Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-02-19

Objections and Surpcs,,on.

Editor Sdr:-General Shermans plan for
the inaugural procession has the merit OF
novelty but In Its details it has the fault OF
mpracticabllity. The committee appear dis
posed not only to criticize his plan bat also TO
assume that they should make the plan and
take charge OF forming the procession. This
would make confusion worse COMPOUNDED, ana
we, we trust they VIII contne themselves TO max
ing suggestions. We believe that General
sherman is open to suggestions and we there
fore offer the following objections 10 his plan:
fTSt He ignores The fact that experience
mas demonstrated, that on occasions OF public
festivity the civic procession should rendezvous
and be formed at point entirely removed from
the crowd and accessible by other routes than
thronging to the points OF Observation.
Second. Further objections to forming the
third and fourth divisions on PENNSYLVANIA
Avenue are, that they viii be obliged TO form
line before II O'Clock and remain In position for
several hours before joining in the procession
and that the mode OF bringing them into the
procession by moving them down the Avenue
and countermarehing them into the column as
1t moves up the Avenue viii produce such a
kaleidoscope OF moving bodies as to completely
destroy the spectacular effect OF the procession
7htrd. lt Will be an absolute imooSsibility to
pack into Pennsylvania avenue from lst TO 18TH
streets the number OF people which this plan
would assemble there. Many visiting organi-
cations viii occupy buildings on the Avenue
aid must necessarily form or assemble In front
OF Their quarters TO move to their appointed
!lces, In addition there would be two fun
a
ton, and then the whole mass OF spectators.
VINO. under the proposed limit OF the line OF
march, would be thrown into this limited SPACE
would DE slrging In every direction. The con
cidentS likely to follow.
In view of these objections we Offer the 20 l.
lowing suggestions:
FIRST. That the lirst division form on street
with It's right resting on corner OF Pennsylvania
avenue ana 2lSt street, from which point it
move down the Avenue, receiving the President
and PreSdent-elect at the White House and
escort them TO the Capitol.
second That the second, third and fourth
divisions be formed On north B street East
Capltol street and south street with their
rights resting on East Capitol Park from which
points they would successfully move into
column AFTER the conclusion OF the inaugural
ceremonies and the procession move no the
Avenue. Under this arrangement 1t womb nor
pe necessary for these divisions to be I'm line
until twelve O'Clock. which would give annie
Ime 10 visiting organizations arriving during
the forenoon.
Third. That the line of march be extended.
after passing the reviewing stand up nth
street to street, down K street to 9th street
at which point the organizations as they sue.
cesslvely ayrive can be dismissed without
the spectators over such space as to avoid
crowding at any one point.
FOn1th. III Gen. Sherman is welded to bis
idea OF having the third and fourth divisions
line the Avenue for the first division to pass
down, we would suggest that they be formed else
Where and marched TO their positions and that
after the first division has passed through them
10 the Capitol that. White the inaugural cere-
monies are In progress, the third division move
down south 1st street and the fourth division
OUT north ISL street, and halt with their rights
resting on the Avenue, so that they could enter
the column on It's return, and the whole pro-
ceSsion move up the cleared Avenue and make
the display expected OF IL. EXPERIENCE