The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1913-02-26
WOODROW WILSON.

can't prove 1t by me. So far as my
knowledge and belief go, Inauguration
day weather in Washington usually /.
bad.
There have been various measures
introduced in congress to change inau
guration day to the end Of April. They
have ranged all the way from oimple
bills and resolutions to constitutions
amendments. Whatever their form
they have all Travelled through the val
ley Of the shadow Of the pigeonhole
Everybody admits that the change
should be made, but that does not help
the efforts to change it. People who
participate in inaugural parades or look
Oh die and are buried in consequence
but the deadly date goes on. President
Elect Wilson proposed that he be sworn
IN on March 4, but that the public cele
bration be left till later. Everybody
said 1t was a fine proposal and then
proceeded deliberately to prepare for
he public ceremony on March 4. Can
you beat 1t?
Custom is mighty and shall prevail
President Elect Wilson also suggested
that he wanted a simple inaugural,
without so much fuss and feathers
and so many troops. Thereupon the
committees in Washington got togeth.
Ell. adopted a solemn resolution approx.
ing the idea Of a simple inaugural, made
various speeches telling why simplicity
should prevail and then proceeded to
follow precedent and to arrange the
same kind of inaugural that had been
held from time immemorial.
The head of the committee in charge
OF the Inauguration is William Corco
ran Eustis Of the District Of Columbia
and state Of Virginia. Eldridge f.
Jordan. Il Washington bank president
Is vice chairman, and Major General
Leonard Wood. now the head Of the
army, is grand marshal. There are va.
rious subcommittee containing the
names of nearly every nan socially
prominent in Washington. If these
committees alone We're to parade they
would require quite some time to pass
Il given point. There would be the
honorable committee on the comfort OF
visitors, the honorable committee or
legislation, the honorable committee or
decorations. the honorable committee
on this and the honorable committee
on that. All of which teaches us that
the Inauguration Of a president Of the
United States Is a stable function. A
quarter Of a million visitors are ex
pected in the capital city that week
Nor will they all be looking for office
1t is expected that at least the bands
and the militia will have no banker
ings to enter the public service.
The Faithful Will 30 There.
1t will be n day of glory for the
Democrats. Not for twenty years
have they had III opportunity to par
ticipate in a like festival of joy. Dur
ing four successive campaigns they
have fought, bled and died for theil
country, only to have the victorious
Republicans play the star parts in the
Inauguration parades. Will our Demo
cratic friends permit this proud oppor
tunity to slip now that it has come
their way? Not Il slip. AS the Ken
lucky colonel remarked to the Georges
judge: ut is Il long time between Dem
ocratic inaugurations. Let us don oul
glad habiliments and go thereto"
All the faithful will be there. either
IN body or spirit. Not only so, but the
good will of the whole people, regard
less of party. will attend the event
No matter who elected him. the CHIEF