The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1909-12-24
Date Should Be Changed.

During the past week the committee
on elections of the House had under
consideration the bill presented during
the extra session by Mr.. Gaines of
West Virginia, proposing to amend the
Constitution in order to change the
date upon which the Inauguration of
the President and Vice-Presiden is re-
required to take place. The present
date, March 4, was suggested by Mr..
Jefferson as the most convenient date,
all things being considered, and it
has been adhered to ever since.
But experience has convinced the
country that the usual severity of the
weather in Washington on that date
imposes hardship upon the increas-
ing throngs of people who move on the
national capital every quadrennium to
take part in the inaugural festivities
and the demand for-postponing the in
auguration to more salubrious date
has become widespread. Doubtless
one reason why the change has not
been made already is found in the con-
servatism of the American people in
the mater of tinkering with the Consti.
tuition Had the matter required only
congressional action the change
would have been made long ago; but
the very wholesome sentiment which
restrains alteration of the Constitution
upon any except the most imperative
matters, has thus far kept the date at
a season when the Washington wealth
er is most rigorous and inhospitable.
Sound and wholesome as this senti-
ment is, it is proper that it should be
relaxed sufficiently to admit an amend
ment SO practical and necessary as
this. The American people-and, in
deed, human nature generally-are, in
the mass. fond of pomp and display.
Although boasting of our democracy
and fond of deprecating the vanity of
monarchial governments as manifest
ed in the fanfare and tinsel that form
so large an element in their social
functions. our love of the spectacular
and desire to APE the doings of roy
atty are notorious. Hence it is that
the date set for the nomination Of the
President is great day in our ma
tiOnal calendar.
1t brings to Washington great
throngs of people animated by divers
motives and purpOses-some out of
mere curiosity, others to enjoy the So
cial pleasures incident to the occasion,
still others inspired by the hope that
a visit to Washington at that time will
in some way further the attainment of
political ambitions. The massing of
so many thousands of people in Wash
ington at one time subjects many of
the less fortunate to much discomfort
and hardship under the most favor
able circumstances, but when added to
all else we have what the English are
wont to call "beastly" weather, the
peril of health and life is greatly in
creased.
Indeed Inauguration Days have
brought forth harvest. of funerals,
many Of the country's leading citizens
have contracted fatal illness as results
of exposure to the inclement weather
on these occasions. Mr.. Gaines
amendment which fixes the date of
the inauguration upon the last Thurs
day of April, instead of upon the
Fourth of March, is one that will be
welcomed throughout the country.
The only improvement we coud sug-
gest would be to make 1t one week
later still, but that is mere detail. The
change to a date when the weather is
milder is the real need, and certainly
the date named in the proposed
amendment accomplishes that very
necessary object.