Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-16
Police Post of Legion, Giving
Affair, Would Get 20 Per
Cent, Inquiry Reveals.
CHARITY IS NOT OBJECT,
OFFICIALS EXPLAIN
Commander Declares Money Re-
ceived VIII Be Used to Pay
Units Running Expenses.


expect to receive so per cent of the
gross receipts from the sale of thou
sands of tickets to the Washington
public.
This is revealed by investigation re-
garding the purposes of elaborate plans
for Columbia Mardi Gras"-adver-
tised as THE greatest social event ever
staged in Washington will be
held June under auspices of the new
~ formed Washington Police Post,
American Legion.
Hope to Make $4,000.
Information from one quarter is that
the promoters, who come from New
York, hope to sell $4,000 worth of
tickets to the public. The promoters
will receive 60- per cent of the gross
receipts, the Legion post will get 20
per cent and those who solicit for ticket
purchasers will be permitted to keep
20 per cent.
As soon as the question was raised re-
garding the purpose of the money-rais
ing campaign, officials of the Washing
ton Police Post of the American Legion
came forward with explanations.
William H. McGrath, post COM
mander, set at rest other reports that
plans for the affair, since changed, by
stating positively that the ''mardi
gras," coronation ball" and ticket-sell-
ing contest are not for the purpose of
raising benefit fund for charity or
for philanthropic work. Tickets will
net be sold on that basis, he said.
VIII Pay Post Expenses.
The money which the post hopes to
obtain, he said, is to be used mercy
and entirely for the running expenses
of the post, such as buying stationery,
flags and the like.
A misconception as to the ticket sale
program probably was bruited about
town, due to the fact that the first
set of tickets printed for the "mardi
gras," according TO Mr.. McGrath, car
ried the slogan: Charity Ball" This,
he said, is wrong. The mardi gras, he
declared, is not to be given in the
name of charity or philanthropy.
Information that the affair was
Planned as a charity benefit, 1t de-
veIoped, had reached officials of the
Community Chest and the welfare de-
partment of the local American Leg on,
and brought an immediate reaction.
Cannot Seek Charity Funds.
Elwood Street, director of the Com
munity Chest, stated that while he was
not concerned with purely social or,
business activities of the Legion posts,
the Legion could not solicit the public
in any manner for funds for charitable
purposes. since such work Is cared for
under the Chest budget, the LegioIi
being beneficiary of the Chest.
If the Legion post" said Mr.. Street,
"sells tickets on the basis of charity
or philanthropy, the rules of the Com
munity Chest, of course, would have to
be enforced, and the local department
of the American Legion be eliminated
from membership in the Chest organ
ization."
One of the primary detectives in the
institution Of the Community Chest. 1t
Is explained. was to avoid duplication
of public solicitation OF funds for
charitable or welfare work.
Promoters Pay Overhead"
The mardi gras, projected as
Gigantic" affair, is being organized by
. group OF New York promoters, who
are in the business for profit. Out of
the so per cent of the proceeds which
they are to receive, ii Is explained.
they must pay their overhead ex-
penses, said TO be large.
While reports from one quarter have
1t that the promoters hope to sell as
many as 10000 tickets, 81 per ticket
for a IS ball." Mr. McGrath said to-
day. however. that he did not know
how many tickets il was planned to
sell. He thought, however, that the
$4,000 figure was too high.
The large local ho-el where the big
event is planned to be staged. has a
capacity Of about 1000, but this will be
no handicap, it is said, since other audi
forums could be rented, provided the
one ball room will not hold all corners.
Ticket Sellers Profit.
Aside from the promoters and the
Legion post. there are other prospective
benehciaries from the ticket sale, it de-
yelops. Among these will be individual
Legion members, including policemen Of
the Washington Police Post. The ad-
vertising bulletins sent out by the pro-
motors proclairns that each mer1ber
selling a book Of 20 tickets may keep
81 Of the $50 recei9ed or a profit Of 20
Per cent for their efforts.
Also, the advertising leaflets printed
in red and blue type OF large size, tell
of $4,000 in prizes to be given away
free at the Columbia Mardi GraS.
The affair centers about the selec-
ton Of Miss Columbia" TO be chosen
in a popularity contest" the girl TO
be elected on the basis OF votes accom-
panying sale of tickets.
Prizes, it is announced, include a
'rOunQ-tne-WOrlQ tour, european
vacation tour" a round trip TO Cali
fornia,' in addition to automobiles.
diamond rings, watches, radios and
sums in cash.
Bond Posted for Prizes.
To protect Its guarantee Of all these
prizes, the Legion post announces, the
promoters were required TO post a bond
to cover the prizes valued az $4,000
This, Mr.. McGrath states, has been
done
A letter from B. c. MacNeil. depart
ment commander Of the American
Legion, received by The Star. states:
II am informed that an effort Is
being made TO discredit TIE Miss Column
bia personality contest being staged by
the Police Post of the American Legion
and that irreparable damage already
has been done.
IT assure you that thorough inyesti-
gation of the Police Posts project has
been made and has been approved by
the judge advocate OF the department
Warren E. Miller and also has the
approval of the Executive Committee OF
the Department of the District Of Co.
lumbIa of the American Legion and
other Legion officials as well as myself.
I'VE will appreciate your cooperation
IN ignoring any unwarranted attacks
and attempts TO ridicule a meritorioui
undertaking"