HYRC Members Visit Washington; Saltonstall, Keating Will Host Group

WASHINGTON, D.C., April 10--Fortyfive members of the Harvard Young Republican Club arrived in the nation's capital today to meet with Republican congressmen in an effort to prove that Harvard produces Republicans as well as Democrats.

Sen. Leverett Saltonstall '14 (R-Mass.) expressed hope that the HYRC visit would dispel the "impression that a donkey is the Harvard mascot." Salton-stall will host a luncheon tomorrow in honor of the Club members in the New Senate Conference Room.

Three other Republican senators and 14 GOP congressmen, all with Harvard backgrounds, will also attend the luncheon.

Later in the afternoon the Club will meet on Capitol Hill with Rep. William L. Miller (R-N.Y.), chairman of the Republican National Committee.

Confusion over the purpose of the Young Republicans' visit arose yesterday when some writers linked the Clubs' trip to the 16-hour Republican talkathon that begins in the House today.

HYRC president Peter J. Wallison '63 explained that the Club's main purpose in coming to Washington is to publicize the strength of the Republican element in the College and not to support the GOP speech-making effort. Wallison pointed out that plans to stage the talkathon were made only last weekend, whereas the Club's trip has been planned for four months.

Sen. Kenneth B. Keating (R-N.Y.) who, along with Republican Senators John Sherman Cooper of Kentucky and Hiram L. Fong of Hawaii will join Saltonstall as the Harvard hosts from the upper chamber, cited the Club's visit as "magnificent proof that enlightened men come out of Harvard as well as Democrats."

"The new Graduate School in Experimental Government, established here by certain fringe elements of our Alma Mater, has made it appear that Harvard is the Mother of Democrats," observed Keating. "But the College's search for ultimate truth finds its authentic reflections in her numberless progeny of Republican persuasion," the senator concluded.

The light air that has thus far marked the Club's visit contrasts sharply with the serious attitude of the Tocsin "Operation Washington" marchers and even with the Young Democrats who came to Washington last month with ideas to present to the Democratic National Committee. When asked whether the Club had any policy statements to make to GOP officials, Wallison said. "We could have some, but we don't."