Evening star., 1944-08-15
Business, Civic
Heads Discuss
v-Day Plans
Huge Celebration
Is Suggested for
Monument Grounds

Monument Grounds
Civic. business, restaurant, hotel,
press and radio representatives met
yesterday with the Commissioners
TO plan for the spontaneous cele-
brations expected on V.day-the
day when the surrender Of Germany
Is announced.
Most of the celebration plans
revolved around the advisability of
one planned celebration at the
Monument Grounds and the closing
Of business establishments, particu-
larly liquor stores. 1t also was sug-
gested that guns be fired at the
Navy Yard, much the same way
Premier Stain of Soviet Russia
orders salutes on announcement OF
victories.
Proposed by Prettyman.
The idea Of a community cele-
bration at the Monument Grounds
came from E. Barrett Prettyman,
president of the Board of Trade,
who said 1t was a personal proposal
and not one acted upon by his Or
ganization. He proposed fireworks
and a number of bands for enter
tainment.
Commissioner John Russell Young,
who presided over the meeting, ex-
pressed surprise when mention was
made Of closing liquor establish
ments, stating that the Commits
sioners had not considered taking
that step.
Milton Kronheim, chairman OF
the Beverage Industry Committee,
said the liquor industry would be
willing to close one day or q week If
1t were necessary for public safety,
but he recalled that property was
destroyed here in the 1918 armistice
and celebration, although the city
was legally dry"
Fav0rs Liquor Sales.
When Mr.. Kronheim asked AS
sistant Police Chief Harvey G. CAL
lahan for his opinion. Inspector
Callahan replied that "he was not
to answer the question"
but that he was inclined to favor
liquor stores remaining open unless
an emergency arose. Inspector
Callahan said plans had been made
Tor mobilizing the Police Depart
ment's full force and auxiliary Do
licemen and urged that theaters and
eating places remain open.
Department stores, according to
A. D. Wick OF the Palais Royal,
have made plans for closing
II victory Is announced before
noon, stores will close within a
half hour. II announced after II
noon, the stores will close the re-
mainder Of the day and the follow
ing day.
II victory Is announced between
8 pm. and II midnight, except Sat-
urday, Sunday or a holiday preced-
Ing a business day. the stores will
remain closed the following business
day.
Theaters Oppose Closing.
Spokesmen for the theaters urged
that they be allowed to remain open,
thus possibly keeping 60 1000 persons
on the streets. Among those speak
ing were A. j. Brylawski, president
OF the Motion Picture Theater Own
ers. and Carter T. Barron of Loew's,
Mr.. Brylawski also suggested the
stopping Of all downtown vehicular
traffic.
l.. Gardner Moore. president OF
the Hotel Association, warned that
II the celebration got out of hand
and employees left their jobs, en-
ployes OF restaurants and hotel din.
ing rooms might leave their Jobs.
thus leaving thousands without
meals. He warned, too, that per-
sons with relatives fighting in the
Pacific might resent the celebra-
ton before the entire war was nm
lshed. Robert j. Wilson, executive
secretary of the Restaurant Asso-
citation. offered to Cooperate with
the hotel group.
Commissioner Young emphasized
that while the Commissioners did
not want to put a damper" on the
celebrations, they did not wish prom
erty destroyed. He revealed tina,
the police have distributed memo
randums of the danger Of person.
pushing against store windows and
OF interfering with streetcar ano
bus traffic.
Others Promise Aid.
Other promises of cooperation
came from Harry Weschler, presi-
dent of the Retail Liquor Dealers
Association; Sidney P. Taliaferro
president of the District Bankers
Association; Max c. Schwartz. CHIEF
afraid warden, who said he beA
lieved the Federation of Business
mems Associations favored scat.
tered celebrations; Harry Wender
president of the Federation of Citi-
zens' Associations: DR.. E. r. Harris
president OF the Federation of Civic
Associations, and representatives OF
radio stations.
Speaking for the press were Rob-
bert M. Buck of the Daily News
and Herbert F. Corn, managing
editor of The Star.
Xxx u>I.l MI