Evening star., 1951-01-20
Democrats Cha|I Ienged
To Drop S10O Dinner
For 81 Box Supper

4Ilc 0cIlOCI dGo IldVC UCcIi Clld1-
lenged to abandon their $100-a-
plate dinners in honor of Jefferson
and Jackson and to copy the Re
publican Party's $2.20 Lincoln day
box supper.
The suggestion is contained in a
letter addressed to the Is Repub-
lican Governors by the Lincoln
Day Box Supper Hospitality Com
mittee and Republican leaders in
Congress.
The Lincoln day box supper
is to be held on February 5 in
Uline Arena. where similar party
drew $4,000 participants last year,
with another 5000 unable to get
into the hall. In its letter, the
committee said to each Governor:
"To give this initial meeting its
truly national significance, we
hope to have as many as possible
Of the Is Republican Governors
WIFI Us Oll t1llS OCIdOlOA'
Points to Big Turnout.
Referring to the box supper OF
a year ago and the contrasting
Democratic banquet, the letter
said of the Lincoln day supper:
"This mass turnout contrasted
impressively- with the bacchana-
liam feast held by the opposition
(the Democrats) few days later
in honor of Andrew Jackson, a
President noted for his simplicity
and famed for his retirement OF
the national debt and distribu-
ton of a surplus in the national
Treasury to the several States.
I'm contrast to our modest sup
per, in which we all participated
out of inspiration for the Ameri-
can way Of life, the opposition
applied the notorious principle OF
forced labor, sandbagging at $100
a plate Tin clear violation Of the
law Washington lobbyists, con-
trcators, jobholders and many
others having dealings with the
Government.
Many Gave Away Tickets.
1.-THE enthusiasm of these vic
tins. many Of whom were ex-
pected to buy from $1,000 to
SIS 1000 worth of tickets, according
to their take. can best be judged
by the fact that many of them
did not even attend but gave
their tickets away to secretaries,
Office boys and assorted under
lings.
mo doubt you have not for
gotten that the United States
Treasury conveniently ruled this
extravaganza was not subject to
the tax and thus conserved for
the treasury of the Democratic
National Committee the sum Of
500, 900, which otherwise would
have gone to the Federal Govern
ment. The Republicans. enjoying
no such special privilege, paid a
tax of $4,000 on their modest box
supper.
Painful as it is to recall these
unpleasant facts, we nevertheless
hope that the opposition In this
year of crisis and bloodshed will
see At to follow the example set
by the Republicans to the end
that ordinary people may feel it
within their means and within
the bounds of good taste to at
tend a gathering honoring An
drew Jackson, and to the further
end that the United States Treas
ury will not be deprived of reve-
nue. rightfully belonging to it.
Recognize Critical Days.
GAS for ourselves, we Republi-
cans, recognizing the solemn ma
ture of these critical days. have
decided that this is a time above
all others to rededicate Americans
everywhere to the memory and
spirit Of Abraham Lincoln, who
still is a worthy symbol of the
cause of freedom in the world.
This requires no change in our
modest program"
The letter was signed by Mrs.
Everett Dirksen, wife of Senator
Dirksen Of Illinois and chairman
of the Lincoln Day Box Supper
Hospitality Committee; Senator
Dirksen, chairman of the Repub-
lican Senatorial Campaign Com
mittee; Senator Brewster of Maine
and House Minority Leader Mar
tin, co-chairmen Of the Lincoln
Day Committee; Representative
Dondero of Michigan. executive
chairman of the Lincoln Day Com
mittee; Representative Hall of New
York, chairman of the Republican
Congressional Committee: Mrs.
Carroll D. Kearns, president of
the League of Republican Women
of the District, and Mrs. A. Burks
Summers, chairman of the Lincoln
day box supper.