The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-04
ADMINISTRATION OF WOODROW WILSON
 ID END AT NOON
Harding Gives Final Approval to Inaugural Ceremony, Completes Cabinet and |
 Calls on Wilson
By AssocIated Press

years in authority, the democratic ad- ministration of Woodrow Wilson closed up its books today and rested
 to await the termination of its tenure at noon tomorrow.
 While the final balance was beng struck by the outgoing officials Warren e. Harding, republican President-elect came to Washington, gave his approval to the simple inaugural ceremony that will attend his incGc;ion into office completed formally his cabinet, and tln- ished his part of the inaugural prellmi- nares by going to the White House tor call of courtesy on Mr.~Wilson
 For his part the retiring President pro- vsueu pernaps lne ,as, of the long suc- sessions of sensations scattered through his eight years in office by announcing that when he leaves the White House he win take up the practice of law,
 Meantime, in striking contrast to the usual holiday turmoil of inauguration eve the streets of the capital reflected only ir mild degree the complete rearrange- ment about to be made in the national government. Flags and bunting were broken out in recognition of the tmpend- ing event, and tonight the dome of the capitol building was Illuminated for the first time since the celebration of the armistice; but the small crowds which had cheered MT Harding in his move ments about the city had almost entirely deserted the streets by early evening
 1n accordance with the desire of the President-elect, tomorrow's inaugural ceremonies will be far and away the sim plest of recent years. Four troops Of cavalry will escort the President and President-elect to the capitol, but no pa- rade will be permitted, and there Will be little of the panoply of former inaugurais at the taking of the oath on the east portico.
 Just what part President Wilson will play in the days programme remained in doubt tonight although his broken health makes it difficult for him to move about. He has prevailed upon his fam fly and medical adv .sors to permit him to follow out the custom of riding down Pennsylvania avenue with his successor He also hopes to witness the entire cere- mony. but it seemed doubtful tonight whether he could do so.
 pr. Cary T. Grayson, the White House physician, conferred late today with Senator Knox of Pennsylvania, chairman ot the congressional committee on nau- guration, and is understood to havs urged that MT, Wilson's part in the in augural celebration be limited to the rlne rom tue avenue lO the tdpltOi. III this stand he is said to have had the backing of Mrs. Wilson but not of the President himself, Tae result was that the inaugural offieisls4 prepared several alternative plans snT fhp occasion ans. will be prepared for whatever part the retiring chief executive finds himself able to play
 The call of MT. Harding at the White House took place late in the day, after t11n Io,~ao dat.f al bad onf,fn txyifh Senator Knox and several other leaders of his party in and out of Congress MT. and Mrs Harding were received by Mir. and Mrs. Wilson in the green room and after tea had been served the four remained for 20 minutes, chatting largely of the household affairs Of the executive mansion and little details of the inaugu- ration.
 The special train which brought the Presldent-elect and his wife from their home in Marion, O., reached Washing ten at 1 p. m. and was met by crowd o. several hundred who cheered the nex. chief executive and first lady of the land as they climbed into a White House automobile at the station exit reserved for Presidents. They drove di- rectly to the New Willard hotel, where they occupied suite of rooms during the afternoon and tonight, A few knots of people followed them down Pennsyi- vania avenue, but in the main their progress attracted little attention
 STREAM OF CALLERS
 At the hotel stream of callers, inciud- ing many members of the republican na- tional committee now in session here, poured in to pay their respects. The first extended conference was with James J. Davis of Pittsburg, whose selection as Secretary of Labor MT. Harding had Iltyn al en route to Washington. Later inaugura- ton plans and the legislative situation confronting Congress in it's closing hours were discussed by MT. Harding with Sen ator Knox Harry M. Daugherty, who is to be Attorney General; John w. Weeks, selected for Secretary of War, and Sem ator Lodge of Massachusetts. republican leader of the Senate.
 At o'clock the President-elect ana Mrs. Harding left for call of sympathy on Mrs. Champ Clark. widow of the vet eran democratic leader who died yester- day. They went to Mrs. Clark's apart ments in another hotel and remained with her for l5 minutes afterward returning directly to their own suite
 Just before his call at the White House. MT. Harding received the Washington correspondents telling them he had made the appointment not because he had any news to give, b-;t because he wanted to begin his friendship witf~them while he still was nothing more than a member of their own profession. He assured them that they always would be welcome at the executive mansion, and declared that all he asked in his relationship with them was an application of the golden rule on both sides,
 Tonight the President-elect and Mrs. Harding were entertained at a private dinner given at their hotel by Carmi Thompson of Cleveland, former treas urer of the United States and an official of the republican speakers bureau dur ing the last campaign. The guests n- cluded Governor Davis, Senator Willis, Harry M Daugherty and a score of others from Ohio.
 SECRETARY ANNOUNCED
 Resides the selection of Mir. Davis as Secretary of Labor, which finally closed the cabinet slate of the coming adminis- tration MT Harding announced definitely during the day that George E. Christian, Jr.. of Marion would go into the White House with him as his secretary. The choice was one which had been generally dent-elect never before had made public statement regarding 1t.
 MT. Christian. who sserved as private SC cretary to MT. Harding during the ,attcr's service in the Senate and the pre-inaugural period. once was a cub reporter on hts chiefs nc wspaper in Marion. and the two have beer next dooi reighbors there for 20 years. When hs ook the position as private secretsgy he was manager of a lime and stone company.
 Although no formal announcement was made 1t } came known that vfr-