Evening star., 1902-04-05
DATEOF INAUGURATION
COMMITTEE OF GOVERNORS AND
OTHERS TO URGE A CHANGE.
Meeting to Be Held at District Build
ing Monday Next-Unanimous
Desire for Action.

Arrangements are being completed today
for the meeting of the national committee
on securing cnange in the date of the in
auguration of the President of the United
States, which is to be held in the board
room at the District building Monday after
noon at 3:30 o'clock. Forty-five governors
of states and territories have now accepted
service on the committee in addition TO the
local members. Few of the governors, how
ever will be able to attend the first meet
ing. In the letters sent to the state execu-
tives announcing the meeting it was stated
1t would not be necessary for them. to De
present in person, but the committee would
like to have some expression of opinion on
the subject. Most of the replies from the
governors are now in and all of them inji-
cate the unanimity of the desire to secure
a more favorable date than Marcii for so
suspicious an occasion as the induction into
office of President of the United States.
Commissioner Mcfarland who has di-
rected the formation of the commit ee,
with the advice of the local members, will
probably call the gathering of Monday
afternoon to order, pending the election OF
temporary or permanent chairman.
Gov. John HUM of Delaware and Gov.
Montague of Virginia are expected to be
present. The governor of Alabama will be
represented by Representative Clayton OF
that state. The governor of Missouri will
be represented at the meeting by Repre-
sentative Benton, and the governor of Ar
kansas will be represented by Represen-
tative McRae. The governor Of North
Carolina has announced he will send to
the meeting his chief of staff, Col. Morton.
Views of Governors.
Gov. Asa p Savage Of Nebraska. who
says he regrets exceedingly not being able
to be present in person, has written an IN
teresting letter on the subject of the pro-
posed change. He says:
II assure you 1 am very much interested
in the success of the undertaking, for the
very good reason that it carries with it a
change in the date of the presidential in
auguration, which contemplateS the avoid
ance of holding inaugurations during the
season of the year when inclement weather
is almost certain to prevail. That more Sc
rious results have not attended the holding
of inaugural exercises in the past in March
is perhaps due more to good fortune and
the robust physical constitutions of the
American people than anything else.
There have been few Presidents inaug-
urated without being exposed to atmos-
pheric conditions which were attended by
more or. less danger. Considering the re-
lationShip existing between the social and
commercial affairs of the nation and the
life of its chief executive, it is highly i'm
portant that the health of the President
should be conserved and protected in every
possible manner. and l regard it as long
step in the right direction to change the
date of inauguration from the breaking of
winter to a date when the weather Is not
likely to be so inclement'
Gov. Heber NJ. Wells of Utah writes:
Il know of no objection that can be
urged to the changing of the date from
March 4. and certainly history has fur
nished abundant proof of the unsuita bility
of that date, on account of the almost in
variable storms which attend it. If you de-
sire any further testimonials of the un-
wisdom OF the present date let the people
who attend the inaugural ceremonies speak
for themselves, if they have recovered suf-
ficiently from the colds in the head con-
tracted at the Mckinley Inauguration"
received.