Evening star., 1948-12-20
SuffrageF|oat
Rejection toStir
New Protests
AVG and ADA Plan
Statements on City's
inaugural Parade Entry

Additional protests to the Com
nissioners on their stand against
a "voteless Washington" motif for
the District float in the inaugural
parade were being prepared in sew
eral quarters here.
The moves were expected to take |
the form of representations urging
that the. city heads recognize the
franchise as civic, rather than a
political cause.
Units of the American Veterans
Committee and Americans for DEM
ocratic Action were ready to con-
tinue the battle for a float design
along the line of one already pre-
pared by a subcommittee of the
District Democratic Central Com
mittee.
Both the AVG and ADA here have
championed suffrage for Washing
ton residents.
At present the float situation is
that Commissioners John Russell
Young and Guy Mason have agreed
the official District float will have
the Capitol as its central feature
q design worked out by Mr.. Young.
This motif is favored by Carter
T. Barron. special events chairman
in the 1949 Inaugural Committee
who has explained he considers the
suffrage idea controversial and,
therefore, not in keeping with the
theme of an inaugural parade.
Chairman Melvin D. Hildreth of
the Inaugural Committee has said
he will not overrule Mr.. Barron In
any decision on the parade.
Irving R. M. Panzer, acting chair
man of AVG Chapter No. /, de-
clared, however, that the inaugura-
ton is."one time of all times" to
bring the voteless plight of Wash
ingtonians to the attention of out
of-town visitors.
Mr.. Panzer said he is writing the
Commissioners that the AVG
strongly urges" them to include on
the official District float some strik-
ing presentation of the fact that the
citizens here want the vote"
He said the AVG leaders would be
glad to help the Commissioners work
OQJ q SUltdUlc OCSlSu.
Charles Stofberg, assistant to the
Commissioners, has said they still
are open to suggestions"
Mr.. Panzer added the AVG group
believes it will be a distinct shock
to many inaugural visitors to learn
that thousands of citizens living In
the District were unable to take part
elected the President whose inaugu-
ration is being celebrated.
Benjamin c. Sigal, president OF
the District chapter Of ADA. said
today he had prepared letter to
the Commissioners urging them "to
place a suffrage float in the inaugu-
raj parade"
Letter is Quoted.
The letter declared in part:
"a float symbolizing the freedom
10 vote would be particularly ap-
propr1ate in a parade which is cele-
brating the inaugural of the head
of the greatest democracy in the
world. It is quite fitting that we
should single out in this manner the
one freedom which, if permitted in
totalitarian countries, would surely
end the relationships that rule them.
1T is particularly fitting that the
District of Columbia should sponsor
such a float, because it is the seat
of the Federal Government. The
various States will. presumably, and
properly, have floats which illus
trate their special claims to distinc-
ton. The District should have |
float illustrating one of the major
claims to distinction of our great |
democracy as whole-the freedom
to vote"
Mr.. Sigal said ADA would be glad
to help in carrying out proposal
for a separate suffrage float in the
parade, if the Official float does not
include such a motif.
Proponents of this motif are hoping
to get 1t into the parade as an addi-
tional feature in the event the
Commissioners hold to their present |
view.