Evening star., 1928-12-04
OPPOSES
CIVIC INAUGURAL
FavorS Awaiting Hoover'S
Wishes-DecIines to Serve
on Committee.


Samuel ]. Prescott, chairman of the
Republican State committee for the
District of Columbia, and who is known
to be under serious consideration for
appointment as chairman of the in
augural committee, is opposed to plans
for civic inaugural celebration until
at least PreSident-elect Hoover has in
dcated definitely his wishes.
Il diSapprove Of the activities on the
part of these organizations and individ-
uals," Mr.. Prescott said today. 1T is
my opinion that that matter should be
left entirely in the hands of President
elect Hoover to decide, and when he
does make decision it then remains
for the persons officially designated for
that purpose to carry out his views"
Chairman Prescott said today that
he did not attend the meeting at the
Mayfower Hotel yesterday when plans
for q civic celebration were discussed
and that he did not authorize his name
being used in connection with the ap-
pointment Of committee to wait upon
Dr. Hubert Work, chairman of the Re-
publican national committee. He added
that he would not serve on the COM
mittee.
G. o. p. Leaders Oppose Plan.
Other Republican leaders in the Dis
trict, including Edward F. Colladay, Re-
publican national committeeman from
the District, are known to oppose this
movement on the part of citizens for a
civic celebration until Mr.. Hoover has
expressed himself definitely.
Chairman Work when asked for an
opinion today regarding this local &C
tivity said that he had very strong
opinions in the matter, but would re-
frain from making them public until
he had listened to the committee ap-
pointed at yesterdays meeting.
The step toward formulation of the
inaugural program in which visitors to
Washington and local citizens might
join was decided upon yesterday after
noon by representatives of six trade
and civic organizations called together
by the Washington Chamber of Com
merce.
During two-hour debate of the pro-
posed civic celebration delegates de-
clared that Washington should "sell
Hoover" on the idea of more elabo-
rate inaugural program than the un-
ostentatious one he has indicated he
desires, but warnings were sounded,
however, that Washington should not 90
contrary to the wishes of the President
elecS and stage program distasteful
to him.
Named on Committee.
The joint committee named to lay the
matter before DR.. Work, who, If prece-
dent is followed, will name the inaugu-
raj committee chairman, is composed of
Ivan c. Weld, chamber president; w. w.
Everett, president of the Board of
Trade; Maj. Gen. Anton Stephan, presi-
dent Of the Merchants and Manufactur-
ers' Association; Rudolph Jose. president
of the City Club: Mrs NJ 0. Chance
of the Women's City Club; DR.. George
c. Havenner, head of the Federation of
Citizens Associations: Mr.. Colladay and
Mrs. Virginia Speel, local representatives
on the Republican national committee,
Mr.. Prescott, and w. T. Galliher and
Robert N. Harper who have served on
former inaugural committees.
During consideration of the question at
the Mayfiower Hotel, widely divergent
views were expressed concerning for
mutation of plans at this time al
though most delegates bespoke civic
celebration.
1t developed that among the most
ardent proponents of an "old-time' in
augural we're members of the Demo-
cratic party, while among those urg-
ing that nothing be done, at least
pending approval by Mr. Hoover, were
Republicans. This called forth a re-
mark from Edward S. BrashearS of the
City Club about the apparent "Jeffer-
sonian simplicity Of the Republicans
and the plans for pageantry of the
Democrats"
Cautioning against hasty formulation
OF plans which Mr.. Hoover or his rep
resentatives might discard, Mr.. Gal
liner, stanch Republican, declared en-
phatically that I'VE ought to do moth
ing until the President-elect has indi-
Gated his wishes more in detail-about
the inaugural
Refer to Mr.. Hoover.
We all are cognizant," he continued,
"of the fact that Mr.. Hoover has stated
ne desires as simple and unpretentiouS
an inauguration as any held heretofore.
feel it would be trespassing on the
rights and dignity of the President
elect If We formulated plans for cele-
bration that did not have his consent.
And think it would not comport with
the dignity and standing of our organ
1zations for us to say to Mr.. Hoover:
4AlS ID WIIdI we want.
Mr.. Harper, Democrat countered
with the suggestion that Washington
should have part in the Inauguration.
ito show the President the respect the
citizens of Washington hold for this
high Office" and to stage celebration
for the entertainment of visitors ex-
pected here for the event
Mr.. Harper added that if Mr. Hoov-
er decides finally against an ld-time"
inaugural, the citizens of Washington
should organize plans for an evening
celebration of their own. He declared
such a program would cost no one any
thing except those who can afford and
are willing to pay for it.
Charles w. Darr, head of the local
"Al Smith for President in 1899" or
SANITATION. and first vice president of
the chamber, declared Washington
should not wait until Mr.. Hoovers re-
turn here, but should take steps to
"sell' him on the idea of more elab-
crate inaugural.
Associations to Aid.
Mr.. Everett expressed the hope that
no action be taken until official inau-
gural plans have been formulated and
indicated that Mr.. Hoover's wishes
should be followed. He reported that
the directors of his organization urged
postponement pending definite word
from Mr.. Hoover.
Gen. Stephan said his association had
not acted on the matter, but voiced
personal opinion that the official plans
be announced before local program is
considered. He warned against COM
mercializing" the proposed civic cele-
bration. If citizens celebration is
decided upon, however, he said, he felt
sure his association would cooperate.
DIR. Havenner said the citizens fed
nrntio,n u,0l1ld haa rtiIu cn-0neratn in