The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-02
James D. Preston Would
 Change Custom
GIVES HIS REASONS
Pension Hall, Where Ball Formerly Has Been Held, Was Selected for Dancing, But Few Want
 To Dance
ny C. D. STEWART

Washington, December 1.-(Special J. James D. Preston, superintendent of the Senate press gallery. is very much in kfavor of holding the inaugural oall at the capitol. MT. Preston is so imbued with this idea that he is vigorously at work promoting the scheme, and is win hing much support among those who may have some influence in the matter It has been the custom to hold this great levee at the pension office which has a commodlous hall which can be used for a ball room, and in addition many other rooms large and spacious which can be used for receptions by the notables. Of course, the principal feature of the inaugural ball is the President and his family, and everybody who is lucky enough to get to attend wants to shake the Presidents hand and be introduced to the future mistress of the White House. IL is argued by MT. Preston, that inas- much as only very small percentage of those that usually attend the inau- gural ball, do so to dance, or sven participate in as many as one dance, that the capitol with it's numerous corridors, committee rooms and galleries is the very place for the event. The statuary hall, and the rotunda, he says, will furnish ample floor space for all the dancing that will be done. and the capitol is so well provided for with attractions that no decorations, such as has always been used at the pension office, will be nec- essary. and would in fact be out of place.
 Further MT. Preston declares, that many will attend the ball, not only to see the President and his family, but to also see and meet, the leaders in the demo- cratic party, and the men who are des- tined by virtue of their position in pub life life to be prominent figures in the next administration. Such men as Clark and Underwood and other great leaders in the House and Senate. What would be more appropriate says Mr. Preston. than for the public to be permitted to meet these men in the capitol, and On the very spot which has been the scene of their efforts and where they have won their laurels
 Besides that there has been much op- position to holding the ball at the pension office Congress, it is understood, is opposed to It, and Speaker Clark, him Sell, IL IS uecldfcu, would UBnt the proposition of holding another inaugural ball in the pension building. Outside of the pension office, and the capitol it 'is going to be difficult to find a build ing suitable for the affair in the city. The inaugural ball, however, has be- come fixed part of the change in ad- | ministration and the inaugural pro-
 gramme, and is looked forward to by the pjeople of this city, and a great many people who come to the capitol to Wit I ness the pageant on March 4, every four years, as an institution. Of course, it is not everybody that can get to go and those that do, nut pay the fiddler all the preparations for such big event costs money. and one must pay for the privi- lege of witnessing it.
 It is more than likely that Mir. Pres tons plan of holding it at the capitol will be adopted, it only lacks the ap- proval of Congress to become a certainty.