Evening star., 1921-01-17
Editorial Digest
A Simple Inauguration.


Elaborate ceremonies and gay fes-
tivities are evidently not the Amer
lean idea of a fitting Inauguration for
a new President If we may judge by
the press comment on Mr.. Hardings $
refusal to permit display on the oc-
plea for simplicity for simplicity's
sake Is interpreted by many papers
as a further insight into the demo-
cratic character Of the man. while his
insistence on praet!c!ng In this wise
the thrift to which he stand. COM
proved. There arc. however. many
papers which defend the custom OF
making Inauguration national gala
day, and which. while admitting the
evident sincerity of Mr.. Hnrding's po-
sition. feel that the celebration should
not fall into d!suse.
"Ostentatious display" of the kind
which. report said, was being planned
| in Washington has no place in our
country, the New Haven Journal Cou-
| there Is nothing more absurd on the face
of the earth than a display Of royalty
in the Inauguration Of an American
President" The Fort Wayne journal
Gazette (democratic) agrees that there
Is no reason why the inauguration OF
President should be made the oc-
casion of a saturnalia of any kind, and
every reason why i should be one OF
simplicity and sobriety and dignity
enouTb %ae w1 the s5s Nsw Yark St dobs n
dependen9 sees US. to want "cere-
mony." every approach toward sim
plicity Is gain, and Mr.. Harding has
thrown his influence in the right d.
rection." His position is typical of
this man who conducted national
village home" the Grand Rapids
(Mich.) Herald (republican believes.
and the Bridgeport Post independ-
ent adds, 1t has reassured the nation
that its judgment of the personal
character of Warren G. Harding was
not wrong" The incident furnishes
the highly interesting proof to the
New York Evening Post Independently
that Mr.. Harding can put his foot
down when he wants to-"
But the affair, in the opinion of the
New York Herald Independently. is
''of national Importance, not so much
for what 1t does as what it means"
And what it means to the Detroit Free
Press independently is a demonstra-
tion that ''the logical way to start
to start it with an exhibition of
thrift It was obviously Mr.. Hard
ing's purpose, the Wheeling 1ntell-
gencer (republican) believes. ito i'm
press the entire nation. and especially
Congress, with the genuineness of his
|
of economy in all matters, both great
and small"
Fifty thousand dollars, the Mime
apolis Tribune (republican) admits.
'is not large sum of money but
in saving it from extravagant eX
penditure Mr.. Harding is setting
precedent which is very well worth
while" His characteristic appeal
against creating an impression Of
extravaganza" strengthens his posi-
tion with regard to his economy pro-
gram. the Boston Herald Gndepend-
ent republican, holds.
In justice to himself and to what
he hopes to accomplish the Ohio
State Journal columbus. repub-
lican) thinks he could not risk hav-
ing his banner stained at the out
set with the extravaganza planned
ing, ever-present need for applied
economies. for the right use Of
money"
A few voices discount the value
Of such an example of thrift" how
ever. The Fort Worth Star Telegram
speaks of Hardings action as a
heroic gesture" and hints at "dema-
gogery"
But tradition and practice have
surrounded an inauguration with GER
tain formalities" which have persist
ed because ri bottom tncTe was real
reason for them, the Manchester
Union independent republican, points
out, and the event ''is not a thing
to be passed over lightly nor put
through perfunctorily, nor done shah
billy"
From another viewpoint the Brooklyn
Eagle( independent democratic) holds
that: '"This is a great and wealthy coun-
try Of los, ,000, 900 people, among whom
the JOY Of life is not dead. despite pro-
hibition, and the drama Of life is fifty
appreciated. Inauguration day is a
part of that drama. A drama with
out stage settings is inconceivable."
If the question were put to popu-
lar vote the Pittsburgh Gazette Times
(republican) believes that there
would probably be registered over
whelming approval of the plans
which the President-elect vetoed.
Apparently this feeling will be wide
spread. in the opinion of the Ithaca.
Journal News independently, which
asks:
What Of the plain, ordinary cfti-
zen from almost every city, town, viii
lage and hamlet from Maine to Cali
fornia who was counting on the trip
to Washington as one of the great
events Of his life? Haven't the Amer
lean people some rights in the mat
ter? Should they be denied their
privilege OF taking part in the big