and cooperating with the
other democracies. Last year the
convention voted. without argu-
ment, for independence of action
in foreign policy" favoring COM
promise that was neither isolation
nor collective security.
The fact that the National De-
fense Committee, headed by Mrs.
Imogene Emery, is virtually taking
over the opening of the convention
is the basis for predictions that
that group plans more decisive ac-
ton than it advocated last year.
The Roosevelt resignation, it ap-
pears. will not affect the D. A. R.
program. Arrangements for the
White House reception, one of the
highlights of the convention, were
made long before the banning of
Marian Anderson from Constitu-
ton Hall inspired Mrs. Roosevelt to
relinquish membership in the D. A.
r. Following its precedent never to
announce designations or applica-
tions for membership. the D. A. r.
is not expected to break its silence
on the Roosevelt resignation even
on the convention floor.
Could Change Ruling.
The only action that could be
taken in regard to the colored con-
tralto would come not during the
convention, but Immediately after
it when the National Board of Man.
agement holds its meeting. It could
change the rules that kept the D.
A. R. from renting the hall for a
mixed audience, but is not expected
to.
While the D. A. r. will probably
adhere to its usual routine of re-
ports on citizenship, conservation,
girl home makers, D. A. r. approved
schools and aid for American In
dians, it might also go into the
question of refugees and discuss
the possibilities of broadening i'm
migration laws to admit more refu-
gees to these shores.
A record crowd for an off election
year is expected. according to D.
A. R. headquarters. It will be the
first time Mrs. Henry M. Robert,
jr., elected president general at the
last convention, has presided. The
convention will also differ this year
in that it will only last five days,
closing Friday, April 81, with the
White House reception in the after
noon and the annual banquet in the
evening.
Committee chairmen of the con-
gress as announced today include
Mrs. Frank H. Towner, Washing
ton, automobile transportation and
parking; Mrs. Elmer E. Woollen,
Baltimore, Md, banquet; Mrs. Key
ser Fry, Reading, Pa, credentials;
Mrs. Roscoe c. O'Byrne, Brookville,
Ind, D. A. R. good citizenship pill
grimage; Mrs. w. M. Evans, Oak
Park, ILL.,, flowers; Mrs. B. Harrison
Lingo, Washington, guests, and Mrs.
Towner, House Committee.
Subgroup Chairmen.
Acting as chairmen of subcom-
mittees under the House Commit
tee are Mrs. John Louis Homer,
badges; Mrs Daniel
w. Snyder, Huntington. w. Va,
boxes; Mrs. Grant F. Chase, WASH
ington. bulletin board; Miss Mary
c. Oursler, Washington, card index
register; Mrs. Frank Leon Mason,
Scituate. Mass, committee rooms:
Mrs. Joseph H. Wheat, Washing
ton, concessions; Mrs Benjamin
Charlotte, N. c., corridor
doors; Mrs. Charles H. Brown, Bal
timore, inside doors; Mrs. Edwin
j. Ryan, Washington, information;
Miss Eleanor M. Sweeney, Wheel
ing, w. Va, literature; Mrs. Will
liam Alden Wall, Chevy Chase,
Nd, lost and found; Mrs. Frank
S. Clark, Washington, registration
line; Miss Irene Mahan, Washing
ton, first aid, and Mrs. Calvin G.
Stegin, Savannah, Ga, tiers.
Other committee chairmen In
clude Mrs. E. Ray Englar, Baltimore,
corridor hostesses; Mrs. E. Thomas
povd nopver G0lo memorial nil.