The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-01
MUST SWEAR ON
SCHEDULE; CAN
DANCE ANY TINE


guration date would be most desirable,
for the reason that we have better as
surance of good weather in the latter
part OF April than in the early part Of
March," said Charles A. Douglas, one of
the best known Democrats in Wash
ington.
But even then there will be no assur-
ance of good weather. as April at best
is a treacherous, unreliable month.
From the standpoint OF the impress
siveness of the ceremonies. II is better
to have the festivities at the time of the
taking OF the oath of Office. The oath
taking in front OF the Capitol has al
ways been regarded as the climax OF
the ceremonies themselves. To have the
festivities two months after the installa-
ton of the President would not be nearly
so impressive.
Come TO See Formal Ceremony.
There are larger crowds here to see
the taking of the oath OF office than
to see any OF the other ceremonies. and
there would not be nearly so large
crowds at either event if the festivities
were delayed"
other men who have closely observed
inaugurations in the past expressed
similar opinions. Further advices,
are. ava Oy Oil u lhCln
before any final Judgment is passed.
The Postponement of the inaugural
ceremonies themselves has been urged
upon the Presidential by many per-
sons who are unaware that an act OF
Congress is necessary to change the
date. 1t is. therefore, impossible to
change the date of the inaugural in
time for Mr.. Wilson's office taking. Mr..
Wilson's statement to-day. however,
indicates his sympathy with the move
ment.
Should the suggestion made by Presi-
dent-eleCt Wilson. regarding a change
of date for the inaugural ceremonies be
adopted, it will set aside a custom that
has been in existence since Washington
vas sworn in in New York City on April
CO. 17Ss. Washington's second inaugural
occurred in this city on March l. as has
ttat OF every other President down to
Mr.. Taft.
Result of Agitation.
MIR. Wilson's change of date for the
great display of pomp and circumstance
surrounding the Introduction into office
of the new President comes as a result
Of the agitation for the change in date
for the inauguration, which recurs al
most every four years. When President
Taft was inaugurated four years ago,
II was only a few hours after a great
blizzard had delayed all trains and had
go disrupted wire communication that
Washington was shut of from the out
side world for many hours.
Thomas Jefferson, the third President,
was the first Executive to run into bad
weather for his inaugural He faced
great banks of snow and serious cold.
Madison in his inaugural and Monroe at
his first induction had to battle with the
elements, TO the great discomfort of the
Diplomatic Corps.
President Grant on taking ONCE for
the second time experienced the blizzard
that was memorable. 1t delayed all
manner of traffic for several days. Hayes,
Garfield, and Cleveland suffered almost
as severely as President Grant. Roose-
welt had propitious skies.
The sharps at the Weather Bureau
think Gov. Wilson must have been delv-
ing into the weather records of past per-
formances, as he has hit on an almost
ideal date. Since 1881, It was discovered
to-day, there has been only one I'M
pleasant April "a, and that was in 1901.
The Sd and 18th have as a rule been
sloppy.