The Washington herald., 1910-05-16
CHANGE INAUGURATION DATE
Reasons why the Henry Resolution
should BE Adopted.

1NSAsohb why ihe Henry Resolution
should Be Adopted.
Editor The Washington Herald:
In the House on Monday, under suspen-
sion Of the rules. VIII be put upon its
passage the joint resolution changing the
Inauguration date from March to the
last Thursday in April. with CORE
spending change in the terms Of Office OF
the President. Vice President, Senators,
and Representatives. have been re-
quested by some of<those pressing The
measure TO add my feeble voice 10 theirs
in the effort to bring about the organic
change. 50 urgently necessary for three
reasons.
In the first place. It is highly desirable
that the joy Of springtlme should bless.
the gathering Of the nation in this Capt.
I tai, where their presence on the peaceful
assumption by the President Of his grave
duties has become school Of patriotism
in whom men. women and children Of all
parties and sections raufy. affirm, ard
acclaim the verdict OF the people Il
brings the new Chief Magistrate home 70
the masses as their friend; and while he
! takes. in their presence the oath Of office
under the Constitution, those who witness
/ 10 take an unuttered oath Of allegiance
10 that Constitution. Why should we
continue to fmperil by tho rigorous win
ter. at such a sacred time, the life Of
/ our Chief Magistrate as well as the lives
Of those who attend on that day 70 do
| their country honor In his person? Let
/ US give nature a chance 70 pronounce
not a death sentence. but a benediction.
In the second place, it is Of the highest
| Importance that We should abolish the
/ growing inconvenience resulting from a
: short session Of Congress every two
years. in which there IS but three
I months TO legislate. That intolerable
evil in our system should be eradicated
/ by the adoption OF a measure that will
secure practically five months for that
purpose.
/ In the third place, II is far more i'm
/ portant stln that we should remove a
/ hiatus in the Constitution before a great
/ national calamity unhappily befalls our
people by reason OF 81. II the President
/ elect should die. II IS doubted by Story
\ as well as other expounders Of the Con-
/ stituuon whether the provision for the
/ death OF the President would apply and
/ whether an Office not yet IN existence
would devolve upon the Vice President
| elect II no person should receive a
majority vote for President. IL is likely.
/ under our present system OF election.
/ that there would be no majority cast for
/ any one for Vice President IN the cleo
/ toral college. There is no power grant
ed by the Constitution authorizing Con-
/ gress 20 provide by law who shall act
/ as President IN the case OF the death Of
/ both President and Vice President-elect.
/ We have lost three Presidents by assassi-
nation. There IS always real and serious
/ danger that both the President-eIect and
/ the Vice Presldent-eIect may die or be
/ disabled before they take Office. and there
1 should be power 20 provide by law FOR
| such a contingency. II Mr.. Taft and
/ Mr.. Sherman had died or become dis
/ abled between the popular election in 1908
eAAAaA NatN -tatA .t- AA''A LA-N t4
ment would have been without an Execu-
tive for the four ensuing years ending
March 4, 1913.
/ II Is quite possible that both the Senate
and House Of Representatives may. in the
near future. be so divided between the
/ candidates OF three strong parties that
\ an election may be possible neither Of q
/ President or Vice President. II 10 rem
/ edy is provided. the government may
/ come 70 a standstiu until the next cleo
\ ton. The courts only would continue,
/ there would be no executive; Congress
/ could not be called together in special
! session. Laws could not be passed even
at the next regular session. because a
/ bin could not be presented 20 the Presl-
dent as required by the Constitution
! tArt. I. Sec. . par. . before II becomes
/ a law.
/ All OF these grave difficulties and dan
/ gers are removed bys the joint resolution
Of Mr.. Henry, Of Texas, who is moving
/ IN this matter with the skill and pres
| cience Of a statesman. The House VIII
win fresh honor for itself and render an
/ immense service 10 the country If il
| passes this joint resolution.
HANNIs TAYLOR
Washington. May IS.