Evening star., 1924-12-08
BIG INAUGURATION
PLAN PRESENTED
President Receives Commit.
tee Representing Cham
Der of Commerce.

President Coolidge received his
second appeal from local trade bodies
for an "old Fashioned" Inauguration with
all the splendor and impressiveness
of the past. when a special commit
tee representing the Washington
Chamber of Commerce called on him
at the White House today.
This delegation. headed by Isaac
Cans. president of the chamber, left
with the Executive a copy of reso-
luton adopted recently by the cham
ber describing March 4 as national
occasion and urging that the day be
gnzrked by the holding of a great
parade on Pennsylvania avenue and
a large reception in the evening.
Mr.. Cans informed the President that
the resolution was. passed without a
dissenting vote, and that in the opinion
Of the delegation the great majority of
the citizens OF the District, and prob
ably throughout the country, would like
TO see him inducted into Office with
some form OF a demonstration at least
commensurate with the significance of
the occasion
Mr.. Cans said afterward that the COM
mittee assured the President that
whether or not he favored their PROPOSE
ton for a celebration he would have
their unqualified support in whatever he
may decide upon.
Letter of Mrs. Dougherty.
The Chamber of Commerce today
received the letter Mrs. John Allen
Dougherty wrote, in which she de-
clared that the brilliant inaugural
charity ball which was held at the
time President Harding was inaugu-
rated could not be repeated next
March IL recommendations put
forward by civic bodies for an Of
fetal presidential reception are ap-
proved by President Coolidge.
The letter was referred by Mr.. Cans
to the proper committee and will
be given immediate consideration.
Speaking personally, Mr.. Cans said
that in the first place he had no de-
sire to do anything which did not
have the thorough approval of Pres
ident Coolidge and that in the second
place he had not the slightest inten-
tion of attempting to compete with
the charity ball
1t was recalled by prominent bust
ness men today that the charity ball
at the time of President Harding g
Inauguration not only earned $2S, ,000
for worthy charities of Washington
but that it also served the purpose
of attracting many visitors to the
city who might otherwise not have
attended the inaugural ceremonies
at all. The charity ball was regard
ed at the time as far greater sue
cess than an official reception could
have been. 1t encouraged a more
democratic spirit, people from every
walk of life felt welcome to attend
and the money derived from 1t went
to help the needy.
President Undecided.
President Coolidge is known to
have reached no conclusion regarding
his inauguration. He has discussed
the matter Informally with friends
and some of his party leaders, but
as yet has been unable to make up
his mind. He has intimated very
strongly that while some of the fea
lures OF a parade might be pleasing
he would prefer not to have a regu-
lar inaugural ball or reception.
The Merchants and Manufacturers
Association recently su bmitte d
through its secretary, Charles j. Co
lumbus, a resolution urging an old
time celebration. This was later fol-
lowed up with plan which Mr.. CO.
lumbus left at the White House last
week.
The committee representing the
chamber today was composed of the
following, besides President Cans:
James T. Lloyd, vice president of the
chamber, president OF the board of
education; Martin L. Leese, Chaplin
Brown. Charles w. Darr and A. e.
Seymour.
Z The committee gained the impress
sion from what the President said to
them that he would very shortly an
nounce hiz wishes regarding an in
augural celebration.