New Ulm review., 1913-03-12
washington letter

4
brand Of weather tor the big IN
augural show, In strong contrast I,
that OF four years ago, when . full
aedged blizzard Of the Minnesot,
TYPE swept William Howard TAT
Into the White House for storm,
four year period. The elements we're
more considerate of Woodrow vii
son, who was ushered into the Of
nee Of chief executive Of the nation
under bright and balnny skies. II
the weather was ideal, the military
land civic pageant which moved from
the capitol to the White House was
in keeping and was one OF the most
Imposing spectacles witnessed on q
!similar occasion In Washington no
appreciate the magnifcence Of the
inaugural parade, it must be seen.
Looking down historic Pennsylvania
avenue, the route of the parade,
one could see division after division
OF the knowing pageant, 10000 men
in all, marching with measured tread
between a glorious color scheme Of
the red, white and blue.
One of the human touches in
the numerous events of red-letter
day occurred just at the time Chief
Justice White was administering the
oath of office. The ladies Of the
Wilson party, including Mrs. Will.
son and her three daughters, occu.
pied seats near the presidential in
augural stand. Mrs. Wilson was un.
able to witness the solemn oath-tak-
ing from her seat, and accordingly
she quite unceremoniously mounted a
chair to command better view.
Grasping the railing of the rostrum,
she stood there gazing at her hus.
band as he kissed the open Bible.
She remained standing until he had
read his inaugural address.
Many remarked that there was a
touch of pathos, too, in the leave
taking of former President Taft,
who rode with President Wilson
from the Capitol to the White House,
and shortly afterward was taken to
the union station where, once more
as a private citizen, he took his
departure from the capitol city.
l doubt whether 500 people heard
the inaugural address. Thousands
saw and were impressed with the
solemnity of the occasion, but few
heard. Time and custom has de-
creed, however that the inaugural
address shall be delivered in the
presence of the assembled people. !
This is one of the rare occasions |
that the president OF the nation
and the people are brought face to |
face. One is impressed not only
with the dignity of the event, but
with the American spirit of democ-
racy which the occasion portrays.
You read the full text of the in l.
augural address few hours later,
but the isolated man fairly engu1fed
in the vast throng of witnesses, too
far away to hear, is impressed and
moved by the feeling of close kin
ship towards the man recently ele-
vated to the high position of chief
executive.
"This is not a day of triumph;
t is day CT dedication. Here
muster, not the forces of party, but
he forces of humanity. Mems
learts wait upon us; mems lives
lang in the balance; mems hopes
,all upon us to say what we shall
To-. Who shall live up to the great
rust? Who dares fail to try?
all honest men, all patri-
,tic, all forward-looking men, to
ny side. God helping me l will
lot fail them, if they will but
and sustain me- This, the
losing paragraph of the Wilson in
lugural address, breathing the spirit
# high purpose and fine idealism, {
trikes the keynote of the presi- s
Ient's first official and public ut !
erance. Progressives generally, cor
|ially approve the message and it's {
general tone. {
So. too, they are approving of the (
wilson cabinet members, which is
considered progressive IN
IS personnel. Most of President &
Wilson's official family are men j
young in years. There {
S nobody in it past fifty-four. Ev. {
rybody expected that Mr.. Bryan I
would land the secretary of state i
ortfolio and he got it. The Com I,
loner is looked upon down here by s
congressional politicians as a strong {
adcal, of perhaps stronger ten. s
encies than Wilson would care to
ollow. However, the radcalsm {
f Bryan, who will undoubtedly stand i
Ugh in the cabinet councils, will i
e tempered, it is pointed out, by c
ther less radical, but progressive e
1embers. Mr.. Lane, who goes from Q
ne interstate commerce commission c
, the head OF the important de- e
artment of the interior has prof.
ressive record, as have also Mr.. s
IcAdoo, secretary of the treasury, c
1r. Garrison, secretary of war, and C
[r. McReynolds, who succeedS Mr.. d
as attorney general. u
Generally speaking Washington is t
the opinion that the Wilson cabi- o
ct is one Of good ability and that e
is selections have been wisely il
Iade The appointment receiving o
le greatest approval among pro- S
ressive democrats is that Of Bryan "
he appointment of Wilson, mem. "
ar of congress from Pennsylvania, a
, the new cabinet position as sec $
,tary Of labor was also pop. tt
lar rnOva in tho cninion Of MANY v