Evening star., 1950-05-23
lam an American Day
Ceremony Witnessed
By 5000 at Capitol

IT Am An American Day" was
observed yesterday afternoon on
the steps of the Capitol with
music and speeches in a colorful
ceremony witnessed by 5000 under
blue skies.
Vice President Barley, intro
duced while the band played the
first bars of My Old Kentucky
Home" radiated optimism in
short speech to the crowd, which
contained many new citizens and
many who are about to become
citizens.
He told them the story of
the Monroe Doctrine. announced
more than 130 years ago, when
we were not nearly as strong as
we are today"
ut has never been necessary for
us to fight" because of the Monroe
Doctrine. he reminded the audi
ence. and suggested that the
recent fortnight declaration of
policy called the Atlantic Pact
may similarly have long history
Of continuing unviolated.
Bunche Hits Cloture Vote.
DR.. Ralph Bunche, former pro-
fessor at Howard University. who
Is director of trusteeships for the
United Nations, referred in his
talk TO the failure of FEPC
proponents to get enough votes to
tnvoke cloture last week. He said:
In this plaza today one can
still hear the echoes of last weeks
Senate debate and vote which did
no credit to a democracy. Indeed
1t should be cause for sober
reflection that legislation of the
kind debated should be imperative
in this enlightened age. No one
won anything from that FEPC
debate. But the country and
democracy lost"
AS to Washington, he said: "We
are assembled here in the Capital
OF the greatest democracy in his
tory. This Capital, of all capitals,
should symbolic and radiate
democracy. 1t should be shin
ing example of democracy in ac-
ton, a model of democratic living
by Americans of all colors and
creeds. It is tragic and it is
damaging to the morale and
prestige of the Nation that these
things cannot be said of Wash
ington, D. c."
Compliments Committee.
Washington cannot yet claim to
be the capital of American
democracy at work, he said.
He complimcnted the commit
tee running the event on Its
thoroughly democratic procedure"
and concluded by saying that he
was proud to be an American"
and proud of his origin.
DR.. Bunche was introduced by
Interior Secretary Chapman, and
Mr.. Barkley was introduced by
Attorney General McGrath. Rob-
ert Young. screen and radio actor,
introduced MI. McGrath.
Watson B. Miller, Commissioner
OF immigration and Naturaliza-
ton, introduced l2-year-old Dace
Epermanis. the 150,0ooth displaced
person to enter ti7e UI3ited States,
and Lydia Fediai, a fye-year- -old
Polish girl, who was one of the
first DPS to arrive.
aDace's parents, Bernhards v.
Epermanis and Nadia Epermanis,
Latvians. earlier in the day made
declarations of intention to be-
come citizens in District Court for
themselves and for their two chill
dren, Dace and her 15-year -old
brother Juris.
Leonard Speaks.
Waldron E. Leonard, chair
man of the citizens committee
which arranged the ceremonies,
spoke briefly at the start of the
program. j. R. Virgins, managing
editor of The Washington Post,
called to the audiences attention
the presence of AZ guests of the
State Department from overseas.
The Sesquicentennial Choir, in
academic gowns and caps of red,
white and blue. stood in three
rows of color on the steps and
sang THE Battle Hymn of the
Republic" The Marine Band
played Sousa marches and the
Marine Hymn. Sam Jack Kauf-
man Of the Capitol Theater, who
acted as master of ceremonies,
introduced Kay Dewitt, who sang
'"The Four Freedoms" and the
Mills Brothers. who sang "The