Norwich bulletin., 1921-01-19
WASHINGTON AFFAIRS
(Special ta The Bulletin.l

tors that come to Washington during an week, ever yone here is tre- mendeusly pleased at the decision of Harding to have a simple ceremonial without display or extrava- gance A few democrats seem littls resentful that the republicans have stol- en their thunder by taking the first step toward Feturn@to so called Jeffersonlah simplicity, but for the most part demo- crats are joining heartily in eergratpiat- ing MT Harding on the step he has taken. The fact that some of the down town hotels were fixing their rates at ssO0 a day for any room which com mands a view of the expected parade which General Pershing was to lead. tells the story of prehteeFing in 2 few words. Newspaper men realize now that Mf Harding meant what he said when he told them If I could have my own way | I would just take my oath of office, hang l up my hat and go to work but probably | MT. Harding is as much surprised as anyone else, to ma hls Wlsn can pc sFat- flied.
 If the weather is suitable the Harding inauguration will take place on the east front steps of the capitol, but without the troops, decorations, erection of iH- mense stands, parade, ball and other ceremonials such as have marked inaug- urations for the past century with the
 
 in 1865. Gen. Sherwood, democrat, of Ohio. se years old, now a member of con- gress and strong, sturdy and active in spite of his age, rose from his seat in | the house and said 'It VIII make the ad- i ministration popular from the start" Gen. Sherwood, who Is . veteran of the Civil war, explained that he is the only living man in public life who witt messed the second inauguration of Lin- coin. Said he "It was soon after the battle of Franklin, where my horse was shot from under me. I had on my old blue coat that I had worn on the Att lanta campaign. It was besmirched with the grime and red clay mud of Tennes- see and Georgia; my old slouch hat had i a hole in the crown, caused by sleeping too near the bivouac fire; but I was de- | termined to see Lincoln inaugurated. There must have been something like 2e,- O00 standing in front of the capitol I worked my way through the great crowd. There was no platform or seats for guests Everybody stood. Lincoln stood there, too, on a little platform with a stand and glass of water. There was no ceremonial or display. He had a white pocket handkerchief around his neck. can see him now as I saw him then. He was the idol of the army" said General Sherwood, brushing back his iron gray hair and speaking with emotion. T se< a tall spare man with deep lines of care : furrowing his cheeks; see sad face, a g strong face, the face of 8 man of many t sorrows. A face lit up with the inspira . tion Of a great soul as he voiced in pro q phecy the ultimate destiny of this nation There was no display whatever. I believe
 Lincoln was typical American and thu people will commend MT. Harding fo
 the stand he has taken" And from th' J applause that greeted the simple elo
 quenee of the old general it was eviden s that all congress appreciates the desir s of MT. Harding to have simple cere
 mony which. as Senator Brandesee says e 'is much more fitting for a republic thai e to initiate the display of & coronation" II Congress is working early and lat 5 to get the routine business disposed o1 z and leave clean slate for the incomin l. administration. No definite date has " ir been fixed for the extra session, but u, ,e opinion here is that it will be calle h about April fFst-perhaps a few day .- earlier. That will give several week respite to the men who have put in nc . less than ten and sometimes more, Worl III ing hours every day since the sessio al opened December 6th. For the for 'n noons are fully occupied with hearing le before committees. and the daily session SC run from 12 noon to p. m besides g st occasional night session.
 of The filing of the electoral votes of u h. 4S states with the vice president h Ist been one of the features of the wee k The vice president receives the messe ad ger in his private office, with his priva oa secretary standing by his side. Usual 0 the messenger is man of much local ii
 portance, and is presented to the vi de president by one of the senators fire 'se his home state. Sometimes the vote ge rather the package containing the W ost -is found to be put up just as it shoy ho be, but in several instances, notat te Massachusetts, the credentials of { -.t messenger were sealed up inside { ee' great package, which cannot be oper 'e till February ninth and then only by ; DTS thorized officials in the presence of me messenger doesn't feel any bigger th en a little blue capped runner for a te tss phone company he may be rnulti-u in lionafre and person of great peliti :. and social consequence but in the in
 eyes of MT. Marshall acting in his .
 cial capacity he is merely l per ave lacking proper credentials" Some V ney funny scenes have occurred and tn of has been much scurrying around for n
  ud- Cm or 100 much req tape ana seal oos wax, after which the vice president. V
 twinkle in his eye, gravely announ oi he would waive the irregulaFity," en- private secretary made extensive expl afi- atery notes of the package and eve but body smiled bowed and shook hal lGi- Nebraska selected a woman messen afn- and the woman messenger selected
 airplane as her mode of transportat
 to fha m;
 She is expected ts arrive here the
 of this week.
 It was Senator Brandegoe whe 2
 the Massachusetts, messenger a s
 character" when that gentleman flo or himself in the presence of the vice p pos ident entirely lacking credentials, as
 had inadvertently been sealed up '
 sthe votes. Do you know this ma ices queFied MT. Marshall of Senator Bra. to gee who was sitting nearby waiting .. present MT. Clark, Cohnecticut's I
 senger. "Yes, I know him we'll" rel a.,. MT. Brandegee and then he spoke s kind words" of Frank W. Stearns 'le Boston, multi-millionaire and chief s
 sor for the candidacy of vice presi
 elect Coolidge, but who found hin here merely person without credentj be- when he presented the tightly sa . package to MT. Marshall. The irrest
 ity was waived, although 1t must be wing nowledged that of the two men Sen put D nrahoesee looked mSeh the happier
 the momentarily diseredited messe1
 whose word is law ia the state of M
 achusetts.
 asnt ne Hearns on proposed tAfM feV rine and naans oo1.-ait+.~ L,,s hs.n :,
 ed by large number of New Eng