The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-02-04
HOW 1T IS DONE
Interesting Information Concerning the
Inauguration of n President.


Inauguration of n President.
A good share Of the attention OF Wash
ington IS now directed 70 the coming in
auguretion festivities. Congress has been
asked 10 pass quite a number of laws for
the occasion. like one 10 allow the rail-
road companies 10 lay extra tracks for
the accommodation OF the trains Of cars
which VIII have 10 be held in the city
ever the 4th OF March. Then congress
has been asked 10 authorize the cons,ruc-
ton OF reviewing stands on the prollc
reservations and across some OF the less
important Streets. All the departments,
moreover, are busy making pans for the
great quadrennial festival. The war de-
partment is arranging for the troops. in
Guiding this year the West Point cadets,
who are 20 be quartered in the city at the
time of the parade. The interior depart
ment has formally granted permission to
the inaugural committee 10 use the PEN
sion office for a grand ball. and this
means weeks holiday without loss OF
pay 10 the twenty-seven hundred clerks
in that great bureau.
1t goes without saying that the COM
ing Inauguration will be the biggest af-
fair OF its kind in the history of the coun-
try. There are geographical reasons
which in part viii bring about this result.
The section of the country TO which
Washington is most easily accessible is
the section which was almost unanimous
in McKiniey's support in the recent CAM
paisn. and which will in consequence
send TO the Inauguration its largest quo
tas. This applies 10 the tier of states
north OF Washington and as far west as
Chicago. 1t Is fairly easy matter 20 get
10 Washington from Boston, New York,
Philadelphia, Pittsburg. and even Chica-
go, but from points in the states west OF
the Missouri, and from the etrxeme south
Washington IS rot reached so readily.
end so these sections would not mater
iaEy influence the crowds on Inaugural
ton day. As a rule, the 4th of March
visitors are those who rejoice in the out
come of the election. Democrats come 10
Democratic inaugurations. Republicans
to Republican. The Overwhelmingly
strong sentimen: of the districts near in
McKinley's favor will insure an enormous
attendance this time. A common crit
ciSm passed by the friends OF limited
monarchies upon our form Of govern
ment is that our tituar ruler is the head
OF party, an1 not the head of the -peo-
pie, as Victoria is in England. Inaugural
ton crowds bear out this view. Four
years ago Ii did not seem that the whole
American nation was inaugura.ing Mir.
Cleveland in the sense that the Russian
nation has so recently crowned its car.
but that the Democratic party was in
Quoting into office the party's chosen
head. The southern representation at
Democratic Inauguration is very large.
while at a Republican Inauguration It
fa3 in the past been largely confined 10
the aspirants for pOstoffices and other
federal ''plums'' in that section. Tam
many Hall cut great figure four years
ago, and gave the appearance of owning
the town, as we'll as the administration
which was then being inaugurated. The
Wigwam viii not have TO be set up in
Washington this year.
An inquiring correspondent has asked
how Washington pays the Inauguration
bills. The question, betrays an ignorance
of Washington's part in the preform-
ance. This city takes in the money: IL
does not pay it out. The people who
come either as individuals or as mem
SeTs OF military or civic organizations.
pay for whatever they get and at hand
some rates. They more than pay for
everything which the local public does
ostensibly in their behalf. The inaugur-
al ball is a device for levying a tribute
of s. a head upon all our visitors at that
time. II is not a ball strictly; there is
practically no dancing, and people go to
II simply to see one another and say that
they have been there. Mrs. Senator
elect Iceberg goes that she may suita-
bly, maintain the dignity of her hus-
bands office, and the constituents of the
new senator 90 that they may see the
senator and his wife and ell the other
on dress parade. Mrs. and Mrs
Mckinley will attend the ball because
the head OF the family has just become
president of the United States and tie
ball is given IN his honor. Mr.. Jones of
Podunk will go to the ball that he may
grasp the hand of the new president. and
others viii go because they don't want
10 miss anything that is taking place
The Washington public stays clear of
the inaugural ball. the old resident hav-
ing long ago decided that s. is too high
a figure 10 pay for the privilege of look
Ing a those whom the whirl OF fortune
has temporarily brought 70 the top the
ball. then, which yields q revenue from
$50, 600 upward, costs practically nothing
3ad draws its income almost wholly |
rom visitors from the outside. There is |
10 dead-hesd list.
Another source OF revenue 10 the .n- |
auguration managers takes the form OF /
IN indirect tax on trade. TIE local com |
nittee auctions of concessions fo- the |
erection of reviewing stands. and per- /
nits for the sale OF various articles a. |
prominent points. Then the privilege OF /
ceiling supper az 81 a head - the ball 4
yoers 5 regarded BY caterers as worth |
many thousand dollars IN all these ways /
I happens that the Inauguration commit |
e. raises more money than Il needs. ard l
n one occasion recently the sum OF s2s.- !
90 was turned over from this source 10 |
-aTiOus charities in the distric..
Il il always a wonder 20 those who /
Know this city how il can accomm odste |
ne throngs which come here for insugu-- |
ItiOn. Ohio alone VIII send enough peo-
DE % Ill every hotel. and there srs for
y-f9uT other states 70 be considered. !
Every available place in town Is turned 1
ITO lodgings The private houses a. be- l
ONE miniature hotels for the accommO-
ia.ion OF kin and kin from 4 distance. |
The public halls and arBOFies are tu-1-
= iltO bunk roOns. ire Sleeping cars
ide-tra ckei il The railroad yards al. 90 !
l5tel duty. and then the suburban vsI- /
ages and towns. even as FAR as Bait
mere. help out- People who Intend % bs
lene only 2 FEW days could DO many
worse things than stay IN baltimore
ynic5 = large enough - svo.d over
Rowling. and = reached By ffiy-nrEru.e
"A rs from Washington. II the epamp-e
Z t1s first president = me United States
, not getting around for duty un.ii the
9sh of April had been 8ritsrrniy foIsoz-
!. tae crowds would have beer - great.
yich TIE d5s weather zsj TIE lax busi-
sss sess01. TIA; ire problem % their
ere To1d have been yery much more |
e-iogs than j now -
VIZ Should Go everything re csa for
t8eTS. II Oz4F 20 cissspz.e the thought of
-hzi they omit % do for c=-S- Z Weekly.