Evening star., 1944-09-19

to the Capitol to see Congress, to
the Lincoln and Jefferson Memo
rials, the Washington monument
and other such places Of historic
interest.
Tony Muto, factotum plenipo-
tentiary for Twentieth Century
Fox, asks me to join in a campaign
he is conducting to convince the
country that Wilson" is the best
picture there ever was and that
everybody ought to see it.
I can 60 all the way with Maury,
and even farther. I can 60 only
halfway with Tony. I don't think
Wilson" is the best picture ever
I don't even think it is the best pic
ture Daryl Zanuck ever made. But
I do think it is fine and thrilling
picture that everybody ought to see.
Why Not Combine Two?
Why not combine the two cam
paigns? The Army could take the
uniformed boys and girls up to the
top of the tall monument named for
Washington. the soldier and states
man who did so much to make us
a proud Nation 1t could take them
then to the Jefferson Memorial, the
marble building only recently COM
pleted to honor the man who held
certain truths to be self-evident'
back in a day when they were not
self-evident at all, truths We are
still endeavoring to make evident to
ourselves and the rest of the world;
take them then to the Lincoln Me-
mortal and the great brooding fig
ure of the Emancipator who gave
his own life to the cause Jefferson
enunciated.
The soldiers will not fail to bene-
At from these impressive reminders
that it is possible for men to be
great. Take them then to the Ii
brary of Congress to see some of
the documentary evidence--the
Declaration of Independence, the
Constitution of the United States,
the Emancipation Proclamation.
Then take them across the plaza
to the halls of Congress. From the
gallery of the House they may hear
Representative Dirksen of Illinois
yipping at Fala, the Presidents lit
tie Scotch pooch, because Fala was
taken along when the President
went to the Aleutians. But they
can disregard this, while absorbing
the atmosphere in which the peo-
pies representatives seek to turn
into practical law the principles laid
down In the Declaration, the Con-
stitution and the Proclamation.
And now take them to the cham
ber of the Senate Foreign Affairs
Committee Find chairs for them
here and let them have time to
ponder upon the tragedy enacted
in this room a quarter of century
ago, at the end of another war
fought by young people like them
selves. 1t is useful to remind them
that just as there is greatness in
the world, there is also meanness,
for 1t was here that men put their
heads together and plotted the de-
feat Of one of the noblest under
takings In history.
From this room take them to the
clean air outdoors.
And Then to Theater.
They will be free then to And
their way to the theater in which
the picture Wilson is being shown.
On the screen they will see the man
who was defeated by the Senators in
that room on the Hill They will
see a man of, understanding heart
and mind, a man of unbreakable
faith, great man, but one so like
millions of other Americans that
the lesson of the soldiers tour may
perhaps be driven home to them
the lesson that it is necessary for
each of us, no matter how humble,
to have some part of greatness If
America Is to be great in our time.