The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-06
Inauguration Day.

by all means let Inauguration Day be changed;
but let II Be put back from the 4th Of March TO the
lst Of Dscmbsr. The Outlook.
DR.. Lyman Abbott. in the current issue
of his magazine, emphasizes the opinion
long held by students OF American affairs,
that the interval between the election Of
a President and his Inauguration Is too
long. He says:
'fWhen there is 4 change ia party. this interval Is
positively dangerous Once Il made ciYal var In
eYitable Those long weeks that dragged on between
the election Of Lneoln and his inauguration as
President were the weeks during which the enemies
q the Union took advantage Of fettsred nation.
II Lincoln had become President as promptly after
election as an English prime minister forms his
cabinet the country might coucsiVaby have avoided
civil war. and most certainly would hare been in
position 70 prepare for as 70 escape It's pro
lcugation."
he regards the intervai as little less
deplorable when the election brings about
no change or party. The present admin
istration, he is convinced. suffered by the
delay Between the election and inaugg-
ration of Mr. TAFT. there was halt in
legislation: an indifference TO public opin-
ion developed that ought to have been
impossible in the representatives Of any
self-governing people" 1t retarded the
enactment of a new tariff law
This interval between command and
obedience" SAYS DR. Abbott, SIS more
than an anomaly in democratic gov
eminent; it is a recurrent period of
paralysis. and at any time may become
a peril to the nation" And so he is IN
alterably opposed to the pending PROPOSE
ton. which would prolong the interval by
-onstitutionally fixing a date the last week
In April as Inauguration Day.
Although this argument is not new. it
is strongly presented and worthy OF
fullest consideration. On our own part.
We confess that it has long appealed to
US. The interval between command and
obedience is too long-decidedly too long
But Or. Abbott mars his weighty argu-
ment and belittles his splendid publica-
ton by ascribing the agitation for a
change from March to money-making
mOtives-to the desires of Washington
hotel keepers and others who would
reap a bigger harvest OF dollars By a
postponement of the show" No such mo-
tIves are behind this agitation. The
charge Is a libel upon the city-it is
grossly libelous. Washington will always
be taxed TO its capacity on Inauguration
nav uhat tho date ~ ,.,3,o c,-.s. 80,
weather conditions. Instead Of this quad
rennial event being marked by local
greed and grasping commercialism, II is
marked BY a display OF public spirit and
patriotism by Washington City Of the
highest order. No other city ever gives
a finer display Of 1t. The demand for a
change is based upon humanitarian
grounds wholly. At least one President
met his death by exposure TO Indictment
weather at his inauguration. justice
OF the Supreme Court barely escaped
death by similar exposure. Widespread
sickness and countless deaths followed
the hardships incident 10 the 4th Of
March blizzard. that came conourrently
with the Taft Inaugural ceremonies.
All these things are matter Of record
OF history.
Inauguration Day may not be changed.
Indeed. we are beginning 10 believe II
will not be. But. nevertheless. It ought
TO be. Such a change as DR.. Abbott sug.
gests would serve the purpose doubIy
well But surely the discussion gives war
rant for no such Hbelous fiings at Wash
ington as he has made.