The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-03-05
SIMPLICITY
OF CEREMONY
EFEATURE
Took Oath on Bible Used by
( Washington at His First
Induction Into Office.
WOODROW WILSON UNABLE
ITO ATTEND THE CEREMONY
Reluctantly Left at Solicitation
of Friends and the Advice
of Physicians.
(Hy me Associated Press).

(5y The Associated Press).'
WASHINGTON. Mar. 4-The reins
OF presidential authority passed from
Woodrow Wilson to Warren G. Hard
Ing today In an inaugural ceremony at
once the simplest and most dramatic
Of generation.
The drama ccntered about the re-
tirement Of Woodrow Wilson to pri-
vate life. Insistent TO the last moment
that he would carry out retiring
presidents customary part in the
ceremonies, Mr.. Wilson finally yielded
to the pleading Of relatives and to the
warning OF his physician that he might
endanger his life and only accom-
panied his successor to the capitol.
As he descended from the white
house portico 10 enter the waiting
automobile. secret service men placed
his feet ON his descending step. When
he left the car TO enter the capitol ne
was practically lifted up short flight
of steps by an attendant and although
he walked alone with the aid Of a
cane to the presidents room where ne
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
TIE senate chamber nor I'm the cere-
monv OF inaugurating President Hard
ing on the portico facing the plaza
outside. After few moments at the
eapitol Mr.. Wilson went to his private
nome "a become Aplain woodrow VII
SOM as he expressed IL and he never
81 rtr,ff "a n I
he passed by on his way.
Before Mr. Harding had been presl-
dent an hour he had revived a prece-
dent set by George Washington by
comforting with the senate in executive
session, submitting in person the nom
nations OF his ten cabinet officers, all
OF which Immediately were confirmed
within another hour he had gone to
the white house TO ''hang up his hat
and go TO work" as he himself often
had said, and unlocked the white house
gates which for years had been closed
TO the public. The public celebrated
the event by actually overrunning the
grounds and peeping through the win
dows 10 see that new president in con
ference with cabinet officers.
Mr.. Harding took the oath of office
at 1918 d. M, exactly eight years 10
the minute from the time the same
words OF obligation were spoken by
Mr. Wilson at his first inauguration.
The inaugural ceremonies conforming
To Mr.. Harding's wishes, were kept
free from almost every show of lhe
potnp and circumstances that usuady
surrounds the incoming Of chief ex-
ecutive Thousands Witnessed the
oath and cheered the old and new
presidents along Pennsylvania avenue
hut the crowd was only fraction Of
the customary Inauguration throngs.
on the Bible used by George Wash
ineton at his first induction into Of
flee. and on a verse of scripture ex-
tolling the virtue of an humble faith
In God. Mr.. Harding plighted his pest
ability TO the presidency. In his IN :
angural address he reaffirmed lfis
reverence for the traditions of the
fathers and reiterated his belief that
the supreme task ahead was to bring
the country once more to normalcy.
The inaugural ceremony took place
a. usual on a stand erected above the
cast steps of the capitol, but in marked
scontrast TO previous inaugurations
when thousands OF seats We're provid-
ed, all the distinguished company had
III rAmain standing. Even the inaugu-
raj stand was much smaller than us
ual. and W. erected to accommodate
a telephonicl device which carried Nc.
Harding's voice FAR out over the cap
itol plaza and for the first time en-
abled thousands 70 hear an inaugural
address.
About the only features familiar TO
lnaugurals were tfe patriotic decora-
tlons that fluttered under a bright sun
along Pennsyivanip avenue and The
usual escort Of cavalry acting as a
presidential guard OF honor in the ride
to and from the capitol. The only
semblance of "A parade was presented
by the little group OF official motor
ears and the hollow square OF troopers,
kept al a trot all the way.
Before his own inauguration began
lAlr. Harding attended that OF his vice
suresident. Calvin Coolidge. in the SEN
ate chamber. II was an bour mast
noon when the first Of tho inaugural
company began to file our an tho
platform facing the east plaza mem
bers OF the senate and house cop,ins.
first followed by the foreign dinlor,ats :
in dress uniform and last Of am bv
The Justices of the supreme con-, and
The president-elect. Chief r,otica
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