The sun., 1909-01-24
The stress OF Inauguration.

ne StTess OF tnduHuTdtiOUs
I As Inauguration Day approaches the
citizens of Washington are aware OF an
] increasing solicitude. Congress has not
vet agreed TO suspend the public busi-
ness for a week or ten days by granting
them the use OF certain Government
buildings upon which they have set their
eyes the Pension Office, forsexample,
az ballroom, and various Department
structures and school houses for the
shelter and entertainment OF the "Flam-
beau Club" Of Bungtown and other
marching organizations from all parts
Of the country. Possibly they might
do without Government housing for the
tributaries and leave the visiting dele
cations to look out for themselves
They would get along somehow and the
profits to the shops. the boarding houses
the quick lunches. DC, would be great
Washington would fatten on the irrup-
ton But -the citizens who have sub
scribed to the Inauguration fund must
have their ball, or all Tor most Of iD is
lOSl. I1tItt tucNt FciHOlS.
The local newspapers stand by the
subscribers at all costs most OF them
are steady advertisers and for the
moment their fervor and vociferation
for ballroom. The House has already
refused il the Senate, anxious TO be rid
Of tumultuous solicitation and cynically
Indifferent 10 the storms that sway the
south end Of the Capitol. has granted
it and so cleared the way for legitimate
business on its part. Thus it is en-
abled to go placidly along with ma
tional legislation. 1t has put the
jamboree behind it. Meanwhile the
fatal day approaches. Countless thou
sands have been invited, directly or in
directly, by the citizens to come on and
spend their good money and the devil
take the hndmost, but the Pension
Office and the ball are really serious
matters, and upon that issue their fervor
chiefly concentrates. In default Of at
least one concession by Congress the
subscribers will never get their money
back These citizens" have no suit
able ballroom of their own. So long as
Congress provides it they do not intend
or expect to have one. Loud profess
sions and promises and protestations
we're made on a similar occasion four
years ago, but nothing has been done
If the Pension Office should again prove
easy" nothing will be. The subscribers
will have to pocket all losses that do not
come back to them over the counter,
and anathema will be the new name for
Inauguration Day"
The situation presents moral
which the most careless runner NAV
read. Since the Government has to
furnish all the essentials in the end the
ballroom, the shelter for organized
visitors. the flags and the general super
intendance Of the multitude why should
not the Government take the whole
thing in hand and regulate every detail
of the ceremony? The result would be
infinitely more dignified. At present
the solemnities at the White House md
the Capitol are under Federal control.
Why not have the escort Of the Presi- |
dent-e elect brought under the same
supervision and the entire demonstra-
tion reduced to simplicity and order?
As it is. the Government is asked for
everything tents, overcoats,
flags, and buildings for the dance and
for the housing OF all sorts Of visitors.
The citizens make vast parade of
doing things" for the occasion. As a
matter Of fact they do nothing but
entice a great mob to Washington for
their own profit and advantage.
Mr. TAFT we venture TO surmise.
would Like 70 have the oitizsos,' with
siresr vcsrnrtnous psrsde, IRISH batons.
their sashes, their furious gallopings and
their ball and all the rest