The Washington herald., 1920-11-08
Society to Make Up for Lost
Time When New Regime
Starts March 4.
PEOPLE HERE TO PAY
Revival Of Old Festivities to
Constitute Welcome for
Harding.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Warren G. Harding IL to be In
augurated twenty-ninth President OF
the United States on March 4, 1891.
amid festivities and eeremonisls
commensurate with his record
breaking election.
Washington has not known a real,
rip-snorting Inauguration since WILL
lam Howard Taft became President
in 1909. Woodrow Wilson frowned
upon the idea OF an inaugural ball
the piece de resistance of inaugura-
tion festivities from the popular
standpoint-when he took once in
1913. and in 1917, when his second
| term began, the war cloud hanging
over the United States banished all
thought OF a function Of any kind.
On the occasion Of President Hard
ing's ascension TO the White House.
Washington purposes making up for .
lost time. There is to be n celebra-
tion in full and Joyous keeping with
the country's gratitude for deliver
ance from eight years Of Democratic
! bondage.
Formal arrangements will be
taken in hand almost at once. They
await the arrival in Washington.
4 momentarily expected, of Will H
Hays. AS national chairman Of the
triumphant party. IL is his preroga-
I tive to appoint the committee on in
auguration.
People 10 Pay.
The nation at large may not know
that Uncle Sam. plutocratic as he IL.
doesn't contribute one cent to the
considerable expense of inaugural
/ ing his Presidents. The bill Is foot
ed by the private residents of the
District OF Columbia. II costs any
where from 100000 to s25o.OOo to
I install a new Chief Magistrate OF
the republic. At least. that has
been approximately the cost in the
past. Like everything else under
the sun. inaugurations. too. have
probably grown more expensive. IL
is likely. therefore. that patriots who
want TO attend the inaugural ball
viii have to pay $40 per person for
their dancing and supper tickets. in
stead OF $40 per couple, as in the
past.
Washington has understood that
I the Hardings are agreeable TO the
holding Of a ball. and preparations
for such a festivity will shortly
be under way
Mr.. Hays, in accordance with ira
dition. will appoint a Washingtonian
as chairman of the committee on
actual arrangements for the inaugu-
| ration. for upon the shoulders or
that unfortunate Official will fail
! the burden Of raising the financial
wind. 1t is not without irony that
the United States expects the peo-
pie OF the District OF Columbia to
pay for the Inauguration Of Pres
ident for whom they don't have
the right to vote.
Tired Of VoteIess Status.
Already the disfranchised District
Us voicing the hope that President
Harding will favor Federal legisls-
ttion designed to relieve Washing
itonians Of their voteless status
They are tired OF being the Cinderel-
las of the Union. OF course, Wash
ington expects to come out even on
the inauguration. The Capital will
be jainmed with visitors. probably
never more so in it's long history.
They will spend tens Of thousands
iof dollars here. Yet many sub
scribers TO the inauguration-ex-
pense fund will contribute without
3 hope OF direct benefit or return OF
their funds. The one source Of rev
tees command will be sale Of seats
in stands along the route OF the in
auEural procession and OF tickets
TO the Inauguration ball
Festivities. revertinE to ancient
custom. will extend over March 3
] 4 and 5. on the days before and
after the actual Inauguration there
are to be nUmberless receptions and
gala entertainments for distin-
Cuished visitors. like governors OF
States and their glittering STATS cf
gold-braided heroes.
Homes 20 ne Opened
All Of Washington's Republican
! hostesses. 100. will throw open
1 their homes for functions Of elabo-
! rate character. There is TO be an
I unprecedented brilliant display OF
| fireworks. Decorations Of streets
and public buildings on a lavish
plan are in prospect
Hitherto the old Pension Orfice
has always done duty for inaugural
balls. This time, owing TO the pro-
! jected splendor of the occasion,
mammoth emergency building for
the purpose. Hotel accommodations
in Washington. already very limit
1 ed. will. of course. be taxed TO the
limit during Inauguration week.
| Reservation of rooms has been
going on for months and has risen
Z to swamping proportions since
4 election day. The National Capital
1 will hardly be a place TO save
money during the first week OF
March. 1921. but there is no indi-
cation that the people OF the eoun-
! try are going TO stay away from
he ka - ka