The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1921-03-12
HARDING HANGS UP
HAT, Goes TO WORK
NEW PRESIDENT ASSIGNS WHITE
HOUSE CEREMONY MOST
DRAMATIC.
WILSON CARRIED PTHESTEPS
He Makes Survey of Unfinished Bust
ness of Democratic Administra-
ton and Adds Several AS
sistants to His Staff.

WashingtOn.-The reinS of preSiden-
dial authority passed from Woodrow
Wilson to Warren G. Harding in an in
lugural ceremony at once the simplest |
and most dramatic of generation.
The drama centered about the retire |
Gent of Woodrow Wilson OF private
life. InSiStent to the last moment that |
ne would carry out a retiring PreSi-
1ents customary part in the cere-
monies, he finally yielded TO the plead
ing of relatives and to the warning Of
his physician that he might endanger
his life, and only accompanied his sue
eessOr to the Capitol.
| AS he descended from the White
House pOrticO to enter the waiting au-
| tOmOhile. secret service men placed
his feet on each descending step; when
he left the car to enter the Capitol he
was practically lifted up a short flight
of steps by dn attendant, and although
he walked alone with the aid of cane
to the Presidents room where he
signed bills, he told Senator Knox,
chairman of the Congressional Inaugu-
raj Committee, that he was not equal
to participating in the ceremony of in
augurating Vice President Coolidge in
he Senate chamber nor in the cere-
mOny of inaugurating President War
rem Harding on the pOrticO facing the
plaza outside.
Never Glanced at White House.
After a few moments at the Capitol
the retiring President went to his pri-
vate home to become ''plain Woodrow
Wilson now" as he expressed it, and
he never even glanced at the White
: House as he passed by on his way.
Before President Harding had been
in office an hour he had revived a
/ precedent set by George Washington
, by comforting with the Senate in eX
ecutive session, submitting in person
T the nominations of his ten Cabinet of
r ficers all of which Immediately were
: confirmed.
:, Within another hour he had gone t.
e the White House to chang up his ha
{ and 90 to work." as he himself Otter
J. had said, and unlocked the Whit
il House gates, which for four years hat
o been closed to the public. The publ
It celebrated the event by actually over
Y running the grounds and peepin
s through the windows to see the neV
s President in conference with Cabine
d officers.
Y President Harding took the oath {
d office at rs p. m, exactly eight year
20 to thn minute from the time the sam
IS words of obligation were spoken b
r the retiring President at his first il
ID auguratiOn. The inaugural ceremonie
m conforming to President Harding
E. wishes, were kept free from almo
rs every. Snow of the pomp and circur
IN stance that usually surround the i
Of coming of a chief executive. Tho
n SANDS Witnessed the oath and cheert
I'll the Old and new Presidents aloI
e. PENNSYLVANIA avenue, but the crow
lie was only fraction of the custOmal
al Inauguration thrOngs.
Ill On the Elble used by George Was
on ington at his first induction into offiC
and on a verse of Scripture extollil
ng the virtues Of an humble faith in &C
he President Harding plighted his be
in, ability to the presidency. In his
i'll augural address he reaffirmed his re
nd erenoe for the traditions of the fathe
ID and reiterated his belief that the s
ic- preme task ahead was to bring t
we country ones more to normally.