The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1921-03-08
AN EvENTFUL DAY
IN WASHINGTON
PATHOS AND REJOICING AS
OLD PRESIDENT WENT OUT
AND NEW CAME IN.
$4,000 PEOPLE WERE PRESENT


Woodrow Wilson to Warren G. Hard
ing Friday in an inaugural ceremony
at once the simplest and most dramatic
of generation.
The drama centered about the re-
tirement of Woodrow Wilson to pri-
vate life. Insistent to the last moment
that he would carry out retiring
presidents customary part in the cere-
monies, Mr.. Wilson finally yielded to
the pleading of relatives and to the
warning of his physician that he might
endanger his life and only accompa-
MED 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 descending step when
he left the car to enter the capitol he
was practically lifted up short flight
of steps by an attendant and although
he walked alone with the aid of cane
to the presidents room where he
signed bills, he told Senator Knox,
chairman of the congressional inaugu-
raj committee, that he was not equal
to participating in the ceremony OF
inaugurating Vice President Coolidge
in the senate chamber nor in the cere-
mony of inaugurating President Hard
ing on the portico facing the plaza
outside.
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 on his way.
Striking Contrast.
In contrast to the depressing scene
| in the presidents room OF the capitol,
where the Wilson administration
breathed its last a great crowd gave
| Warren Harding thrilling welcome
into office Except for the diminished
size of the inaugural stand and the
absence of marching clubs with their
picturesque regalia, the outward ap-
pearance of the Inauguration was hard
ly different from preceding functions
Notwithstanding Mr. Harding's desire
for utter simplicity.
Sunshine cast its benevolent infu
ence on the scene which, despite the
brisk temperature, was one OF cheer
! fitness and enthusiastic celebration.
The note of triumph was lost in the
solemnity of the occasion. Fully sixty
thousand persons stood quietly in the
esplanade fronting the capitol as the
clear voice of Warren Harding was
heard repeating the oath of Office,
Pressing his lips to an historic Bible
used at the Inauguration OF George
Washington, the new president, took
the oath administered by Chief JUS
tice White. He had chosen the eighth
verse from the sixth chapter OF Micah,
saying:
''What doth the Lord require of
thee but to do Justly and to love mer.
cy and to walk humbly with thy God?"
Begins Inaugural Address.
Immediately after the administra-
ton of the oath Mr. Harding turned
to the vast crowd which stretched
across the capitol plaza and began
the delivery of his inaugural address.
Thanked on both sides by members
of the house and senate who cheered
every passage Of the inaugural ad-
dress which referred to Mr.. Harding's
determination to keep out of the pres
ent league of nations, the new chief
executive presented to the view of
thousands the same unruffied person
atty, the same calm countenance that
has from the beginning OF his cam
paign marked him as an amiable but
determined public servant.
Pledging his faith anew to Ameri-
can institutions, President Harding
reiterated a plea for a return to nor
malcy" for industrial peace, for friend
ship with the world( and spoke again
promise to work for an association
of nations to bring about peace and
approximate" disarmament. But he
coupled his renewed declarations with
fresh pronouncement against zen
tangling alliances"
Clothed with the high authority of
the presidency and speaking officially
for America for the first time, War
rem G. Harding today once more turn
ed his back upon the league of ma
tons, as it is functioning at Paris and
Geneva.
He extolled the wisdom "of the in
herited policy of non-involvement in
old world affairs" and declared that
America seeks no part in directing
the destinies of the old world" A
world super government" the new
president asserted in his first public
utterance, is contrary to everything
we cherish and can have no sanction
by our republic"
A distinguished company OF world
diplomats heard the new American
president pronounce the outlines of
his foreign policy and they saw in
his statement the end of Europe's
hopes, that with politics adjourned and
the responsibilities of the presidency
upon him, Mr.. Harding might take a
new view OF the league of nations and
give adherence to it with certain res
ervations. But Mr.. Harding has said
that he interprets the solemn refer
endum" of last November as directing
him in the path he should go. This
path. as he sees it, leads clear OF Eu-
ropean entanglements
Showed Utmost Courtesy.
From the moment he emerged from
the white house to mount first to the
rear seat of the automobile that car
ried them to the capitol, Mr.. Wilson
was shown utmost courtesy by Mr..
Harding, who lost no opportunity to
spare the presidents feelings. As he
started the painful descent OF the
white house steps, Mr.. Wilson was
aided by secret service men who plac-
ed his feet on each step and then on
the running board of the automobile.
L