The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-03-04

year from To-Day the people u lAt
United States VIII usher into power a new
Chief Magistrate. II recent years each
Inauguration has been more widely at
tended than its predecessors. and II is
probable that next year viii be no excep-
ton TO the rule. Who the new ruler Will
be is hard to say. II he happens 10 be a
Democrat Il is a safe guess 10 pick him
II he turns out to be a Republican. It
would be a highly unsafe one. But who
soever he viii be, he is certain 70 meet
with an immense crowd when he takes
the solemn oath to preserve and defend
the Constitution. And he Is pretty sure
TO encounter some pretty bad weather
on that day for tickle March seenls never
so hckie as on her fourth day. When
Benjamin Franklin offered his resolu-
ton In the last Continental Congress tx
ing the first Wednesday in March, l7Ss. as
the day for commencing under the said
CONSTITUTION. he IS said TO have fixed
that date because Il would fan on Sunday
fewer times than any other day in the
year Whether that was the reason. and
whether or not II is fact that the nh
OF March does fall on Sunday less often
than any other day. the fact remains that
IL does fell on disagreeable days about
as often as any other date on the calen-
dar could.
II is this treacherouS str OF March
weather that has led 20 widespread agita-
ton in favor Of a change OF the date OF
the inauguration When Mr.. Roosevelt
was inaugurated IN 1905 the weather was
Just about as fine as any one could ex-
pect for the 18th OF March. Yet the tolls
that death took on that day were exceed
ingly heavy. How many OF the great
throng that witnessed the triumphal
march Of RoOseveltism 10 a second term
will never he known. Hundreds went
back home 70 die unheralded deaths as
result of the grip and pneumonia. con-
tracted while in Washington. But there
were some shining marks OF whish the
world did hear. The venerable Senator
Bate, OF Tennessee died but few days
later as a result OF the cold contracted
on that occasion Judge Weldon. OF the
Court OF Claims, was another victim OF
the day The Mexican Ambassador,
Aspiroz. never recovered from the cold
taken on that occasion. and indirectly il
was the weather OF Inauguration day OF
1904 that brought about the death OF SEN
atOr Platt. Of Connecticut
The death OF these men Of affairs
brought to a crisis a movement TO change
the date OF inauguration. Commissioners
mcfarland. OF the District OF Columbia.
enlisted the aid OF fifteen OF the leading
citizens OF Washington 20 press the mat
ter. He also secured the Endorsement OF
:orty-one governors in his efforts. But
with al that, the proposition failed Of
passage The matter has been brought
up in Congress again this year. A num-
Der OF bills and resolutions nave been in
troduced in the Senate and House pro-
viding for change Of date, but it is more
than probable that nothing will be done.
At any rate nothing done at the present
session could suffice 10 change the date OF
the 1909 Inauguration, as the change must
be accompanied by constitutional
amendment. which would require the rati-
fieation Of the legislatures OF three
fourths of the States. At best, therefore.
the change cannot take place until 1919.
and il probably stands small show 10
get into effect until 1917.
The stumbling block OF the proposition
to change the date seems TO be the House
of Representatives. The Senate has
twice passed a resolution 10 change IL
10 the last Thursday in April Each time
the House has failed to concur. and the
matter died natural legislative death.
The late Senator H0ar was at that time
chairman Of the Judiciary Committee OF
the Senate. and was the leader OF the
movement for the change. he favored
the last Thursday in April rather than
April 30. because he thought a NOV
able date would prevent Sunday from in
terfering, and because It would give
those who attend the ceremonies an op-
portunity to get home without travelling
on the Sabbath There are, however,
some who think that IL ought to be on
April 60 That is the day when Washing
ton was inaugurated. The venerable Win
thrOp, in his Grafton al Sile laying OF the
cornerstone Of the Washington Monu-
ment. suggested April so as the inaugural
date for all Presidents, since that was
the date Of Washington's first Inaugural
ton