The Washington herald., 1912-02-06
SHOULD Be MADE
NATIONAL EVENT
Why the Inauguration Is a
Governmental Function
Plainly Shown.
CITIZENS GIVE VIEWS

The wisdom OF making the inauguration
Of a President a national function con-
tinues to meet with general approval
~ have always" said Brainard II.
Warner, who has served on many in
augural committees, to a washington
Herald reporter yesterday, been in favor
OF making the Presidential Inauguration
more national In character. The people
OF Washington have always borne the
burden OF preparing and financing this
important event. but in the future we
should be relieved Of this responsibility.
1t is time that the national government
should lend a hand.
Il believe that more attention should
be paid to the civic portion of the in
augural parades than has been the
case heretofore. II the Inauguration Is
made a national event. am sure that
the civic feature will take care OF it.
self When the people throughout the
country realize that the ceremonies are
to be national in character. and not mere
ly local. they will be anxious to take a
greater part than ever before in the his
tory Of the nation. They will feel for
the first time that II Is their right and
duty TO assist in celebrating the inaugu-
ration into ONCE OF the Chief Executive
OF the land.
1T is doutful IL permission to use the
Pension ONCE for the inaugural ball will
ever again be granted. Four years ago
permission was only granted after a bit
ter night. I feel assured the request will
be refused next time.
Without an inaugural ball Il is abso-
lutely impossible to finance the inaugu-
raj ceremonies. There is no other way
in which money can be raised to repay
the citizens who have subscribed TO the
inaugural fund. In the past when We
have had an inaugural ball the raising
Of this $4,000 fund was a comparatively
easy matter. Every one subscribing TO
the fund felt that the proceeds OF the
ball would be sufficiently large TO repay
them. 1 venture TO say that without a
ball less than one-quarter OF the neces-
sary fund could be raised. I have made
study Of inRukurations for the past
forty years, and believe that understand
the question thoroughly.'
e. Southard Parker's Views.
E. sOuthard Parker. banker and capI-
talist, said:
Il am heartily in favor OF making the
Presidential inaugurations OF the future
more national in character and believe
that the suggestion made by The WASH
ington Herald is a good one.
Time and time again the citizens OF
Washington have worked hard 10 make
the inaugural ceremonies successful
They have done their part nobly. 1 be-
lieve. but the time has come when the
government should enact legislation that
will provide every four years an ap-
preparation sufficiently large to cover all
expenses in connection with this all
important event
There should be nothing in connection
with the inaugurations which is in any
sense OF the word a money-making prop
osition. 1t should be understood that
the affair Is 10 be a national celebration
'Of course, the inaugural balls have
made 1t possible in the past to meet
the expenses OF the inaugurations. With
out a ball we could never expect to raise
an inaugural fund. Now that permission
to- use the Pension once has practically
been denied us, l believe that the gov
ernnent should undertake to finance and
manage the future inaugurations, and
that all money-making propositions
should be eliminated. 1t would not be
necessary to do away with the inaugural
ball entirely IL the government managed
the event II a suitable building for the
ball could be secured, We could hold a
ball, the admission for which would be
Just large enough TO pay for its expense"