Evening star., 1943-01-02
Oldest Inhabitants
Hear Capper Lauded
AS Friend Of D. {.
Proctor Cites Senator's
Efforts on Suffrage in
Review Of Post Year

Review OF Post Year
Senator Capper, Republican, of
Kansas, was praised yesterday by
John Clagett Proctor, as good
friend of the District, especially on
the issue Of suffrage.
The commentator was delivered
during Mr.. Proctor's reading of his
chronicles of the year 1912, before
the Association of Oldest 1nhabi-
tants Of the District, at the Old
Union Engine House.
The speaker referred to state
ment in the Senate by Senator Cap
per on November 16 that failure
of Congress to extend suffrage to
residents Of Washington was
great injustice"
Ever since he came to Wash
ington," said Mr.. Proctor. Sen
ator Capper consistently has been
a good, close, substantial friend Of
the District of Columbia"
Quotes Puerto Rico Report.
The question Of national repre-
sentation for the District also was
touched on by Mr.. Proctor In the
course of his review OF the year
when he quoted from a report of
a statement by Present Roosevelt
in regard to the people of Puerto
Rico.
Stephen T. Early, presidential sec
retary, was quoted as saying that
Mr.. Roosevelt had approved a sug-
gestion brought up in a Cabinet
meeting for a study to be made on
the possibility Of granting suffrage
to Puerto Rico.
Mr.. Early had been asked If the
study might include plans for per-
mitting the people Of the District a
similar right to choose their own
officials.
Il don't know who would speak
in the cabinet for the District" Mr..
Early was quoted as saying "Secre-
tary of the Interior Ickes presented
the proposal concerning Puerto Rico
to the cabinet"
Definition for Parasite"
In his chronicles, Mr.. Proctor
touched principally on local events
of particular interest to the associa-
ton, bringing in briefly outstanding
affairs of national and international
| Importance such as selective service,
the record-breaking food, assassin
alton of Darlan visits here of Latin
American presidents, and few
others
Splicing his recital with bits Of
Proctorian humor, the speaker re-
ferred to President Roosevelt's
criticism of parasites" in Washing
ton: then gave his own definition OF
a parasite as "a man who gets in a
revolving door and makes the other
man do all the pushing"
Mr.. Proctor said he didn't like
wartime" efforts to save electricity,
because he said most people get up
earlier and have to burn more
electricity in the morning. He
dubbed: TITS like stopping up the
bunghole Of a barrel and letting it
run out the spigot."
Jokes About BIackout.
Blackouts and the rush for black
out material for windows reminded
him, the speaker said, of an old
song:
Pull down the blinds,
Pull down the blinds.
Some one is looking, love,
Pull down the blinds"
Mr.. Proctor brought message OF
New Years greeting from Theodore
w. Noyes, president of the associa- =
ton, and described a happy family
gathering at Christmas at the Noyes
home.
kilograms Of greeting were sent
by the association to both Mr.. Moves
and to Christian Heurich, now 10l
wears OF age, who. according to Mr..
Proctor, was missing from the New
Years celebration yesterday for the
first time since he Joined the asso-
ciation. The kilograms were written
by Charles H. Bates, chairman Of
the Entertainment Committee.
Is Years as Member.
Mr.. Proctor celebrated his 25th
anniversary Of membership in the
association, explaining he had
Joined as soon as he was qualified
! to be member, at the age OF So
He recently celebrated his 18th
/ birthday.
A feature of the traditional serv-
ices OF the day was ringing of the
old fire bell by a special committee
| consisting of A. J. Driscoll James
F. Duhamel and Orrin J. Davy.
! The oldest member of the asso-
citation participating was Alfred
Heitmuller, sr., who is 90 years Of
age. In picture published in The
Star yesterday his name was re-
corded by mistake as Anton Heit-
muller.
Music for the occasion was bv
Miss Bernice Ferris, who sang patri-
otic songs. accompanied by Miss Ad-
die Hickman. Members joined in a
salute to the flag.
John B. Dickman, secretary of
the association, reported on the age
groups of the membership. One
person, Mr.. Heurich is over 100
years of age; four are 80 or over:
"a are 30 or over; los are 70 or over:
and 246 are between so and 10.
During the past year % died and
36 were admitted to membership.
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