Evening star., 1941-11-05
1900 Fill Arena
To See and Hear
Fun 10 Be Free
Patriotic Speeches and
Entertainment Given
At Poaeont-RoIly

An audience of 5000 filled the
Uline Ice Arena last night to con-
slider the case for an aggressive
championing of Americas princi-
Piles of liberty as presented in speech
and pageant by Fight for Freedom,
Inc.
Those attending the rally, includ-
ing many prominent figures in Cap
ital official and social circles. heard
Federal Security Administrator Nc
Mutt declare:
THE question is not Shall the
United States keep out of warp
The question today is Shall we face
the fact of War?'"
They heard Ralph Ingersoll. pub
Usher of the newspaper PM, call
lease and lend" the meanest words
ever to come to his ears and ask:
What I want to know is When
are we going to get into this war?'"
They were offered "a dry little
bedtime story by Columnist Dor
othy Thompson heard a brief ad-
dress by Miss Jennie Lee, a leading
woman member of the British La
Dor party, and viewed an historical
pageant and variety show.
Applause Approves Policies.
When Burgess Meredith. narrator
and master of ceremonies, presented
resolution, they voted approval
with applause and cheers of full
support for all measures taken by
the President and Congress toward
stamping out Hitlerism, utmost aid
to peoples fighting aggression and
immediate repeal of the Neutrality
Act.
Finally they were given a spec
taclnar climax in simulated aerial
invasion of Washington during
which thousands of cardboard par
achutists foated down from the
arched ceiling of the arena, war
dens stalked down the aisles,
searchlights moved their bright fin
gers about and the sound-efects
crew produced the roar of an air
armada.
The right of each generation to
its heritage of liberty is conditioned
upon its willingness to defend it,
Mr.. McNutt said. adding "democ-
racv at war is better than Nazi-ism
at peace
Mr.. Ingersoll expressed the belief
the Soviet Army still would be in
tact year from today, but warned
that this country must be prepared
to balk a Forthcoming effort to
make the Mediterranean a German
lake" lest the Nazis be able to
begin a gigantic shipbuilding pro-
gram there and in the Baltic.
Miss Thompson's bedtime story"
related the totalitarians' rise to
power in the world and argued that
people who live on an island in
lake begin doing something about
potential invaders as soon as they
step into the lake. not permitting
them to reach the islands shore.
More Than Bravery"
Miss Lee declared that some
thing more than bravery" is prompt
ing the ordinary people" of Britain
to maintain their determination to
see the war through to victorious
finish.
Mr.. Meredith and Martha Scott
film actress. were narrators for the
pageant. It's Fun to Be Free
written by Ben Hecht and Charles
Macarthur and featuring memora-
BILE utterances of great Americans.
1t began with an impressionistic
number by the Sophia Delza
Dancers. There followed scenes in
which impersonators of such revered
persons as George Washington,
Thomas Jefferson, Andrew jackson,
Abraham Lincoln. Nathan Hale,
Benjamin Franklin and Patrick
Henry spoke familiar words. A re-
cordlng of the voice of President
Roosevelt was included.
Theme of the presentation was
that Americas cherished freedom
has been preserved only through
many battles in its defense.
The variety program included
Betty Field. Simone Simon, Jessie
Matthews, the Allison group. Lou
Holtz, Fred Keating. Edward Mat
theWs, the Howard University Choir,
Gertrude Niesen and Wilbur Evans.
presenting songs, readings and
comedy.
Net proceeds went to the District
OF Columbia Council of Defense,