Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-12-14
CAPITAL CHAT.
Great Task Involved in
Inaugural Preparations.
Charles C. Glover of North Caro-
lima to Have Full Charge.
The Affair Carries With II Business
Of Great Magnitude.

Washington. D. c., Dec. 13-(Spec-
lal)Iln the inauguration of a Presi-
dent of the United States, such as the
people are now looking forward to.
there is vast deal of preparation
which in the states is hardly dreamed
or. The press dispatches say briefly
that the inauguration will be on a
grand but dignified scale more so than
when any previous President has taken
the official oath.
the inaugural preparation are some
thing that the city OF Washington and
its substantial business men, of whom
there are many, take particular pride
in. 1t has been so for generations.
back even to the time when prepara-
lions for an inaugural were of no
greater proportions than the prepara-
tions for political barbecue. No SOON
err is President elected in November,
than the business men of Washington
begin TO look around regarding the in
auSu'al arrangements. Not one of
them receives a penny for his services
and when it is remembered that none
Of the residents of Washington has a
vote the generosity and public spirit of
the citizens in undertaking work of
such magnitude cannot be gainsaid
The first thing, of course, is the
choice of an inaugural chairman. He is
the executive head of the plans and is
the only official directly known to the
President. This chairman rides down
Pennsylvania avenue with the Presi-
dent on his way to the Capitol. He is
chosen by the chairman of the national
committee Of the victorious party and
naturally, is a man acceptable to the
PreSident-elect. 1t is regarded in
Washington as very decided honor to
be chairman of the inaugural commit
tee, although not a few men have de-
clined it because they could not de-
vote the time the office requires. lways
there are designing men, who want to
further their own interests by being Sc
le~ted for chairman. This year, one of
the aspirants was business man, who
has many interests that can be 4ftsr--
thCred by legislation. He had influen-
tial men working in his behalf, but the
President and Chairman Cortelyou
would have no man of that character
The Presidents choice for inaugural
chairman this year was Charles c.
Glover. native of North Carolina
but now a hank president and one OF
the most nightly respected men in the
district. Mr.. Glover's business inter-
ests We're SO pressing that he could
not accept the chairmanship but COIL
scented to serve on the Finance Com
miutee, of which he is the head. Four
III inla taI
S. w. Woodward, a Cold Democrat.
ana the largest dry GOODS merchant in
Washington. who care here originally
from DamariscOtta. Maine. to serve
az inaugural chairman, but he declined
for business reasons. The gentleman
selected this year, Brig Gen. John NJ.
Wilson. United States Army, retired,
is a native of the District Of Columbia
and hienly regarded by its citizens He
is q gentleman Of executive ability and
stands we'll with Congress, to the two
branches of which many appeals for
legislation have to be made during the
progress of inaugural preparations.
Formerly he was chief of engineers Of
the array. When a boy he was page
in the United States Senate. Every
body in Washington knows Gen.
Jack" Wilson and furthermore is
aware that he is more expeditions in
tranSacting business of Importance
than the average army officer.
Mention was made of the finance
committee. That is in reality a sub
committee Of the executive committee
of about sixty citizens which the in
augural chairman announces as soon
n he. Sc. infn 6r1n
mittee has the arduous task Of raising
a fund of approximately 100000 to fin
ance the inaugural preparations. This
comes from the private contributions
of citizens. these contributions rang
ing all the way from a few dollars up
to I thousand dollars or more. As a
matter cf fact the contributors gener- |
ally do little r'ore than loan the |
amount IF their contribution to the |
executive committee for three or four |
month";. There is one big source Of re- |
Venue IN the inaugural preparations, |
and that is the grand inaugural ball, |
the admission to which costs s. for |
each person. There are also a few other |
sources of revenue, which, as a rule. |
make up for all the expenditures. Then |
the amount of the contributions are
returned along in March or early |
April. Sometimes there is little sur
plus left over. When that happens the
money is given to charitable institu-
tons here in Washington, for the in
augural chairman and all other sub
chairmen and committeeman serve
compensation.
Unless one stops to think of the extern
sive character of the preparations it is
not easy to believe that so much time
and money could be expended in prepare
tons. In the first place the inaugural
parade itself calls for great preparations.
The assembling of civic and military or
ganizations Is not easily accomplished. II
Quarters must be provided for them and
also subsistence, although in most cases
The Organizations pay the bills themselves.
But the inaugural COMMITTEES has to a
large extent to look after the preparations
for the coming of these bodies. The privi-
ege of building observation stands along II
avpntro oIcn liz for oaro. iii