The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-11
HARDING PREFERS SIMPLY ID TAKE
 OATH OF OFFICE
Says He Would Be Unhappy it Outlay for Elaborate lnau- guraI Created Impression
 of Extravaganza
By Associnted Press

Marion, Ohio, January 10.- in the interest of national thrift, President-elect Harding tonight requested officials ar ranging for his inauguration to abondon all plans for an in- augural ceremony.
 In telegram to F.. B. Mclean,
 chairman of the inaugural conn
 mittee at Washington. Mir. Hard-
 ing declared he preferred to simply
 tnke the oath of office, deliver
 brief address and then take up the
 duties of his office. He said it
 would make his position n very
 unhappy one if the outlay for an
 elaborate inaugural created the
 impression of extrnvagance.
 At the same time. the Presdent-elect telegraphed Senator Knox of Pennsyl- vania, in charge of the congressional end Of the plans. suggesting that the pro- posal to erect stands on the capitol grounds for the event be abandoned. This proposal has been the subject of heated debate in Congress with some members severely objecting to use Of public funds for such purpose.
 MT Harding's telegram to Mir. Mclean fellows:
 TEXT OF TELEGRAM
 'I beg respectfully to suggest to your committee the complete abandonment of all plans for an inaugural celebration.
 Heretofore, I have been very reluc- tant to express my personal views to your committee because I knew of the cherished regard in our national capital for this quadrennial event, and the gen. eroSty of the citizens of the district in making provision for it. You were good enough to accept the chairmanship at my request and you and your associates have won my lasting gratitude for the 1 time and labor you have given in prep aration.
 | However if it is becoming to express my preference, l wish you and your com mittee to know that the impression of !! extravagant expenditure and excessive cost would make me a very unhappy participant. l know full well that the government outlay is relatively small and that the larger expenditures comes from the generous contributions of dis trict citizenship, but it is timely and wholesome to practice the utter denial 1 of public expenditure where there is nc real necessity and 1t will be a whole
 some example, of economy and thrift l if we save the many. many thousands which the inaugural celebration will cal from the private purse of those attend ing.
 T have sent 8 message of like pur- port to the congressional committee and expressed the wish that no preparations or outlay of any kind be made It will be most pleasing to me to be simply sworn in, speak briefly my plight of faith to the country and turn at once to the work which will be calling.
 in nv yra fitll6n and your assistants and to the generous people of Washington. I am, 1 Very respectfully,
 "WARREN G. HARDING" MESSAGE TO KNOX l The following message was sent ,c Senator Knox:
 1T have been reluctant to intrude my
 views relating to inaugural plans, but I cannot longer remain silent without embarrassment and misunderstanding
 which I had rather avoid Please coa'
 vey to your committee my sincere wish 1 for the simplest inaugural programme
 consistent with the actual requirements ] in taking the oath of office and the ut
 terance of befitting address. I very re spectfully request that Congress will moi appropriate and your committee will no expend any fund whatever
 'T am familiar with the custom o l
 for guests who witness the ceremony al 1 the capitol, but it will be most pleasing | to me to have this ceremony take plact within the capitol or on the east porcl with it's stately. simplicity withour ; ! single extra preparation for the occasion | This will require no expense and we shal ! he joint participants in an example O economy as well as simplicity, whicl may be helpful in the process of seekins | Io1rx
 ''I have addressed message of 'ik' l import to the inaugural committed, ask | ing the abandonment of the parade ant ! ball and hope for an acceptance of thu introduced suesection in the spirit whicl
 has inspired it. I "WARREN G. HARDING.' 1 The Presid snt-elect made his decision after conferences with several of hi party leaders to whom he expressed wig orously his repugnance to any show Q l extravagance. The need for nationa 'economy is one of which he has spokel many times publicly, and the criticism I in Congress over proposed appropriations 1 for the inauguration have made deel impression on his mind
 1 Just how far Mr. Hardng's action ac tually will curtail the ceremonies is un
 certain. It is taken for granted that a least the inaugural ball, which disap peared from inaugural festivities a l Woodrow Wilson's instance in 1913, VII be one of the features to be definitely ruled out of the 1921 inauguration | It also is realized. however. that grea crowds undoubtedly will flood the capita flor the event and some of the President' elects friends think that some sort or parade will result inevitably when MT 1 Harding makes his plgrimase to th' capitol to take the oath.
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