Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-24
GEORGE WASHINGTON
TIRE COVERS USED by
lit REPRESENTATIVES

'These chosen Representatives Of the
people Of the United States think well
enough OF the tire cover to order tt
and to display 1t on their automobiles 10
their constituents" stressed Mr.. Eloom,
$50 that u the best evidence know Of
what the public feels about &C." And
Mr.. Bloom has frst-hand information
because ne not only ordered these tire
gress and Capitol ofiicials, but paid for
them himself.
When q tire cover manufacturer first
approached the associate directors Of
the Bicentennial Commission with o
sample OF the cover they did not like
the portrait of Washington and frankly
told the manufacturer that he ought to
have better picture. 30 the manufac-
turer changed the picture.
"Col. Grant and thought the second
picture was all right" said Represent
alive Bloom, "and I still think the tire
cover u Q good method of advertising.
nave one OF thees covers on my own
car"
Mr.. Bloom arranged with the manu-
facturer that he, personally, would order
as many OF the tire covers as members
OF Congress desired. He wrote to each
OF his colleagues advising them to send
to him their orders II they desired tire
covers and promptly was flooded with
requests. some Tor two or three Of the
covers.
Then Representative Frank Crowthsr
OF New York made speech In the
House bitterly crtticizing the Bicen-
tenniAl Commission for approving such
uiadignified advertising for q celebra-
tion authorized by Congress. Repre-
sentative Bloom immediately sent Q
telegram TO the tire manufacturer can
ceiling all orders he had placed for
members OF Congress. Then he de-
clared his colleagues began protesting
that they should not be deprived of
the tire covers because one or two mem
bers didn't like 1t, and urged MIR. Bloom
to fulfill his promise to them which
he has done.
Tempest In Teapot.
Representative Bloom, in q state
rnent to The Star yesterday. called the
so-called ttre-cover controversy O.
tempest in teapot"
"As o matter Of fact there never was
any cause for alarm among those who
do not think the tire cover q fitting
method Of publicity In connection with
the George washington bdcentennial
celebration.
"The United States commission had
nothing whatever to do with the manu-
tire covers" he emphasizes "It has
never bought tire cover or Endorsed
a tire cover. Personally, I have
thought" he continued, and still think,
that there Is nothing inappropriate In
the use of O tire cover for announcing
the George Washington bicentennial
celebration. That is my personal opin on
and does not express the formal in
dorsement Of the commission or any one
else.
"There are a number Of companies
interested in manufacturing advertising
tire covers. presume they have many
other kinds of devices besides that of
q picture Of George Washington.
Neither the commission nor its as
sociate directors have any power or
authority to stop these manufacturers
In advertising what their business judg-
nlent dictates. Our concern as associate
directors is limited to this one fact
that II Q tire cover manufacture as
sumes to put a picture of George WASH
ington on tire cover let IL be picture
and not q caricature.
Voluntary Requests Made.
IT am Using a George washington
tire cover; as are several hundred other
members Of Congress, who have volun-
tarily asked for these covers. Not q
cent Of Government money has been
spent for such covers and will not be.
AS see it, 1t is purely matter Of in
dividual taste.
I'VE have told many inquirers where
such covers could be purchased If they
wanted them and have, as matter Of
fact, transmitted such orders for in
dividuals to the manufacturers, but
merely as o matter Of accommodation.
This practice we have abandoned, al
though there was nothing inherently
wrong In 1t.
II regret exceedingly that this false
impression as TO the commissions at
titude persists, and can attribute 1t
only TO either ignorance or desire for
personal exploitation. reiterate the
fact that the George Washington BIZ
centennial Commission has no CONNER
cial aspects whatever. We are not In,
terested In or promoting the use Of tire
covers, or any other material gotten out
by individual business men or cor
porations."