New-York tribune., 1905-08-28
INAUGURATION DATE.
CHANGE DEMANDED.
Governors to Meet IN Washington
Just Before Congress ConUenes.
From The Tribune Bureau. !


states have already Joined the movement to
postpone the Presidential inauguration after
ISo9 from March to a later and better date
probably April so, and the national committee
on the proposed change is arranging to meet
IN Washington in November. just before Con-
gress convenes
H. B. F. Macfarland Commissioner of the
bistrlct of Columbia and chairman of the
national committee. has been in correspondence
ever since March last with the Governors of
states and Territories who. with fifteen resi-
dents Of the District of Columbia were asked
10 serve as members of the national committee
lie has up TO date secured the consent of forty
one Governors of the States and Territories to
serve on the committee and expects that sev-
eral others will accept this service before the
meeting in the fall
inevitable delays in such correspond
ence, out the response has been in general so
prompt and hearty as to indicate a strong in
terest In the movement all over the country for
change of Inauguration Day All the Gov
ernors who accepted service expressed approval
OF lhe proposition and some of them are es-
peclaly emphatic in doing so. This indicates
mat they are prepared TO bring the matter be-
Iore the people and the legislatures Of their
states III a favorable light as well as to lend
their influence to the operations of the national
committee.
present the matter to Congress in such way
as to secure favorable action. An amendment
TO the Constitution is necessary and a joint
resolution for that purpose will be drafted and
introduced at the opening of the next session.
Inc senate has twice passed such a resolution
unanimously. and it is believed that its chances
in the House will be better next session than
heretofore
The death of Senator Bate. of Tennessee fol-
lowed by that of Ambassador Azpiroz and that
of Judge Weldon of the Court of Claims in
consequence of exposure on March last, has
made deeper impression as to the dangers
Of the present inauguration date.
GOVERNORS IN THE COMMITTEE
A number of the Governors have been mem
bers of the committee since 1902. while a num-
Der of others have become Governors since then
and are new to the committee. The list is as
follows:
William D. Jelks Alabama; George c. Pardee
California; Jesse F. Mcdonald, Colorado; Henry
Roberts, Connecticut; Preston Lea Delaware;
n B. Broward. Florida: Joseph NJ Terrell,
Georgia. F. R. Gooding, Idaho; Charles S.
Deneen Illinois; ]. Frank Hanly, Indiana: AL
bert B. Cummins, Iowa; E. W. Hoch. Kansas
J. c. W. Beckham, Kentucky; N. c. Blanchard
Louisiana; William T. Cobb, Maine; Edward
Warfeld. Maryland; John A. Johnson Mime
Montana; John H. Mickey. Nebraska; John Nc
Lane. New Hampshire; Edwin C. Stokes New
Jersey FRANK w. higgins, New York: Robert
=. Glenn, North Carolina; E. Y. Sares North
Dakota Myron T. Herrick. Ohio: George H
Chamberlain, Oregon: Samuel w. Pennypacker
pennsylvania; G. H Utter. Rhode Island: S H
Elrod South Dakota: J. l. Cox, Tennessee: John
Q. Cutler, Utah; G. J. Bell Vermont: Andrew
]. Montague Virginia; A E Mead washinr
ton. " NJ n Dewson XUyaS+ T5i~; w ~ =,
La Follette Wisconsin: John B. Brady Alaska;
Joseph H Kibbey. Arizona Miguel A. Otero
New Mexico Thomas B. Ferguson, Oklahoma
TWO vacancies in the list of fifteen residents
OF the District of Columbia have been filed by
the appointment Of General John NJ. Wilson.
chairman or the last Inauguration Committee
and John F. Wilkins. The other district mem
hers OF the national committee are Henry B.
r Macfarland, permanent chairman; James L.
Norris, permanent secretary; Thomas w Smith
John W. Foster, Admiral George Dewey General
Nelson A. Miles, C. J. Bell. S. w Woodward G
7. Glover, Frank A. Munsey, John JOY Edison
Theodore W. Noyes and Justice John NJ Harlan
LETTERS OF APPROVAL.
Some Of the especially favorable expressions in
the letters of the Governors are as follows:
Governor Frank W. Higgins of New York said
I favor the proposition to change the date of
Inauguration Day from March 4 TO one Tn +ha
latter part Of April not alone from considera ton
Of the comfort of the numerous visitors to Wash
ington on that occasion, but for the far more
serious one Of danger to life the case of Senator
Bate. which you cite, we'll as that of the
diplomatic representative of Mexico being in
point shall be glad to serve upon the national
committee having this object in view.
Governor A. J. Montague Of Virginia:
1 concur entirely in the reasons advanced in
your letter for the change of the date: it seems
to NE imperative ! have also long since thought
the President should have more time than ia
now accorded between the date of his election
and his inauguration for the preparation Of the
duties Immediately incident TO his assumption Of
Office
Governor ]. Frank Hanly OF Indiana:
I am in hearty accord with the effort to change
the Inauguration date. 1t ought to he i'm the
latter part Of April. 1t is a matter in which the
about which there seems to me to be NO room, for
debate or serious difference of opinion
CHANGE ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.
Governor R. B. Glenn of North Carolina
I believe that such change is absolu+er,,
necessary for the safety and comfort of +ha
people who desire to attend the inauguration
Governor F. r Gooding Of Idaho
/ desire TO assure you and the members of the
national committee that J am heartily in favor
of the change of date as has been previously
proposed, and hope that the matter can so be
presented that the change will be made before
another Inauguration occurs. At all times since
the matter has been called to NV attention 7
have felt assured that the present date Is much
too early in climate such as that of Washing
ton City, and that little research would show
that many deaths and serious cases Of sickness
have resulted from exposure on that date in the
past.
Governor Dawson of West Virginia said
AS requested by you, beg TO say that I think
the great majority of people favor a change Of
Inauguration Day to 4 date later than March
4. would suggest May L There is some senti-
ment connected with May Day. and it seems to
me that this date would be neither too late
| nor too early I suppose the Fourth of July