Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-21
Democrats Lift
|Wdrcry Tonight
AT 500 Dinner
Royburn and BurkIey
Will Lead Assault;
Other Leaders Guests
BY GOULD LINCOLN


Democrats will be raised to-
night by party leaders at a
Woodrow Wilson centennial
dinner in the National Guard
Armory, climaxing a two-day
gathering of the Democratic
National Committee. State chair
men and other party officials.
Leading the assault will be
Speaker Sam Rayburn of Texas
and Senator Barley of Ken
lucky. The $100-a-plate dinner
is expected to add materially to
the treasury of the committee,
which Chairman Paul M. But
Ter yesterday disclosed was down
to less than 100000.
Among the guests at the din
ner will be Adlai Stevenson, for
mer Governor of Illinois; Gov.
w. Averell Hartman of New
York. Gov. Williams of Michi-
gan and other potential candi-
dates for the party's presidential
nomination. Senator Kefauver
= of Tennessee is unable to attend
because of speaking engage
ment in Portland. Greg. Sena-
tor Symington of Missouri will
be guest at the dinner of the
American Society of Newspaper
Editors tonight.
G. o. P. Plot Charged
An outgrowth of the Demo-
cratic National Committee meet
ing yesterday will be a demand
that the Federal Communications
Commission look into charges by
Mr.. Butler that Leonard w. HALL,
chairman of the Republican Ma
tional Committee, and the G. o
P. are in a conspiracy to deny
broadcasting time to the Demo-
cratic Party.
Chairman Butler told the
Democratic Committee that Mr..
Hall, by refusing to accept an
invitation from the National
Broadcasting Co. to take part
in a weekly television program
with Mr.. Butler from now until
election day. was in effect pre-
venting the Democrats from
having free time to put their
campaign arguments before the
American people.
Pennsylvania veteran ma
tional committeeman, David
Lawrence, suggested asking DEM
ocrats in Congress to call mem
bers of the Communications
Commission before their COM
mittees to learn whether Mr..
Halls refusal amounts to a
conspiracy to violate the Federal
Communications Act. His sug-
gestlon was promptly accepted.
Amendment Suggested
4 Mr.. Lawrence also suggested
that. If necessary. the law De
amended, so that Democrats may
use the time offered. even if the
Republicans decline to go along
Mr.. Butler bitterly denounced
Mr.. Hall. saying that it was evil
dent the Republican national
chairman was trying to prevent
the use of radio time by the
Democrats. He contended the
Republicans have plenty of
money to pay for all the time
on radio and televiSion they
wish. while the Democrats are at
present down to their last $780,
900. Mr.. Butler said later. how
ever. that the Democrats were
alloting S2,l09,000 of their cam
paign budget to buy radio and
television time.
The offer of free time, Mr..
Butler said. made by the National
Broadcasting Co. was for ia
minutes of the Dave Garroway
show once a week. every week
until election day. The time was
to be divided between Mr.. Hall
and Mr.. Butler.
Free Time for G. O.P.
1.-THE plan called for plugging
us in from any part of the coun-
try in which Mr.. Hall and
happened to be- said Mr.. But
lei, Il accepted. Mr.. Hall has
refused the offer and his re-
fusal denies us the use of this
free time on the air"
Il believe that the Republic
cans are engaged in a concerted
effort to prevent us from getting
on the air, whenever they can.
They not only have all the
money they need for broadcast
ing but they also can get free
time for reports made by Presi-
dent Eisenhower"
Mr. Butler added that the Re-
publican special interests we're
ready to spend $50 million to
500 million to keep the big
boys in the saddle
Mr.. Hall commented that Mr..
Butler was giving forth cry
baby alibis' to cover up dissen-
ton in the Democratic Party and
the bankruptcy of the Demo-
cratic program. Mr.. Hall added
that ha NOS ppdar w nhlioat;a