Evening star., 1909-03-10
PLAN To CHANGE DATE
National Committee ReneWs
Efforts for Later Inauguration.
WASHINGTON MEN MEET
Letters From Governors 1ndorsing
Movement Received.
NEW YORK EXECUTIVE FOR IT
Hughes, Hoggatt, Frear, Noel, Fort,
Curry, Burke, Haskell and
Others Join Chorus.

Taking advantage of the opportune TIM
to renew organized effort to secure &
change of the date of inauguration of thu
President and Vice President of thu
United States. the Washington member:
of the national committee on the pro
posed change of the inaugural date helt
a meeting in the Office of Commissions
H. B. F. Macfarla:id. its chairman, IL
the District building this afternoon.
A large majority of the Washington
representation attended the meeting.
Commissioner Macfarland outlined th'
work of the committee since it was or
ganized in 1902 and spoke of the passag
by the Senate at two different times of tn
joint resolution providing for change o.
the inauguration date to the last Thurs
day in April, and of the interests which
the governors of many states have shown
In the movement.
The committee discussed plans to effec
its purpose.
Washington members of the committed
are H. B. F. Mcfarland, chairman
James L. Norris, secretary; Thomas w
Smith, John w. Foster, Admiral George
Bell. S. w. Woodward. C. c. Glover
Frank A. Munsey, John Joy Edison. Gen
John M. Wilson. Theodore w. Noyes
Justice John NJ. Harlan, Edward J. Stell'
wagen, J. Henry Small, jr.; W. +. Guide
Edgar D. Shaw. Scott c. Bone and John
r. Mclean. Waldo c. Hibbs is assistan,
secretary to the committee.
Commissioner Mcfarland has not YET
heard from the governors of states and
territories who entered upon their terms
of Office In January and to whom he has
just sent out letters inviting them to be-
come members of the national committee
on the proposed change of inauguration
day and inviting their cooperation in the
movement.
Governors who took up the reins Of Of
flee prior tosthat date were previously no.
titled of the movement. Letters from
many present state executives are on
file in the office of the chairman Of the
committee.
These indicate strong interest in the
movement and willingness to cooperate
in bringing about a change of the inau-
gural date
Governors Promise to Help.
Gov. Charles E. Hughes of New York
has written the committee as follows:
1T gives me pleasure to consent to
serve on the national committee on the
proposed change of Inauguration day and
to cooperate SO far as l properly may to
bring about the desired change"
Gov. w. B. Hoggatt of Alaska wrote:
L shall be very glad to serve on the ma.
tional committee If my cooperation with
you can be of any help, as l am fully in
STABILITY of a change of date of the in
auguration of our President"
Gov. w. F. Frear of Hawaii said in his
letter:
II shall be glad to serve on the ma
tional committee and to cooperate in
bringing about the desired. result
Gov. E. w Noel of Mississippi expressed
his views as follows
Your letter asking me whether l would
consent to serve on the national COM
ration day and whether 1 would CO.
operate in bringing about the desired re-
suit is,befOre me. i will consent to serve
and will gladly give my cooperation to
to the change. Our legislature has ad-
journed and will not meet again until
January next. and SO no request for a
resolution from it can be made sooner"
Gov. John Franklin Fort of New Jersey,
wrote:
Yours with relation to changing the
date of the inauguration of the President
of the United States is received | have
no objection to serving on the committee
and to cooperate with you in getting the
time of year changed"
Gov. George Curry of New Mexico added
his commendation, as follows:
Il take pleasure in stating that I shall
be very glad indeed to serve on this COM
mittee and furthermore that 1 shall use
all the influence l may have with my
friends toward securing congressional
action in the premises. / am of the opin-
ion that no more unsuitable day, so far
as weather is concerned could have been
selected than the fourth day of March
nraSidQnfiai ha
fact that every Inauguration day in the
past has been attended by such serious
results in the way of Illness and death
coming to number of people, many of
nation. should hasten our representatives
in Congress to take up this question and
speedily dispose of It,"
View of Gov. Burke.
Gov. John Burke of North Dakota said: :
Yours of recent date in reference to
changing the date of the Inauguration of
the President and Vice President of the
United States is received. In reply 1 will
say that the reasons you urge for the
change seem to me to be sufficient, and
shall be glad to comply with your request
and act on tlle national committee"
Gov. G. n. Haskell of Oklahoma ex-
pressed himself as follows:
Il heartily concur in the amendment
you suggest. The national inauguration
day should be at time of the year when
it could be matter of pleasure and COM
fort. as we'll as for the preservation of
health. March is rarely ever a fit day
for public ceremony. I accept the men,
bership on the committee and shall be
very glad to assist in any way possible"
Gov. Edwin S. Stuart of Pennsylvania
wrote:
Il big leave to say that I will be
pleased to accept honorary membership
in the committee. While it will be i'm
possible for me to take an active in
terest in the work of the committee, it's
purpose has my full approval"
Gov. Claude A. Swanson of Virginia
has written:
This is the first opportunity I have
had to answer your letter in reference
to the date for the inauguration of the
President and Vice President of the
United States and the change to the
last Thursday in April In reply will
state that 1 will be very glad to aid in
any way 1 can to have the aforesaid
date changed"
Gov. j. o. Davidson of Wisconsin
promised cooperation by writing:
Because of the reasons given in your
letter. l am in favor Of this change be-
ing made, and will be pleased to do any,
thing / can to bring about the wished.
for result"