The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-01-12
BY DAVID LAWREN


BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Especial Despatch to The Reformer.)
Copyright 1921.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 12.-President"'
elect Harding may make personal re-
quests that his inauguration be as sim
pie as possible but does that matter?
Congress has already appropriated funds
and not withstanding the volume of talk
only a handful of men in both the SEN
ate and the house actually voted against
the appropriation. Mr.. Harding has
placed himself squarely on record but
the responsibility for the kind of inaug-
ural ceremony the United States shall
have does not really rest with any in
dIyldual but with the congress and the
people as a whole
With the suggestions that economy be
practiced there is a uniform sympathy
here but it would not be surprising to
md n reaction in sentiment, when the
matter is further canvassed. Mr.. Hard
ing feels that money should not be spent
because people ought to be thrifty. But
should this deprive the nation of its op-
portunity to enthuSe? Mr.. Harding was
elected by an enormous majority and
with his election went the hopes of mui-
tltudeS that economic conditions might
somehow be bettered. The Question
winch folks here are asking is whether
the next administration shall be entered
with talterlng notes of depressing in tho
silence of utter simplicity or with con-
hdence and optimism and bright look
If enthusiasm cost much money. peo-
PIE mere would probably sympathize with
the desire for economy, but the citizens
OF Washington put up a sum relatively
trivial compared to the amounts Of
money raised in other cities for civic
celebrations of various kinds The whole
inauguration does not quite cost the citi-
ZenS much more than $4,000 and as
Tor the cost of bringing organizations
to Washington to parade some modifca-
ton of that is naturally expected. On
the whole the people have in the past
looked forward to inauguration as a hoI-
lday, as an Impressive celebration which
stirred patriotism and did more to spread
knowledge of American democracy than
any other single celebration in the ma
tiOnal capital.
1t is true that Mr.. Harding has been
annoyed by the impression that he IA
yored lot of fuss and feathers and he
has been hurt by some of the outbursts
IN congress about extravaganza, but he
himself has had no more of RESPONSE
bility for what the citizens of Washing
ton want TO do in an Inauguration
ceremony than any other president.
The country, moreover. has been given
the impression that Washington mer-
chants make a great deal of money out
of Inauguration. The hotels are crowded
and the restaurants do a flourishing
business, but all the stores are closed
and yet merchants are the ones who put
up most of the money. Indeed as an
advertisement for Washington itself. the
affair is of doubtful value. The crowds
are so busy watching the paradeS and the
streets are so full of souvenir vendors
that the really beautiful parts of the
city are rarely seen by most of the visit
ors who arrive and depart the same
day.
Nevertheless, Washington has always
felt that it had a duty to perform i'm
welcoming the next president and whcth-
er congress erectS stands or not. it is
not unlikely that the people of Wash
IngtOn will prepare parade of welcome
and celebration just the same. They
and their friends probably will not be
deprived of an opportunity to give vent
to their enthusiasm even if the new pres
1dent modeStly feels that he must. him.
self. urge simplicity and economy. Mean
while congress has appropriated the
money and President Wilson will sign
the bill. 1t is not unlikely that there
viii be an inaugural celebration of some
kind. 1t may not be as elaborate as
planned-with a AIardi Gras and long
parade-but there are plenty of military
organizations hereabouts and military
heroes too, to make up a parade without
much cost to the government or anybody
else. One thing is certain. the state
ment from Marion will not end the mat
ter and the whole subject will be dis
CuSscd anew in and about congress be-
fore decision is reached. 1t will be
noted that the inaugural committee has
not vet taken final action