The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1913-01-24
Will SONS SIMPLICITY DESIRE
WILL NOT SPOIL INAUGURAL
CEREMONIES.
BIG PARADE ALWAYS PROPER
Presdent-Elect's Hint That He Would
Like to Walk to Capitol Stlrs Up
lscusslon-Must Consider Tafts
Wishes.
By GEORGE CLINTON.

NOOuloH w licoh.
Make. the inauguration ceremonies
worthy in dignity and display OF the
great victory Of the Democracy Is
the dictum Of most Of the Democratic
leaders in Washington.
The local inauguration committee
has been appointed and has gone to
its work energetically. 1t is not I'M
derstood that Mr. Wilson's request for
simplicity means that he does not
wish to have huge parade. Parades
the promoters of big inaugural events
say, are representative of the people,
enjoyed by the people and are IN
every way eminently proper. So 1t Is
that while the actual inducing into
Office and part Of the ceremonies in
which the president-elect has a per-
sonal place may be extremely simple
1t can be taken for granted that there
will be big show" in Washington on
March 4, perhaps the biggest show
ever presented to the eyes of the
capital residents and of their visitors
from a distance.
One of the agitating questions Just
now is whether or not there Is any
likelihood that Mr.. Wilson will carry
out halfhint he has made that he
would like to walk from the executive
mansion to the capitol where the GER
emonies Of taking the oath and OF de-
livering the inaugural address take
place.
Would Break All Precedent
II Mr. Wilson should walk from the
White House to the capitol he would
break all presidential precedents OF
Inauguration days. Even Thomas JEFF.
ferson, whose course on the occasion
Of his oath-taking is always referred
to as the acme of simplicity. rode on
horseback to the capitol. though vir'
tually unattended. 1t may be said that
the streets of Washington In Jeffer
sons day, certainly the middles OF
them, were in such condition that nc
man, president or other, could walk
far without becoming stuck bootdeer
in the mud.
Gov. William Sulzer, who took the
oath Of Office as chief executive OF
New York state on January l. broke
state precedent by walking from the
executive mansion to the capitol. but
that walk was only short one, the
day was perfect and the outgoing gov
ernor, Mr.. Dix, who had to accompany
his successor to the capitol, was per
fectly willing to walk with him. 1t Is
not supposed In Washington that Mr.
Wilson had Mr.. Suffers precedent II
mind when he limited that he might
like to walk from the White House
to the capitol. for 1t Is not customary
for president to take example of 6
governor, but it is believed that the
president-elect really has a desire tt
make the walk to the capitol If 1t car
be done without having 1t appear tina
he is straining after an effect of Dem
ocratic simplicity and thereby will
overdo the thing and bring 1t pos
sibly to the border of ridicule
Mr.. Taft Must Be Considered.
When the president-elect starts
from the White House to go to thu
capitol he will be accompanied by tn
president of the United States, 70
Mr.. Wilson will not be president un
til after he has reached the big legis
lative building on the hill and ha
taken the oath of Office. The question
Is. therefore, would it be proper 70
Mr.. Wilson in the capacity of pres
dent-elect to insist that Mr.. Taft Il
the capacity Of real president shout
walk the mile and third along Penn
sylvania avenue to the capitol unde
weather conditions which are yer
likely to be bad.
Mr.. Taft Is big man physically, bu
contrary to general belief on the sui
: ject he is a good deal of a walker.
can be taken for granted that IL Nj
Wilson actually shall request Mr.. Tai
to walk the mile and third with hi
he will acquiesce, but 1t may be ths
( In advance some one will suggest I
! the president-elect that the presider
would prefer that the request be nc
made.
Appointments Still Held Up.
The senate Is still refusing to col
firm many OF President Taft's a.
h pointments. Nearly all the me
, named for government places al
those whose terms have just expired
n and of course the Democratic senator
Y desire that these places shall RENAL
/ vacant until President-elect Wilso
:. takes office and names persons {
g his own choosing. This matter {
Z Democratic opposition to confrmatio
!, of Mr.. Taft's appointments has. bee
pretty thoroughly discussed In prev
GUS dispatches. but new phase hs
come upon the matter within
day.
If the Republicans in the senat
were united. and all Of them could I
u brought to attend the executive Sc
sions of the senate, the president
appointees could be confirmed despi