Evening star., 1909-03-04

q
porter for The Star. Democrats and re-
pubicans expressed precisely the same
views.
Gov. Fort of New Jersey, who is at the
New Willard. is one of the happiest OF
the governors because he viewed the pa
Tade from the inside of his headquarters
and watched the other state executives as
they rode along the snowy street. he
said this morning that il 1t were within
his power he would abolish the 4th or
March as Inauguration day and have the
ceremony take place some time In May.
Macfarland to Urge Action
Commissioner Macfarland said today
that tomorrow he would communicate
with the other members of the national
committee on the change OF inaugural
day. including the governors of the states
and territories, most of whom are mem
bers of the committee of which he is
chairman.
days weather is convincing argument
for the change of Inauguration day TO
the last Thursday in April. when the
weather is always balmy here.
"Our national committee for the cnange
of inauguration day was formed after
The Inauguration in 1901. when Senator
Bate of Tennessee. Ambassador Azpiroz
of Mexico, Judge Weldon of the Court
of Claims and other distinguished men
died as a result of the exposure to the
bad weather on the east front or the
Capitol.
II invited fifteen members of the In
augural committee of that year and the
governors of the states and territories to
act as national committee. Senator
Toar, then chairman of the judiciary
committee took deep interest In the
matter and framed a resolution provid-
. ing for an amendment to the Constltu-
tion making the last Thursday in April
inauguration day. which. under his guid-
hn
mously.
I'm each instance our committee ap-
peared before the House judiciary COM
mittee and argued at length in favor OF
the proposed amendment. But In each
instance the committee failed to agree
upon a report. much time being taken in
discussion of academic questions related
but not necessarily involved
No Real Opposition.
We argued before the House commit
tee that the chances of just such day
as this were such that the change ought
10 be made. even though there was good
weather every other time. We had con-
Quoted an active propaganda through the
newspapers CT the country and were able
TO produce editorials from all over the
United States. we'll as letters OF the
governors of most of the states and ter
rtories and other representatives of pub
lie opinion, in favor Of the change.
against it. The objections came from
those who thought 1t was not worth while
and those who thought change in the
meeting time of congress ought to be
made. and could Eot agree upon the date
that ought to be selected.
"Of course. it did not require con-
stitutional amendment the change would
he made. Indeed. it would have been
made before this. But We must agitate
until it is made.
Il hope it will not wait until some out
going or incoming President is killed by
pneumonia as the result of exposure to
succh weather as that Cf today.
The national committee on the proposed
change Of Inauguration day consists of
Henry B. F. Macfarland chairman; /;
James l. Norris. secretary: Thomas w.
Smith. John w. Foster. Admiral George
Dewey. Gen. Nelson A. Miles. c. J. Bell,
S. W. Woodward. c. c. Glover. Frank A.
Munsey, John Joy Edison. Theodore W.
Moves. Justice John II. Harlan, John F..
wilkins. Gen. John NJ. Wilson and gov
ernors of the states and territories.
Discussion in Congress.
Among senators and representatives at
the Capitol today there was vigorous dis
cussion Of the subject. 1t was admitted
on all sides that the terrific experience
which the National capital is undergoing
today is powerful object lesson in favor
OF the demand for a change in the inau-
gural date.
Those senators and representatives
whose long service in Congress has made
them familiar with efforts in behalf Of a
change renewed at each succeeding seS-
sion of Congress for many years, thought
today that this experience Will facilitate
efforts in this direction in the Senate.
Every one knows that for years resolu-
tions have been introduced in Congress
authorizing the submission to the states
of a proposition to amend the Constitu-
tion of the United States to change the
Aatc Of he
and another these efforts have thus far
been futile. Undoubtedly they will be re-
sumed at the next session of Congress.
with fair prospects of being successful.
Senator Aldrich of Rhode Island. repub-
1can leader of the Senate. wes emphatic
in stating his opinion that this change
should be made.
.'Today's exhibition of weather." said
Senator Aldrich. rs cogent argument
in favor OF change. 1t would seem that
pronounced object lesson is afforded 70
the country of the wisdom of setting the
date for the Inauguration In season
likely 10 be more benefcent.'
Expressions Of Senators.
Senator Scott of West Virginia said: Il
have always been in favor of changing
the date. / do not see how any one can
fail to realize after todays experience the
wisdom Of such course
Senator Nelson of Minnesota said: "The
whole country can see today how neces-
Sary it is that a date for Inauguration be
fixed when there 10 no likelihood of cli-
matte hardship"
Senator Dillingham; said: THE weather
speaks for itself, and Is an argument in
favor Of changing the date of the in
auguration.
Senator La Toilette said: Yes. indeed
this is an argument backing up those
who have contended for change. i GER
tainly am in favor of it,"
Senator Curtis OF Kansas said: Il
should say that what is going outside
today is mighty powerful argument in
support of the demand for change Of
Gate. l am in favor of it,.
Senator Smoot of Utah said: Il cannot
Imagine any more practical demonstra-
tion OF tine necessity OF fixing the inau-
Gural date later in the spring than the
experience Washington Is suffering today.
] am in favor of the change.
Senator Flint of California said: THE
exhibition OF the uncertain climatic con-
ditions Of early March which is furnished
today seems TO me to be strong argu-
nent for the change"
Gallinger Is Emphatic.
Senator Gallinger. chairman of the Dis
trict of Columbia Committee. stated posi-
lively that he was in favor of the move
ment to change the date of the inaugura
tion to time of the year when better
weather might be expected.
Il would say the same thing" he said
''even il the sun was shining brightly to-
day. Ii will take constitutional amend