Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-01
WIDELY Divergent VIEWS
ARE EXPRESSED ON IDEA
Governor Willing to Take Oath in
March, Postponing Celebration.
COSTELLO Is IN OPPOSITION
Ste1lwagen, Edison and Oyster Nom
committal-Bell, Borah and
Droop Against Scheme.
Harper and Strasburger
for It.

The announcement OF Gov.
Woodrow Wilson's willingness to
take the oath of office as Presi-
dent March i, and to postpone
the usual celebration attending a
presidential inauguration until
the last Thursday in April, stirred
all Washington last night.
Down in Bermuda on his vaca-
tion the President-to-be has "cut
the Gordian knot it was said in
many quarters. The problem
which has vexed members of
Congress and thousands of citi-
zens of the United States who
have shivered through a March q
inauguration has been solved,
many declare.
On the other hand there are
officials and citizens who declare
that to separate the ceremony OF
swearing in the President and the
pageant and ball which have be-
come custom at inaugurations
would be to create an anti-climax.
They hold that to have the in
auguration celebration almost two
months after the President had
actually entered upon Office, and
without his taking the oath as the
principal event, would be like
Hamlet with Hamlet left out
Henry Sought Governors Support.
Just before Gov. Wilson left this coun-
try to go to Bermuda, Representative r.
l. Henry OF Texas, who has been one Of
the recent great opponents of the inau-
gural date change idea. sent to him "a.
copy of the report made by Mr.. Henry
from the committee on judiciary of the
House, favoring the Henry resolution for
constitutional amendment postponing
the date of presidential inaugurations un-
til the last Thursday in April.
That Gov. Wilson has given this report
his consideration, and that the announce
meut OF ms Willingness to support the
is a result Of TINS consideration, is the
belief OF MIR. Henry.
Mr. Henry was informed of the stand
taken by Mr.. Wilson when the Texas
representative reached Washington last
night from Philadelphia, where he at
tended the Army and Navy foot ball
game.
Most Important Announcement.
1T is a most important announcement
provided Mr.. Wilson has been correctly
quoted declared Mr.. Henry. I'm
doUbtedly the stand taken by Mr.. Wilson
VIII be of valuable assistance in bringing
about a constitutional amendment chang
ing the date Of the presidential inaugura-
ton The resolution, which was favor
ably reported from the Judiciary commit
tee TO the House last session, makes the
President enter upon his term of Office
the last Thursday in April. instead of
March !. It aDciisheS the short session
OF Congress and makes every session
begin the second Tuesday in January in
stead OF the first Monday in December
with the power vested in Congress to sit
at each session until the following Tues
day in January.
Suggestion Deemed Admirable.
''Of course, il would be impossible to
put through an amendment to the Consti-
tuition In time TO affect the term and in
auguration OF Gov. Wilson. So 1 think
That his suggestion Is admirable. | do
not believe that the inauguration cere-
monies held in April several weeks after
the President had qnietly taken the oath
OF office would be anti-cimaX. II this
plan Is found TO work we'll ii might even
De advisable To have the newly-elected
Presidents enter upon their terms of office
the second Tuesday in January after e.ec-
gresS is convened, and have the inaugu-
ration ceremonies take place the last
Thursday in April as planned by the
resolution.
Divided on Separation of Events.
To a man the heads of the civic and
trade organizations and other prominent
business men of Washington expressed
themselves last night as in favor of q
change in the inaugural date from March
until the last of April. They were not.
however unit on the proposed sepa-
ratios of the swearing in of the President
and the ceremonies attending the iaugu-
ration OF the chief executive.
The suggestion made by Gov. Wilson
was novel that for moment they
were at loss Tor an opinion on the pro-
posed change in arrangements for in
auguration.
President James F. oyster of the
Chamber OF Commerce said that he be-
heved Mr.. Wilson's plan would work
TO the benefit of Washington and to
the thousands OF persons who come
here to attend the Inauguration cere-
monies. provided "the novelty is not
worn off the inauguration by the
swearing In Of the President two
months before the ceremonies He re-
ferred to the fact that abroad, when a
ruler dies. his successor, if 1t be in a
Continued on Fourteenth Pase)