Evening star., 1940-02-16
j. 5. Morale vitaI,i
Maine Memorial
Audience Told
Repr..entotiv. Rods.,.
Speaks; Roosevelt
Wreath pIuced at Most

A strong national financial struc-
ture and true spirit Of patriotism
% well as an adequate first Nne Of.
defense are necessary to maintain
the national morale under present
world conditions, Representative
Rodgers Of Pennsylvania yesterday
told an audience gathered to pay
tribute to the men who died in the
sinking Of the Maine a years ago.
Mr.. Rodgers spoke at the riding
hall at Fort Myer, Va, at memo
rial services sponsored by the
United Spanish War Veterans and
addliated organizations. Earlier, .
brief ceremony was held at the
Maine mast, In Arlington National
Cemetery, where wreaths, including
one from President Roosevelt, were
placed.
Judge George A. Eberly of Nebras-
ka, commander in chief Of the U. 3.
w. ", who also spoke at yesterdays
exercises, was honor guest at ban
quet at the Mayfower Hotel last
night.
Gen. Frank T. Hines, administra.
tor Of veterans affairs, and Repre-.
sentative Martin F. Smith of Wash.
ington spoke briefly at the banquet,
which was. attended by more than
500 people.
Mr.. Rodgers deplored Government
spending "far in excess Of revenue"
In pointing out the need for strong
financial structure as q necessity for
the maintenance of national mo.
rale.
Sees Morale Is Vital.
Morale becomes vital factor with
conditions as they are in Europe to.
day, he declared, adding that there
the fight resolves into a battle be.
tween Christianity and paganism-
between the doctrines of Karl
Marx and those in the New Testa.
ment"
Judge Eberly told of the sinking
OF the Maine in Havana Harbor on
the night of February is. 1898, and
Of the war which developed to free
Cuba from the rule of Spain. Cuba's
independence, he said. stands as an
imperishable monument to the 360
victims Of the maritime disaster.
In the absence of DR.. Pedro Mar
tinez Fraga, Ambassador from Cuba,
1t. r. Pelaez spoke of Cubas graft
tude to the Maine heroes and to the
United States. The historical and
geographic ties between Cuba and
the United States form a real basis
for freedom, he said.
Thomas F. Donovan, District de-
partment commander, u. 8. w. ",
presided at the ceremony, a. which
detachments from the Army, Navy
and Marine Corps formed guards Of
honor. The program included selec-
tions by the Marine Band, three
solos by Margery T. League Hughes
and a cornet solo by Winfred Kemp,
principal musician of the band. The
Marine Band trumpeter sounded
Taps" at the conclusion Of the
services.
Chaplain Gives Invocation.
1t. Col. Walter Zimmerman, Fort
Myer chaplain, delivered the invo-
cation and the benediction was said
by the Rev. Ira p. Harbaugh, pastor
OF the Wilson Boulevard Christian
Church in Arlington.
The services at the Maine mast
were held under the auspices Of the
auxi1iaries of the District Depart.
ment, U. s. w. v. Calvin D. Lucas.
District senior vice commander, u,
s. w. ", presided at the placing Of
the wreaths.
Mrs. Naomi Hartman, president
Of the District department Of the
auxiliary Of the U. 8. w. "; Mrs,
Pauline Thompson, senior vice COM
mander OF the auxiliary, and Mrs.
Ethel Finn, chaplain, conducted the
ceremony Immediately following.
1t. j. l.. Phares, U. 8. NJ, placed
the wreath sent by President Roose-
velt and 1t. Pelaez placed that sent
by the Ambassador from Cuba.
Wreaths also were given by afaliatsd
organizations Of the u. 8. w. v. and
by the Veterans Of Foreign Wars
and its auxiliary, the American L..
gion, the Fleet Reserve, the Rsg,liaf