The New York herald., 1921-03-06
CAPITALS NEW ERA
BEGINS BUOYANTLY
Harding and His Chief Aids In
spire Enthusiasm in All as
Functi0ning Starts.
VIGOR BANISHES APATHY
Old Residents, Visitors and
Others Quickly Feel Spirit Of
Change for Progress.
VIGOR BANISHES APATHY
Special Despatch to THE Nzw YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington, ID. C., March 3.

New York Herald Bureau,
Washington. ID. C., March 3.
Among the peripatetic business men
who coaxingly sought the small silver
OF the fast thinning inaugural crowd
to-day was one who displayed in Penn
sylvania avenue a small, appropriately
colored figure Of Uncle Sam. 1t was
made of tin and It lay, to ones first
observation, fiat upon it's back at the
edge OF the sidewalk. The artful mer-
chant, having gathered his crowd,
turned a key contracting a set Of
springs within the little figure, which
promptly. energetically sat UP. stood
up and took four steps forward.
The metamorphosis, the sharp in
vigoration, of this child's toy furnishes
a symbolism that exactly describes the
complete change that has come over
the nations capital In twenty-four
hours. The Washington that one OBJ
serves with absorbed interest actual
amazement, is no more the Washing
ton of yesterday than 1t was the
Washington OF year ago. The at
mosphere, not only Of official life, Of
Government, but of the attitude of the
people, has changed over night One
has the queer fancy that in dark
theatre the curtain has been lifted
and the lights flashed on.
New Lease OF Government Life.
T.. - ~.te ~
In the great office buildings OF Con-
gress. in the administrative depart
ments--in everything that pertains TO
government or that the Government
touches-ambition has driven out apa-
thy. confidence has suppressed discour-
agement. firmness has taken vacillation
By the throat. ability has elbowed In
eptitude cut OF It's busy way.
There Is a buoyancy and vigor that
cannot be mistaken for the lassitude and
debility OF yesterday. a new era, posi-
tive. definite. concrete, already Is visible.
The actual beginning was this morning
when the President. brlmful Of health.
radiatlng energy. quietly confident OF
himself. sat at his desk in the executive
offices az O'Clock and went to work.
The whole place was energized. secre-
taries. stenographers. the entire staff.
sensed the change OF things and tackled
their duties with sureness and enthu-
slasm that had not been perceptible
around the white House for period of
years.
Although President Harding was re-
u,lired by courtesy to abandon his own
dcsk carly IN the afternoon to receive
several delegations. including the Re-
nubIicnn National Committee. he man
nved 10 accomplish an immense amount
az work When he left off 20 greet Wis.,
itors ths wheels OF the machine went
on spinning.
sirnilar fascinating display OF pur-
noee and energy was observable Ia the
aanar,ments. Tho Secretary or state.
Charles Il. Hughes. celebrated through
Nd career aa great lawyer, investica-
Tor Governor OF New York. Associate
Justice OF tho Supreme Court and once
more AZ lawyer as a dynamo Of energy,
TOOK charge OF tho Department of state
~ 10 a. NJ. and was nit his post until
tate a. tho afternoon. lie would have
baen on the lob NJ but did not re-
ceiye the oath Of office until three min
utcs before 10.
hughes Attacks Many Problems.
There fell into Secretary Hughess
hands Instantly the problem 81 the
Pannma-Cosia Rica war, the Japanese
Van question and several other ilnmedi-
ate pressing foreign problems. He was
too busy TO talk
At the Treasury Andrew w. Mellon,
who was sworn in yesterday, went at