The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-03-11
CROWDS LINED STREETS
Washington City Dressed
Up For Visitors
FOLKS WAIT FOR HOURS
Warren Harding Shaved Sc If;
Mr.. Coolidge Felt Quite
Unimportant
IAssociated Press Dispatch. ]

ASSOCIATED Press Dispatch.l
Washington, March although
spectators, military and civil, which
have marked inaugurations in the past I,
had been put under the band by the
incoming president. visitors still
poured into Washington during the
early part of the day. The capitol
plaza drew many OF them and the
vanguard of the thousands who were
to crowd parks there for several
blocks was on hand before eight
o'clock. They had approximately
five hours to wait before Mr.. Harding
would take the oath of Office and
accordingly had brought along camps
stools or boxes on which to rest.
The president elect and Mrs. Hard
ing were up at eight o'clock and had
breakfast in their suite at the New
read the morning newspapers.
alter breakfast Mr.. Harding shaw.
ed himself and dressed leisureIy. His
first visitors Of the day were two po-
lice captains from New York, who
came to Washington in an airplane TO
present a personal message from
Mayor Hylan.
Vice President and Mrs. Coolidge
also arose early and had breakfast in
Mr.. Coolidge's father, Colonel John
Calvin Coolidge, their two sons, John
and Calvin and several personal
friends.
Coolidge Doesn't Feel Important
Asked now he felt on the morning
of his Inauguration day, the vice
president elect said he did not feel
nall as important today as he did the
occasion OF the graduation from high
school.
President Wilson arose at eight
o'clock and after breakfast with Mrs.
Wilson he went to his study. White
house officials said the president was
little tagged as the result OF work
ing late last night on bills and other
official business. No additional bills
had been laid before him early this
morning, but white house officials
hoped they would get an opportunity
before he went to the capitol to give
him the bills that reached them last
night.
President Wilson's part In today's
ceremonies still was indefinite as
the preiiminaries of the program got
under way. The president himself was
still determined to take full part.
The presidents physician, DIR. Gray
son and members of mis- immediate
family, however, continued their On
orts to dissuade him from taking such
an active part. Despite the abandon
ment of the inaugural procession and
other ceremonies, there were man.
marching clubs, booster clubs anti
original" Harding organizations Dbl
hand. "A great many OF them came
from Ohio. Dozens Of sleeping cas-
filled with special parties to the IN
auguration were parked in the raii-
road yards.
Avenue was Decorated.
Pennsylvania avenue as usual was
wide avenue from the capitol to the
treasury was fluttering wave OF
color in the bright sunngnI. Ths
broad thoroughfare had been wired OH
during the night and early today
police were engaged in clearing our
the few intruders who had gotten by
the lines. Traffic was suspended be-
tween the time the inaugural party
left the white house for the capitol anu
the time it returned. Members of the
diplomatic corps, outgoing officials
army and navv officers, former mem
bers of congress and others who are
privileged to be on the floor of the
senate during the Inauguration cere
monies, prepared for their parts.
The incoming cabinet officers, too,
spent busy morning receiving callers
and making ready to go to the caption
Early callers at the Harding suite
included friends from Marion. Ohio
and members of the republican mas
ional committee. The president elect
wore the conventional black cutaway
coat, while Mrs. harding was attired
in one piece dress OF navy blue can
ton crepe embroidered with steel
beads. The dress was of a straight
line coat effect
The days program was officially
opened with the arrival Of the con-
gressional inaugural committee at the
new Willard at $50 a. m. The COM
mittee was headed by Senator Knox
of Pennsylvania, as chairman, and
included among the members was
Representative Cannon OF Illinois
former speaker of the house.
"HaWkers" were In Evidence.
Washington, March 4-Hours before
the moment set for the Inauguration
crowd most of those numbers faced
the prospect of standing nearly half
a day to see the ceremonies. Hawk
ers provided some lmprovtsed seats
and many groups picked out places
on the asphalt and prepared to hold
them.
Forming a complete rim about the
capitol front was marine guard, the
ranked men standing shoulder to
shoulder at parade rest and effect
ually barring the general public from
reserved sections set apart for con
gressional and official dignitarie,.
The holders Of cards for the gale
les inside the capitol were ordered in
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