The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1921-03-10
The Inauguration
ny Professor Leyant Dodge

! lHt StVoHu ttftn OF WOOuTOW VIII
son as President Of the United States
was supposed 10 end and the term Of
Warren G. Harding, as his successor,
to begin, at high noon Of Friday,
March 4, 1921, Eastern time. As
matter Of fact the oath Of office was
taken by the new President at just
about leo.
AS usual the presidential oath Of
office was administered by the Chief
Justice, in the open air, just outside
the central or main entrance to the
Capitol. The inaugural address inn
mediately followed. The lateness Of
this formal induction Of the new Chief
Magistrate into office was due to the
length Of time required for the pre-
vious formalities m the Senate
! Chamber. IL cannot be determined
beforehand how much time those ex-
ercises will occupy. In order that the
absolutely necessary business of the
expiring Senate may be finished by
twelve, the Vice President thrice had
to give the Sergeant-at- Arms quiet
directions TO turn back the hands Of
the great clock A great deal Of
time was necessarily required for the
following series Of formal and digni-
/ fled functions: the ushering in Of the
members of the House of Represen
tatives; the escorting Of the Justices
Of the Supreme Court to a place Of
honor; the seating in a body Of the
forty or more ministers from foreign
countries, clad in their various robes;
the Inauguration of the Vice Presi-
dent. with his brief address: the
bringing in together Of the President
and the President-elect, seating them
in a conspicuous place; the obligat
/ ing. only four at "A time, of thirty
. two men who have been elected 70
serve az Senators for the next six
years This last is done by the new
/ Vice President, who imposes the oath,
then shakes hands with each; after
/ wards these Senators also atlix their
/ signatures to the oath. in book. In
the meantime several acres Of peo-
pie were anxiously waiting outside the
Capitol for the appearance Of the
Chief Actors in browning ceremonies
OF the occasion.
| did not personally witness these
scenes in the Senate Chamber. yes
ferday But eight years ago | was IN
a position to watch this regular pro
1 gram in minutest detail The only
amendment needed TO the statement
in the previous paragraph is thai
President Wilson was so nearly eX-
hausted. by his unusual efforts up To
that time, that he did not undertake
TO 90 into the Senate Chamber. but
was taken ~ his new home, two or
/ three miles from the Capitol, without
I waiting 10 see his successor inaugu-
/ rated The sum total Of his activi-
ties for the forenoon had been 10 he
.
got in readiness for ride to the
Capitol with Senator Harding, abou.
one and a quarter miles, 20 20 10 the
second floor, sign few last hour
bills. and receive the greetings Of q
very few individuals. In going down
I the steps to the automobile some per
son had 10 place his foot for him. A.
each step. He was practically lifted
from the automobile, at the end Of
the trip. Inside Of the Capitol build
ing he walked 10 the elevator. using
a cane, but so laboriously as TO occupy
about ten minutes, when n well per
son would have done il in a minute.
All this shows how near 10 being n
complete invalid President Wilson Is
and has been for the past year and
a half He went through with this
little physical exertion. only by the
exercise Of that iron will Of his which
can brook no opposition and which
has seemed 10 strengthen with age.
Even his enemies will naturally have
pity for him. as he retires to his
home, bitterly disappointed as to the
realization Of his cherished plans
Without doubt he wished for the
highest good Of the world, though q
large majority Of our people believe
that he made many serious mistakes.
The omission Of the worldfamous
inaugural parade in accordance with
the desire Of the President-elect for
simplicity and economy, is viewed by
different people in various ways.
Probably majority approve Of it,
though many of these have some
Is Sughroe
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