Evening star., 1924-12-07
AGREES TO FOREGO
CHARITY INAUGURAL
Mrs. Dougherty Says Ball
Will Be Cancelled If Off
cial Reception Is Held.

Mrs. John II. Dougherty. chairman
of the inaugural charity ball, which
earned s2S,000 for needy charities
at the time President Harding was
inducted into office, notified the
Chamber of Commerce and the Mer-
chants and Manufacturers Associa-
tion in a letter written yesterday that
the charity ball will not be repeated
next March If suggestions for an off,
cial presidential reception at that
time are adopted.
After Woodrow Wilson had disap-
proved the brilliant reception and ball
which had marked the Inauguration
of former Presidents and President
Harding, too, vetoed such a fete, the
inaugural charity ball was conceived,
with Mrs. Dougherty as it's chairman.
Result Nearly Ideal.
The result was almost ideal. Not
only was the general public given an
opportunity to celebrate the inaugu-
ration of their President with a gilt
tering evening fete, but the money
that was derived from the affair, par
ticlpated In by Americans from every
section of the country, went to the
AID or needy citizens through the
children's charities of Washington
and the police and f1remen's benefit
fund Tor widows and orphans
The retiring Vice President and
MRS. Marshall received at the charity
pail, ana Vice President and Mrs.
coolidge attended. President and Mrs.
Harding remained away inasmuch as
President Harding had vetoed the
customary inaugural ball, and the
charity ball had not yet become a
uenhite part of the inaugural festiy-
Ilies' Inc willard Hotel was crowded
with men and women from every part
of the Union
When President Coolidge so strong
ly indicated that he. too, would waive
the ofncial reception, Mrs. Daugherty
called together a number of men and
women and began plans for the
inaugural charity ball to be repeat
ed on an even larger scale than be-
fore. Appointed on the committee
up 70 date are Col. C. o. Sheriff.
Capt. Adolphus Andrews, Bowie
Giark' Mrs. Frank B. Noyes, Mrs.
Frederick Brooke, Mrs. Harold II
Wilson. Mrs. David A. Reed Mrs
James A. Mitchell. Mrs. Charles ],
Bell Mrs. Thomas F. Walsh. Mrs.
Laurence Townsend and Mrs. Walter
Tuckerman. Others were to be an
pointed later.
The expense OF conducting such a
ball, 1t was pointed out, would he
almost negligible. The Hotel May
mower which is nearing completion.
on connecticut avenue and L street
north west offered to donate its entire
hrst hoor-luxurious foyer, dining
room. tearoom, paImroom and bali
room-with full service free Of cost
This insured sufficient room to ac-
commodate every one who wished to
attend, including the crowds of out
ot-town guests who would come to
Washington to attend the inaup-ura-
tion.
Ihe worthy children's charities and
the hremen's insurance fund were to
nave received the proceeds, and nlans
were rapidly assuming shape when
the chamber of Commerce and the
Merchants and Manufacturers Asso-
citation addressed their letters con-
tanning outlines for the inaueural
ceremonies to President Coolidge
included were suggestions for an
ofncial reception, thus precIuding the
need for the charity ball.
President Coolidge has not vet an
proved these plans and his disposi-
tlon toward the suggested reception
can only be surmised by his previous
stand on what was virtually the same
question Should he accept the plan
for the reception, however, il was
pointed out that 1t would be neces-
sary to cancel the proposed charity
ball. 1t would be impossible to at
tract a sufficiently large crowd to
both to make it profitable for either.
AS result, Mrs. Dougherty ad-
dressed letter to the heads of both
OF the organizations that have been
nf
ception, pointing out that two re-
ceptions would be entirely super-
fuous. and that if their recommen-
dations We're adopted her committee
would withdraw its plans. These let
teIs will be received by the two or
ganizations in question early tomor-
row.