The Hawaiian gazette., 1913-02-04
CAPITAL GLUM At
WILSON'S IDEAS
CanceIIinu of Inauguration Ball
Plans Shocks the Ones Who
Have Subscribed.
BY Ernest G. Walker.

(Mail Special to The Adve,tiser)
WASHINGTON. january 1s.-Thcre
is apparently to be an Inauguration
without the inaugural ball. The beau.
tiful and spectacular feature which has
ushered in every administration for
quite half a century is to be omitted.
The first public appearance that Pres
ident makes, after he has taken the
oath of office, delivered his inaugural
address, ridden back up Pennsylvania
avenue and reviewed the parade, is no
longer to be at brilliant gathering,
where dancing and supper are attrac-
tions, but, probably, at some formal re-
ception.
Washington is agape with amazement
Mt this innovation. Some very worthy
people, who have part in the business
of financing and conducting an inaugu-
ration, are shocked and inconvenienced.
The country, however, will care little
about them. There are arguments for
and against the inaugural ball and,
perhaps, the country will think those
against the ball are the weightier.
One very chief reason for the inaugu-
raj ball has been the tickets at FIVE dol
lars each. That meant big, nice in.
come of many thousands of dollars,
with which the inaugural committee
could reimburse citizens of Washington
for contributions to expenses of the in.
auguration generally.
Stopped in Full Flight
President elect Wilson has put his
ban upon the inaugural ball, at the
very eleventh hour, when preparations
for it were in full swing Those who
complain say that he is the son of a
Presbyterian minister and over-prudish
about such function. Mrs. Wilson,
also of Presbyterian training, is averse
to so much demonstration. Let all that
be as it may, the good substantial rea
sons against an inaugural ball, espe-
cially against one in the pension Office
building, where it has been held for
many inaugurations by special author
ity in congress and where it would
have been held this year, are that il
costs the government about $25,000 be
cause of the enforced idleness of pen
sion Office clerks for several days and
because it delays the granting of pen
sions to the veterans and also because
it endangers valuable records on ac
count of the hazard of fire.
4 Not Dance Ball.
As n spectacle the inaugural ball il
always magnificent. 1t is not a place
where people dance. Some try II
dance. The pension office building
floor is of tagging and while one cal
trip the light fantastic there, if on
rs most persistent, there is little pleas
ure in it beyond being able to say tina
one has stepped the measure at tn
inaugural ball, don t you know. The
there is the inevitable crush. The pen
sion Office building is an enormou
structure with its great floor space an
its capacious galleries, but turn sewers
thousand people into it and there
hardly elbow room. 1t is nice to G
there to look at the beautiful decorf
tions and to hear the band play and
watch the procession of people. Thos
! attending are very largely inauguri
!, tion visitors who take the ball in 9
! one of the sights Along in the ever
!. ing the new President and his wifi
!, accompanied by the chairman of ii
, inaugural committee and his wifi
! come TO the ball. That is the momeI
= TO which very many of those preseI
! look forward. The presidential part
! is received in one of the upper room
! and after a little, the President. wit
I the wife of the chairman of the inau
i ural committee on his arm, and follo'
4 cd hy others of his party, makes
4 circuit of the big door Gentleman
: ushers have 20 clean the passagewt
: aud there is tremendous interest,
In the course Of very short viii
: the new President aud membora OF
= party repair again 10 the upper bi
eony, where they enter gorgeous
decorated box and look dawn upon &
assemhlage. During an this there Is
universal eTaning Of neehs, very nail
n ally EYerY body wants 30 have
- glimpse of the President ana of
ht Nife ~ eleven o'elarA AZ midnis
4 | the President leaves che ball SUPP
~ las been served although there =
p tall tile YaaF ~ pmiillna the anpp