The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-01-11
HARDING ASKS
|INAUGU RATION
BE INEXPENSIVE
Having Overturned Plans for
a Revival of Ball and Spec
tacuiar Parade, Suggests a
Quiet Change.
SIMPLICITY IS URGED
(By Associated Press)

ration of March 4 next, will be as d.
void of frills as a frontier wedding.
Having overturned plans for a revival
of the inaugural ball and a spectacular
inaugural parade, he indicated today
that so far as he consistently could,
he would keep away from whatever
crowds assembled in Washington fo~
the event and make the change of ad-
ministrations just matter of taking
the executive offices under new man
agement.
The president-elect's preference was
made known in kilograms he sent last
night to inaugural officials in Wash
ington, asking that in the interest of
public thrift, the ball, the parade and
every other show of pomp and festiv-
ity. be omitted. Instead of taking the
oath from a specially built platform
on the capitol steps, he suggested that
1t be administered quietly within the
capitol itself and then that he be left
free to go to work without more ado.
Brief Address.
The time-honored custom Of deliver
ing an inaugural address which has
been observed since the formation of
the republic, is to be retained as
part of the days ceremonies. but it is
considered likely here that it will b.
very brief and couched in general
terms.
BY his action the president-elect
ended bitter row in congress, where
several influential Republicans had
protested vigorously against the plans
of the inaugural committee to make
it one of the biggest quadriennial
celebrations the capitol had ever seen.
Wants No Money Spent.
Not only did Mr.. Harding request
that the $4,000 appropriation for
grandstand seats on the capitol
grounds be dropped. but he asked that
not a cent of money be spent on his
induction into office. How far the in
augural officials and public will let
Mr.. Harding have his way remains to
| be seen.
/ Unless 1t can be financed and mar
! aged in an unusual manner it is con-
sidered certain here that the inaugural
ball which went out Of the program
when Woodrow Wilson first took Of
flee, will not come back this year. To
prevent a street parade in honor OF
the new president may be more diff
| ficult Thousands already have made
their plans to see Mr.. Harding ride
down Pennsylvania avenue and in
| their number are members of many
Republican clubs the country over,
who feel they cannot miss the oppor-
tunity to march from the capitol to the
white house when their party comes
once more into power.
May Have leeway
This, however. is a problem which
tthe inaugural officials in Washington
| will have to cope with. Mr.. Harding
will keep in touch with the plans but
! it is expected that he will permit them
a considerable leeway in decisions
which do not directly concern him per-
sonally.
William Hale Thompson, Mayor of
Chicago, and the center of a bitter
controversy within Republican ranks
during the last campaign. was among
President-elect Harding's callers to-
day. Details Of the conference were
not revealed, officials at Harding
headquarters saying merely that tho
mayor had been called into consulta-
| tion on number of subjects.
Others with whom the president
| elect had engagements during the day
included DR.. Jacob Gould Schurmann,
president of Cornell university, who
was invited here to give his opinion
on the association of nations plan and
r. c. Penfield, the New York manu-
facturer, who came to discuss finan-
cial conditions.
WASHINGTON, jan 11-Announce-
ment that at the request of President
elect Harding the Washington inaug-
ural committee last night had can
celled all plans for the celebration in
connection with his inauguration next
Ma rch was received here with varying
emotions.
Those who had opposed reviving
the custom of making the occasion a
gala one chiefly because of the ex-
pense involved expressed commenda-
tion. Others, while sympathizing with
the spirit that prompted Mr.. Harding's
request, showed keen disappointment.
Meet Harding Wishes
The action of the committee In
meeting the wishes of the president
elect means that the parade, the in
| augural ball and other features of the
program that in the past have at
tracted many thousands of visitors to
the capital from all parts of the coun-
try will be dispensed with.
/ Weeks of work by numerous COM
inittees will be undone and approx
mately $500, 900 subscribed by Wash
ingtonians toward the inauguration
expenses will be returned. What con-
gress will do regarding the $4,000
voted for the erection of STANDS at
the capital had not been determined
today. .s -
Simple Ceremony.
AS suggested by Mr.. Harding the in
auguration ceremony, it was indicated
today, will consist simply of the for
NAL administration of the oath Of
office and an address by the new presi-
} dent, probably from the east steps Of
the capital. Then Mr.. Harding will
} proceed quietly to the White House,
: where in his own language he will
I. hang up his hat and go to work"
Chairman E. b. Mclean Of the local
inaugural committee. in announcing
l cancellation OF arrangements for the
celebration, said that from the nrst
: Mr. Harding had desired an unosten.
tations ceremony but had yielded to
overwhelming requests for return to
/ Continued on Page Four)