Evening star., 1953-05-25
FederationHe Tells
Women 10 Support
Eisenhower Tax Plan

The 62nd annual convention
Of the General Federation of
Women's Clubs will convene in
Constitution Hall tonight with
an estimated 5000 delegates and
members present.
Theme of the convention will
be, 'The Preservation of our
American Heritage" with the
AmericaniSm program slated to
be taken up in detail on Friday,
the final session day.
Members today were mulling
over an appeal issued last night
by their president, Mrs. Oscar
A. Ahlgren Of Whiting, Ind, who
urged American women to sup
port President Eisenhower's pro-
gram of mo tax reduction in
1858"
I'VE have a great President,
who does not hesitate to tell the
American people the truth" Mrs.
Ahlgren said. II hope that Amer
ican women will face the truth
and realize that tax reduction is
impossible in this time of peril,
until our Federal budget is bal
anced."
Needs Strong Defense
She described the United
States as part of world sick
with the illness of communism
and said until this country is
strong enough to protect itself
from that menace it must build
a strong defense which will make
1t ready "'for the worst while
We hope for the best as Presi-
dent Eisenhower has so well
said"
Mrs. Ahlgren called on women
to act as interpreters on the
subject Of Federal housekeeping
to explain why the excess profits
tax cannot be repealed in 1858;
why the income tax on corpora
tions cannot be reduced this
year, and why excise and per-
sonal income taxes cannot be
lowered until 1854"
She expressed the wish the
women would regard it a patrio-
tic duty to tell their Senators
and Representatives they under
stand why taxes cannot be cut
in these dangerous days."
Tell them," she stressed, that
so long as we cannot have both
low taxes and strong defense,
you prefer a strong America"
Message from President.
Tonight's opening program
calls for a message from Pre-
Sident Eisenhower.
Vice President Nixon is ex-
pected to attend and extend
greetings to the organization.
A professional with the fedora
tion'S past presidents, honorary
vice-presidents and board of
directors will open the proceed
tngS.
Presiding with Mrs. Ahlgren
will be Mrs. Theodore S. Chap
man and Mrs. r. I. C. Prout,
first and second vice presidents,
respectively.
No business will be taken up
tonight. but the audience will |
see an entertainment program
featuring Paul Lavalle and his
Cities Service orchestra in a con-
cert that will include Stephen
Foster melodies and "The Dwight
D. Eisenhower March,"
The concert will be broadcast
from $3.50 pm. to 10 pm. (EDT)
over the NBC network.
HOnOred at Reception.
The District Federation will
honor Mrs. Ahlgren at a recep-
ton at the Wardman Park Hotel |
at the close Of tonight's opening
session.
Yesterday members heard a
sermon by DR.. Edward L. r.
Elson, pastor of the National
Presbyterian Church, at special |
services. President and
Mrs. Eisenhower are members of
the church.
Several closed executive COM
and board meetings pre-
ceded the convention opening.
Following a State presidents
and luncheon this morn
ing and a meeting and luncheon
OF department, division and COM
chairmen, the delegates
were to make a pilgrimage to
Mount Vernon to place a wreath
on George WaShington's tomb