Evening star., 1942-07-01
Wafer Gate Program
Aids Soviet Relief;
$1,000 Attend
Talks Made by Bott,
Maj. Eliot and Murray;
Paul Robson Sings

An enthusiastic crowd estimated
at 1000 applauded an elaborate
program Of music and speeches last
night at the Water Gate for the
benefit of Russian War Relief.
From two hagpoles on the barge
in the Potomac River flew the Stars
and Stripes and the Red flag of
Soviet Russia, as well-known speak
ers stressed the courage and bravery
of the Russians fight against Hitler
ism, and urged support of the Rus
sian cause.
Checks sent to the platform dur
Ing the program, and collection
from the audience in collection boxes
decorated in red, white and blue,
swelled a fund which some officials
estimated would run into thousands
of dollars. The total was being
computed today. The distinguished
audience included many notables.
Mime. Litvinoff Reads Message.
Mime. Ivy Litvinoff, wife of Maxim
Litvinoff, Russian Ambassador to
the United States, read a message
from the Ambassador pledg1ng the
Russian Armies to continue the
battle against Hitlerism to victory
She said she was glad to see SO
many thousands of people gathered
together, who hate Hitler"
Maj. George Fielding Eliot, mill
tary analist, stressed the Importance
of the Russian front to the United
States. Predicting western front"
to draw the maximum of Germans
from the Russian conflict, the
speaker said, "psychologically, the
western front already exists" He
predicted that I'VE shall have sue
cesses as well as defeats in this year
of preparation for victory
William L. Bait, chairman of the
Requirements Division of the War
Production Board, praised the Rus
sian people, and declared: 1--WE
civilians of America are as yet far
short of matching their effort or
their sacrifices" He characterized
contribution to Russian relief as an
investment" in the fture.
Philip Murray, president Of the
CIO, declared: This is labor's war;
and labor is going to win this war.
Organized labor proves its patriotism
by working, fighting, giving. Unions
have always been generous in aiding
people who need help. I per-
sonally have seen treasures virtually
emptied by unions to relieve human
needs"
Paul Robson Sings.
Paul Robson, colored singer sang
a number of Russian folk songs, and
made talk in which he praised the
Russians. He said he had always
considered his place with the COM
mon people of America, with the
common people of all the world"
The Germans must be surrounded,
with the Russians on one side and
the English, Canadians and Amer
leans on the other, he said. He was
accorded the greatest ovation of the
evening.
Lowell Thomas, radio commenta-
tor, made the collection speech
while volunteers from the Junior
League, the Women's Auxiliary of
the United Federal Workers of
America and UFWA members
passed the boxes. One of the largest
checks publicly acknowledged was
for 81 $50. One check for 50 came
from WPB worker, and another
for 81 from "a soldier" received a
big round of applause.
Mrs. j. Borden Hartman, chair
man of the board of directors of the
Russian War Relief, presided.
The Philadelphia Russian Bala-
laika Orchestra and company, under
direction of Paul Kovriga, enter
tanned with instrumental music,
vocal solos and dances at the OPEN
ing and. close OF the program.
A pageant, Song for American
Union" written by Vincent McHugh,
with music and lyrics by Harold H.
Rome, was presented by Melvyn
Douglas, stage and screen star, as
narrator, and the Columbia Light
Opera Co. chorus, conducted by
Ethyl Manning; the Leon Askin
Players and members of the Ma
tional Symphony Orchestra.