Evening star., 1948-12-10
vote|ess Motif
ToFeature D. {.
Inaugural Float
Suggestions Sought
For Final Design of
Locked Ballot Box
picture on Page A-4.)

A locked ballot box-symbolic Of
the votelesS status Of Washington
residents-probably will be the cen
tral feature of the Districts float
in the inaugural parade.
A tentative design embracing this
motif already has been prepared,
Gerhard P. Van Arkel, Float Com
mittee chairman, said today. He
added that decision on the final
design would not be made for sew.
eral days, during which period his
committee hopes to receive sug-
gestions from groups interested in
the Districts parade representation.
Mr.. Van Arkel, an attorney and
former general counsel of the Ma
tional Labor Relations Board, was
appointed yesterday by A. L.
chairman of the District
Democratic Central Committee, to
head a committee on the float
proposal.
To Confer on Project.
1--WE hope other organizations here
will provide us with suggestions, and
they will be taken into considera-
tion in working out the design" Mr..
Van Arkel said.
He said he planned to confer with
parade officials on the project before
starting construction of the float
The idea of emphasizing the denial
of the ballot to residents of the
District arose from the prospect Of
thousands of out-of-town specta-
tors at the parade.
Mr.. Van Arkel and other sponsors
of the suffrage-national representa-
tion theme for the parade display
pointed out it would serve to i'm
press the viSitors-many of whom
may not have realized it-with the
fact that District residents do not
have a voice in their Government
and had no part in choosing the
President whose Inauguration is be-
ing celebrated.
Asks Cooperation.
The float will be the parade con-
tribution of the Democratic Central
Committee, but Mr.. Van Arkel em-
phasized that cooperation of other
organizations in planning it was
desired.
One feature was added to the
list of inaugural attractions yes
terday, and one was withdrawn
unavoidably.
Carter T. Barron. chairman Of
the Parade and Special Events
Committee. announced that the
Miami Police Department would
send its 16-man motorcycle drill
team as part of Florida's parade
contingent.
The unit. commanded by 1t. N
A. Clark, has been a favorite OF
Miami parade watchers and hal
made many out-of town and news.
reel appearances.
Melvin D. Hildreth, general chair
man of the 1949 Inaugural Commit
tee, announced reluctantly that the
French THANK You" Train would
not arrive in the United States until
January 21-too late for display here
as part of the inaugural program.
Freedom Train to Be Here.
The Freedom Train, however def
initely will be exhibited, Mr.. Hi.-
dreth said. The Thank You"
Train, loaded with gifts from France,
is being sent in gratitude for the
assistance the Freedom Train gath
cred for the French people.
The Freedom Train will be ex-
hibited on tracks convenient to the
downtown area from January 16
through %, Mr.. Hildreth said, after
completing arrangements with At
torney General Clark and j. Edward
Shugrue, national director of the
American Heritage Foundation.
The train will be disbanded after
its appearance here. and it's collec-
ton of 127 historical documents will
be returned to Government and
private repositories.
Tickets Available.
John F. Morrissey, Ticket Com
mittee chairman, announced yester-
day no more applications would be
accepted for $40 parade tickets, but
added tickets still were available at
the other prices, most of them in the
$4-$S range.
Mr.. Hildreth was on hand today
as the work of erecting parade re-
viewing stands got under way in
front of the White House. Actual
construction did not start, but the
first loads of lumber were delivered
to the site.
An additional 500 sets of special
inaugural license plates have been
ordered for official automobiles.
Previously, 1000 sets of the red,
white and blue tags had been or
dered for cars to be used in the
parade and to carry distinguished
guests to the inaugural ball and
other events of Inauguration week.
The plates are being made in the
District Reformatory at Lorton, Va.
Looks Over Plans.
Mr.. Hildreth looked over plans for
the stands brought by James r.
Skinker, partner in the firm which
has the contract for their construc-
ton.
Mr.. Skinker said he expected to
finish the job by January 10 with
reasonably good weather conditions.
The contract calls for completion by
January IL.
I'VE just placed the order for this
lumber at 10 O'Clock yesterday
morning" Mr.. Skinker remarked as
he watched workmen unload the
first two tractor-trailer trucks to
arrive from mills in Virginia. Others
will come from elsewhere in the
South, he said, bringing a total Of
100000 board feet of No. common
Southern pine.
Mr.. Skipker emphasized that all
lumber in the stands would be used
again in other construction work
after. the Inauguration.