The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-03-08
HARDING INAUGURAL
CEREMONY SIMPLE
WILSON AT CAPITOL FOR BRIEF
PERIOD
Yields to Insistence of Physician and
Foregoes Participation in
Program.

Program.
Washington, March 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 drama
tic of a generation.
The drama centered about the re-
tirement of Woodrow Wilson to pri-
vate life. Insistent to the last mo-
ment that he would carry out re-
firing presidents customary part in
the ceremonies, Mr.. Wilson finally
yielded to the pleadings of relatives
and to the warning of his physician
that he might endanger his life and
only accompanied his successor to the
capitol. AS he descended from the
White House portico to enter the
waiting automobile, secret service
men placed his feet on each descend
ing step; when he left the car to en-
! ter the capitol he was practically lift
ed up short flight of steps by an at
tendant and although he walked
alone with the aid of a cane to the
presidents room, where he signed
bills, he told Senator Knox, chairman
of the congressional Inauguration
committee, that he was not equal to
participating in the ceremony Of in
augurating his successor, attending
the Inauguration of Vice President
Coolidge.
After few moments at the capi-
tol Mr.. Wilson went to his private
home to become "Plain Woodrow
Wilson now," as he expressed it, and
he never even glanced at the White
House as he passed by Of, his wsys
Revival ef Old Csstom
Before Mr.. Harding had been pres
ident an hour he had revived a prece-
dent set by George Washington by
conferring with the senate in execu-
tive session, submitting in person the
nomination of his ten cabinet officers,
all being Immediately 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 four
years had been closed to the public.
The public celebrated the event by
actually overrunning the grounds and
peeping through the windows to see
the new president in conference with
cabinet officers.
Mr.. Harding took the oath of Of
, flee at 1:18 p. M, exactly eight years
to the minute from the time the same
words of obligation were spoken by
Mr.. Wilson at his first Inauguration.
The inaugural cerempnies conforming
to Mr.. Harding's wishes were kept
free from almost every show of the
pomp and circumstance that usually
surrounds the incoming Of chief ex-
ecutive. Thousands witnessed the
oath and cheered the old and new
! presidents along Pennsylvania ave-
nue., but the crowd was only a frac-
!! ton of the customary throng.
On the Bible used by George
Washington at his first induction into
office and on a verse Of scripture ex-
tolling the virtue of an humble faith
; in God, Mr.. Harding plighted his best
ability to the presidency. In his in
augural address he reafirmed his rev.
erence for the traditions Of the Unit
ed States and reiterated his belief
that the supreme task ahead was to
bring the country once more to nor
malcy. II
On Capitol Steps
The inaugural ceremony took place
as usual on stand erected above the
east steps of the capitol, but in mark
ed contrast to previous inaugurations
when thousands Of seats were provid-
ed, all the distinguished company had
to remain standing. Even the inaug-
ural stand was much smaller than
usual, and erected to accommodate
telephone apparatus which carried
Mr.. Harding's voice far out over the
capitol plaza and for the first time
enabled thousands to hear an inaug-
ural address.
About the features familiar to in
augurals were the patriotic decora-
tions that futtered under bright