The Washington herald., 1913-01-18
WILSON'S INAUGURAL LETTER
ENDSPROGRAMME FOR BALL

haps he shudders at the thought Of the
sunerings of the colored brother. who
is always gracefully but firmly eased out
OF the assemblase II he shows up. but
there are others to be considered. trades
people as well as participants.
Besides, what else could take its place?
| Shall we have stereopticon views in the
Blue Room and an exhibition of a model
OF the gibbet for panic raisers?
/ Don't think the populace would like the
| change. Too much like substituting NOV
ing pictures for grand opera
On with the dance!
The Gain and Loss.
ffum the Baltimore News
Is the inaugural ball worth the price?
President-elect Wilson seems to have
grave doubts on the subject. and the
common sense OF the country will
heartily echo them. The account seems
10 balance about as follows:
Gain-Pushing around in crowd
amid the languorous odor of moth balls
separated from hired evening clothes;
drinking champagne at supper with per-
sons who are industriously laying the
foundation for a dark brown taste the
next day; the exercise of craning the
neck to note the conspicuous absence of
representative Washington society.
Loss-Cost of ball to government, se5,-
900: work for 700 clerks in Pension Bu-
reau cut off while the building is being
prepared for the ball and restored to
business uses afterward: IS paid for each
ticket by those in attendance; honora-
rum to the purveyor OF open-faced gar
ments
Mr.. Wilson has again given the coun-
try something to think about.
A Sensible Step.
Prom the New York Sun
We think the great majority Of citi-
zens, of every political complexion, will
feel that Gov Wilson has taken a
sensible step in suggesting that the in
augural ball be eliminated from the
ceremonies of his Inauguration.
1t Is notorious that this feature of the
proceedings has become almost a COM
plete adsurdity; its omission would tend
to add TO the dignity of the whole in
augural ceremony. Except in the i'm
agination of the families of new members
of Congress 1t has no standing except
a formal one as a social incident suit
able to so great an occasion as the in
auguration of a President.
The same crowd Of local patriots and
tradespeople In Washington want 1t who
want every possible excuse to extract
money from an easy-going crowd in q
good humor, as inauguration crowds are
apt to be. But by emitting it the Presi-
dent-elect will assure the saving of $4,000
in clerks wages in the Pension Depart
ment alone. We trust Chairman Eustis
and the whole inaugural committee will
see the obvious propriety of accepting
Gov. Wilson's suggestion.
An Astounding Suggestion.
From the Baltimore Star.
Mr.. Wilson'S letter TO Chairman Eustis,
suggesting the cancellation of the in
aUgural ball, is couched in terms which
leave that gentleman and his associates
free to make their own decision without
much danger of offending the President
elect. That Mr.. Wilson is sincere I'M his
desire to avoid useless expense is not TO
be doubted, but It is surprising that he
has waited so long to make known his
attitude. And his mode OF expressing
that attitude is, unfortunately, such as
to leave it an open question in minds not
disposed TO give him the benefit of the
doubt whether he really desires not 10
have the ball or merely wishes TO place
himself in the position OF an unwilling
victim Of precedent.
There is much to he said for. and.
perhaps, nearly as much to be urged
against. the inaugural ball. The argu-
ment that IT is not an exclusive social
has fve-doIIar Dill and a dress SUIT
can participate. as insisted by a local
contemporary. is surprising as emanating
from a source friendly to the next Presl-
dent Shall the tiTst Democratic PresI-
dent in sixteen years. then, proceed TO
create an exclusive social circle center
ing in the White House 1t is an
astounding suggestion. and the argument
would have been better used in the re-
verse direction.
That the ball is a useless expense, is.
also, open to question. for its proceeds
have long been looked to TO recoup the
Treasury for much of the money eXpend-
ed on the inaugural ceremonies. 1t is a
historical feature of the induction of
Presidents. dating at least from the time
Df Madison. Its elimination would per-
haps serve to aid an appearance of JEFF |
fersonlan simplicity, but surely this age
Of America is an elder one to that which |
was marked by Jacobin afrectatIons. IN
themselves as offensive as the airs or
the aristocrat.