The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1913-01-17
THE INAUGURAL BALL.

| ii TTeSlQent-eleCl WllSOli uOCSH Woht Oil iiio'
gural ball, he oughtn't to have one imposed on hin
1t isn't apparent now, in good form and moderation
he could be compelled to attend. 1t wouldn't be mic
to kidnap him and cart him down to the Penso
building to lead the grand march.
Moreover Congress is quite unlikely to asseI
to the use of the Pension building for the purpose
of an inaugural ball that the President doesn't wan
So there you are. The President-elect writes
Chairman Eusts that he has come to the conclusion
that it is his duty to ask Mr.. Eustis Ito consider tn
feasibility of emitting the inaugural ball altogether
That is putting it mildly; but the mildest suggestio
| of Mr. Wilson in the circumstances is equal to
command.
The inaugural ball has been the chief means
producing revenue with which to reimburse the bus
ness community of Washington for the large e.
pense of providing proper setting for the inaugl
ration. A fund of 100000 is approximately raise
for these expenses. That fund is in the nature {
an underwriting of expenses, to be repaid to sui
scribers from the receipts of the ball. sale of stan
seats, and the like. The ball produces much tn
largest item of tine receipts.
Whether it is fit that Washington should hav
these expenses and responsibilities to bear, it is
fact. The custom has been established from the BIZ
ginning. Washington merely set about to do tn
regular and heretofore unquestoned thing. Firs
there was long delay in naming local chairma
of the arrangements committee, which held up a
preparations. Then, when he was named and hast
was necessary, Congress developed an UNUSUAL
vigorous opposition to the use of the only hall i
tine city fitted for the inaugural ball. Now come
the Presdent-elect with announcement that h
doesn't want the inaugural ball, anyhow.
Despite what has been said to the contrary, TIL
inaugural ball feature seems to be the most demo
cratic, the most practicable, the most manageable tn
safest and, from the standpoint of physical imposi
ton the central figures, the least exacting func
ton that could be arranged for such occasion.
is well enough to talk about Jeffersonan simplicity
but does that that reviewing stands shall b,
erected, no special accommodations provided, TO
visitors who will flock to the Capital by tens of thous
snds? Does it imply that Washington must sudden
ly reorganize its whole attitude and relation to m
long established affair in which it is necessarily The
host of the nation? To enforce such revolutonar,
reorganization of arrangements at this date canno
but impose hardship and difficulty.
One more suggestion. There is notion, alto
getler too widely entertained that Washington makes
a Roman holiday out of Inauguration, because i
wants the money. There couldn't be worse mis-
take than that Washington as community makes
profit on the Inauguration. The crowds that come
are not shopping crowds. They are not, as to the
very great majority, hotel patrons
Everybody knows all this; that is every Washing
ton householder or apartment-renter who has hae
the experience of entertaining the friends from back
home during Inauguration week.
The truth is that entertaining Inauguration vis
tors is an expense and burden to nnety-nine Wash
ngton families where it is source of profit to one
That is the plain fact.
II is literally true that Washington becomes for
this inaugural week the host of the nation. Nearly
everybody in Washington comes from somewhere >
The people back at somewhere" have been prom.
ising to visit" the Washington friends for long
time 1t suddenly occurs to them that they'll pay
that visit" this spring-and incidentally work in
view of the Inauguration. They are welcome, and
more; Washington is glad to have them come. Blu,
if you will ask the first twenty people you see on
the street, just how well they proted by the inau-
guration say, four years ago. you will hear two
of stories about homes crowded to their capacity ex
pected and unexpected guests requiring attention
and the where to lay their heads, domestic service
demoralized, expenses crowded up to preposterous-
ly abnormal point.
There is no worse misstatement of this inaueu-
ration case than the one which assumes that Wash
ington as a whole makes big killing" out of the
inaugural crowds. Inauguration week is the great
ouadriennial visiting Washington" OCCASION
Washington is glad they come. Washington is
proud of ITSELF of its position as Capital of this Ma
ton, of the hospitality in which it tries never to
weary or vary But it isn't fair, in the face of these
plain facts which everybody, on taking moments
thought, will recognize as very mildly stated here,
to have this town charged with turning Inaugural
ton into street fair and merchants carnival for
tine benefit of trade" There are a few who do
benefit; but Inauguration, without possible uncer-
tanty, costs Washington vastly more than Washing
ton gets out of it.
Just one suggestion. How much do you, reader,