Evening star., 1940-01-15
400 Gather 10 Pay
Tribute 10 Cans
Al Testimonial
Retiring A. B. c. Official
Is ExtoIIed as the
KindIiest of Men

More than 400 men and women
of divers races. creeds and oc-
cupations last night met together
to paw tribute to Isaac Cans,
nearly 8O-year-old civic leader and
retiring member of the Alcoholic
Beverage Control Board. and to
join in praise mot for the man but
for the life that man has lived"
A parade of old friends, business
associates. members of Congress,
and religious leaders passed before
the microphone in the Mayfower
Hotel ballroom to extol the chari-
table and exemplary existence Of
the civic veteran. giving him night
he said no matter what happens, I
never will forget"
When ToaStmaster F. Joseph DON
ohue finally called on him to speak,
Mr.. Cans in a voice that shook with
emotion told of the influence his
mother and wife had on his life
in recollections prompted by series
Of pictures of him, from 6-month-
old baby to the present.
II can't help but feel choked up
on an occasion of this Sort he
apologized. III never forget it."
Alvin Newmyer, local attorney,
presented him watch on behalf of
the testimonial committee.
His Kindness Emphasized.
Mr.. Cans, a former member of
the Board of Education and the
Board of Indeterminate Sentence
and Parole and former official of
the business firm of Saks & Co., has
served on the Alcoholic Beverage
Control Board since its creation in
1884. In the words of Representa-
tive Sol Bloom of New York, he
started out in the dry goods busi-
ness and ended up in the wet goods
business" Mr.. Cans holds the dis
tinction of having his first appoint
ment to the A. B. c. Board made
legal by special act of Congress
when it was recalled he was above
retirement age of 10 when named.
He was later re-appointed. He will
be 80 next month.
The one note predominating in
the speeches was the kindness of
Mr. Cans.
Harry Wender. vice president of
the Federation of Citizens Associa-
'tions, told of Mr.. Cans custom of
giving clothes to the poor on Christ
mas. William Payne Meredith, who
succeeds Mr.. Cans on the A. B. C.
Board, told of the many rich men.
poor men, beggar men and crooks"
who daily call on Mr.. Cans and
many do not leave without making
"a touch" John H. Wilson, colored
member of the Board of Educa-
tion, spoke briefly on behalf of his
race and told of the inspiration Mr..
Cans had been to him personally
years ago when he had been a news
boy on the corner of Seventh street
and Pennsylvania avenue, where
Mr.. Cans store was located.
An Altar of a Factory Bench.
Vice Chairman Richmond Keech
of the Public Utilities Commission
said he had never heard any one
say anything bad about Mr.. Cans
and A. B. C. Board Chairman
Thomas E. Lodge said he thought
there was mot in public life more
kindly or understanding man." Mrs.
Agnes K. Mason, third member of
the board, also spoke of his kindness
and understanding.
And I would like to look as
gracious at 80 as you do" Repre-
sentative Everett Dirksen of Illinois
told the guest of honor.
Chairman William H. King of the
Senate District Committee paid trib-
ute to life that has been an open
book" Rabbi Norman Gerstenfeld
of the Washington Hebrew Congre-
cation called him a champion of
the human spirit"
Some men can make an altar out
Of a factory bench" he declared.
Milton S. Kronheim, member of
the Testimonial Committee, read a
letter from President Roosevelt and
o ASVoSA 4A0AA representative AtoAl~
dolph of West Virginia, who was
by illness from attending.
Other speakers included Repre-
sentative Dow Harter of Ohio and
Brig. Gen. Albert Cox, commanding
officer of the District National
Guard. Other members of the Tes-
timonial Committee were Manuel j.
Lipskey, Isaac Jacobson, Jack Pap
pedeus, George Moss, Tom O'Don-
nell, Julius Lulley, Louis Hodges,
Edward Hall, Edward Randall,
Morris Blumenthal, I. S. Burka,
Morris Miller, Gilmore Young, David
Blum and Sidney Lust. The invoca-
ton and benediction were by the
Right Rev. Patrick j. Mccormick,
vice rector of Catholic University.
They all love me-" said Mr.. Cans
simply, "at least they say they do."