Evening star., 1949-02-13
Alfalfa Club Hears
4-Square Platform
OF People Choice

OF Peoples Choice
Secretary of State Acheson NOM
mated an Army general to be
President Of the United States last
night.
It happened at the 36th annual
Funniest Of the Alfalfa Club-a
jocular event Of free-f1ow1ng wit
and entertainment at the May
flower Hotel. :.
In the absence Of the real ar
ticle-President Truman is a mem
Der of the club, but couldn't be
there-Maj. Gen. Glen E. Edger-
ton, president Of the Beach Ero-
sion Board. made an admirable
acceptance speech by promising
everything any taxpayer could
hope for.
Led to the platform by a dele
cation composed Of Associate JUS
tice Jackson. former Secretary Of
State James F. Byrnes and Sena-
tor Taft. Republican of Ohio, Gen.
Edgerton performed like the vet
eran campaigner he Is.
Curries Favor Quickly.
In accepting the nomination for
the second straight year-an AL
falfa Club record in itself-Gen
Edgerton lost little time currying
favor.
1T so happens that the party
management this year has filed
no statement Of campaign ex-
penditures, which Is a slight de-
parture from the usual interpre-
tation Of existing law on the SUBJ
ject," Gen. Edgerton confessed.
1.-THE presence and lively in
terest of a Supreme Court justice
In the welfare of the party and
the candidate is, therefore, Of the
utmost practical Importance"
Gen. Edgerton credited the sue
cess of "one of the opposing CAM
didates" (Mr. Truman to the ad-1
vantage he has had of sitting in
"the inner councils Of the Alfalfa
Party"
General Pans Pollsters.
Panning the public opinion
polls, the general said like that
unpredictable barometer, he Gen.
Edgerton) was able Ito run in any
desired direction and In a very
creditable number of directions
at any given time. depending on
the pressures of necessity and in
centive."
Not one to shun vote, the can
didate said he stood four-square.
all in one package. for civil lib
critics and white supremacy. So
cial security and tax reduction.
parity prices and lower living
costs. price controls and free en-
terprise. freedom of labor and Of
management to assist it."
In opening the national con- !
vention." Secretary Acheson rea-
soned that If William Jennings
Bryan, Thomas E. Dewey and Nor
man Thomas were not restricted
to renomiantion, neither should
Gen. Edgerton be penalized.
Austin Influenced by Vets.
Lloyd B. Wilson. 194S Alfalfa
Club president. in turning the
gavel over to his successor, Robert
v. Fleming. president Of Riggs Ma
tional Bank. commented:
II am not sure how much al /
falfa is grown by my successor on |
his farm at Fifteenth street and
Pennsylvania avenue. but I am
reliably informed that he harvests
q sizable crop Of lettuce on that
fertile half acre"
Mr.. Fleming noted that the
singular honor was to have fallen
to Warren r. Austin. chairman OF
the United States delegation to the
United Nations. !
The fact that Mr.. Warren saw
the veto in practical operation at
Lake Success and Paris gave him
the idea Of vetoing his right to
the presidency, Mr.. Fleming
added.
Gene Buck Pre- ents Show.
Gene Buck, noted Snowman,
followed tradition by staging the
nights entertainment, 1t fea-
tured q "Cavalcade Of Music, u
presenting well-known composers
from the turn Of the century in
renditions Of their own tunes.
Among the composers were w.
c. Handy, 75-year-old Father
of the Blues" who played his
"St. Louis Blues" on the trumpet;
Herman Hopfelt, who wrote "As
Time Goes BY" and Sing Some
thing Simple" and Harry Arm
strong. composer of Sweet Ade-
line"
Also on the program were Joan
Whitney and Alec Kramer. who
wrote Candy" Love Sombody"
and Far Away Places" and other
well known composers.
Other Entertainers.
A girl quartet, "The Lovelies"
Sid Stone of Milton Berle show,
and Herb Shriner. of Inside
U. s. A." note. were among the
professional entertainers adding to
the gayety.
Charles P. Light, founder Of the
club and it's only surviving char
ter member, was honored by Mr..
Fleming as truly an apostle OF
friendship. good will and good
fellowship" !
Seven new members were in
troduced by Thomas w. Brahany,
chairman OF the entertainment
committee and program ghost
writer" Introducing himself as
"Dr. IQ," he offered each initiate
q "dues-paying membership" by
correctly answering question.
Baird Fails on Quiz.
For instance. he asked Bruce
Baird, president Of the National
Savings & Trust Co. to name two