Evening star., 1948-11-14
toAsk
.Hi|dreth as Head
Of Inaugural
Party Chairman Will
Seek Trumun Action;
Work Moving Ahead


Democratic National Committee
will ask President Truman to
name Melvin D. Hildreth, Wash
ington attorney and Democratic
National Committeeman for the
District, general chairman of the
l949 Inaugural Committee, it
was learned last night.
Senator McGrath is in Key West.
Fla, where Leslie Biff1e, secretary
designate of the new Senate. con-
ferred with President Truman last
week on inaugural plans.
Already recommended to the Chief
Executive for the inaugural chair
manship by the Democratic Gen.
tral Committee of Washington, Mr..
Hildreth was called yesterday by
Senator McGrath and asked if he
would take the post. 1t was UNDER
stood that Mr.. Hildreth accepted.
whereupon Mr.. McGrath said he
would ask Mr.. Truman to make
the appointment.
Meanwhile, Mr.. Hildreth said
Washington Democrats are making
all possible preparations for what
they expect to be the most elabo-
rate Inauguration ever held here.
He said more than 100000 per-
sons will turn out to watch The
inaugural ceremonies at Capitol
Plaza and the parade to follow.
The celebration was attended by
100000 persons in the last major
Inauguration. January 20. 1941, when
an hour-long parade followed ad-
ministration of the presidential oath.
Some Preparation Under Way.
Although all plans must await
official appointment of the inau-
gural general chairman, District
Democrats already have begun un-
official preparations.
Meanwhile, control of the Joint
Congressional Inauguration Com
mittee was being shifted from the
Republicans to the Democrats.
Senator Hayden, Democrat, Of
Arizona, yesterday replaced Sena-
tor Brooks, Republican, of Illinois.
as chairman. Senator Brooks was
defeated for reelection, and re-
signed the Craftsmanship.
Vice-president- -elect Barkley re-
signed from the joint committee and
was succeeded by Senator McGrath.
Senator Wherry, Republican. of Me-
braska remains on the group as the
third member to represent the mi
nority party.
House to Change This Week.
The new lineup was announced By
Senate President-pro-tem Vanden-
berg.
On the House side, a change in
membership is expected this week.
The present House representation
consists of Majority Leader Halleck.
Majority Whip Arends, and Minor
.ty Whip Mccormack.
House Speaker Martin is expected
to return to Washington early this
week, and make new appointments
to shift control to the Democrats.
He plans to confer with Minority
Leader Rayburn before making the
new appointments.
Plans are going forward for in
auguration ceremonies on the east
front of the Capitol, where huge
inaugural stands are now about 10
per cent complete.
To finance the Congressional ex-
pense of Inauguration, $108 900 was
appropriated for the joint commit
tee. The stands will cost $79,3 300.
and the remainder of the funds
probaly will be spent for invita-
tions. tickets, and numerous Incl
dentals.
McGinnis to Resign.
David Lynn. architect of the Cap
itol, is in charge of constructing the
stands, but the rest of the arrange
ments traditionally are handled by
the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms, acting
for the joint committee.
The present sergeant-at-arms,
Edward F. McGinnis, will resign.
and his successor, to be selected by
the Democrats. will take over the re-
sponsibility, of handling tickets, in
vitations and many other important
details.
A suggestion that President Tru-
man might like to be inaugurated
from the White House portico, which
he had remodeled with balcony,
was made yesterday by Senator
Lucas, of Illinois, who is being
for new majority leader.
But the Senator said this looked
unlikely now. in view of the progress
already made on the big stands at
the Capitol.
Approximately so telephone calls
a day pertaining to Inauguration
are being received at Mr.. Hildreth's
Offices in the Evans Building and let
ters are pouring in from all sections
of the country from persons eager. to
help and participate in the in
augural.
Information Filed at Office.
Mr.. Hildreth's Office staff is filing
information on all offers of help.
both financial and otherwise, to turn
over to the inaugural committee
after the chairman is named.
He recalled that wooden stands
with a seating capacity of about
10000 persons were erected along
the parade route in 1941. while an
additional 5000 seats were set up
in Capitol Plaza where the late
President Roosevelt was given the
oath.
The 1945 inaugural ceremony was
in the comparative priv
(See INAUGURAL, Page A-10D
3 a a "A