The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1921-03-07
SIMPLICITY MARKS
INAUGURATION OF
18TH PRESIDENT
Efficiency is the Dom
inant Note of Hard
ing Inaugural
Address
By RICHARD HATTEN

BY RICHARD HATTEN
WASHINGTON, March 4, 1921
simplicity, sincerity and efficiency
were the dominant notes of the in
auguratiOn of Warren G.. Harding as
the twenty-eighth president of the
United States on March 4, 1921.
| While Washington, which has in
times past been smothered in an
avalanche of visitors and military
contingents upon the occasion of the
installation Of new chief executive,
was not free from sightseers, there
was very noticeable absence of the
usual throng of visitors. Especially
distinctive, as compared with past
inaugurals, was the almost total lack
of military display and the blare of
vociferous military bands.
1t seemed particularly fitting that
President Harding's Inauguration,
with its simple, sincere, American
tone, should fall upon the one hun
dredth anniversary Of that other
simple ceremony which marked the
second inauguration of President
Monroe. In fact, there Is a distinct
parallel between these two cere-
monies separated by the span of q
century. Mr.. Menroe's second in
auguratiOn, which fell on March 5,
1921 Sunday being the fourth) was,
perhaps, the first Inauguration held
in the open on the east front of the
capitol. Monroe was called the
"good era president" and this was
recalled today, March 4, 1921, by
thousands here in Washington who
hailed Mr.. Harding as the prophet of
another "good era" which will fol-
low on the heels Of return to the
tenents of the constitution and
American "normalcy."
President Harding's inaugural ad-
dress was as simple and straight
forward and American as were the
ceremonies marking his induction
into office, He recognized that the
people are 'restive under thir present
burdens and desire them lightened.
While not posing as a, mircle man,
President Harding pledged himself
to devote all Of his powers and the
powers of his administration to the
great task before him. In order to
assist in the reconstruction of the
country he asked that the people not
manifest spirit Of impatience or ex-
pect the impossible.
No man ever entered the White
House with wider knowledge of the
task before him than does President
Harding. He has, from the day of
his election, given intensive study to
the problems confronting the country.
He has consulted with men of all
factions and all parties and all Sec
tions. No man ever took such infinite
pains before assuming office to sound
public sentiment about the issues
with which. he will have to deal
The seriousness of the work of
providing revenues for the govern
ment with the minimum of hardship
upon the people is fully appreciated
by the new president and an analysis
of the qualifications of the men who
form Mr.. Harding's cabinet indicates
that they are peculiarly fitted to deal
with the intricate situation. Presi-
dent Harding, himself, recently out
lined the three major considerations
he adopted in the selection of his
cabinet members and they indicate
the measure of the men he has
chosen for his advisors. These con-
siderations were:
First, there is mans qualifica-
tions for public service. This is the
most important consideration of all.
Second, there is the attitude of
the public toward the man under con-
sideration. This, of course, includes
the estimate Of the public concerning
the man under consideration.
Third, there is the political con-
sideratiOn. AS to that-well. This
is going to be a Republican cabinet.
Any you may be sure it will be
cabinet of which the whole country
will be proud"
As to the immediate future 1t is
believed that President Harding has
already given his approval to tenta-
tive tariff and revenue program for
the special session Of congress. He
has outlined in general way his
views as to his program and has ex-
pressed some very definite ideas on
several essential features of the pro-
posed revision. a Hy
The presidents policy cOntemplates
the enactment in the shortest possible
time Of an emergency tariff law, fol-
lowing closely the Payne-Aldrich bill,
with necessary notifications to over
come the prevailing differences In
cost Of production and exchange
rates. This legislation, however, 1t
is understood, is intended merely as
the best available means of providing !
q stopgap~ until permanent tariff
based upon scientific study OF in
dustrial conditions can be written.
Regarding taxation the president
has some very decided views Of his
own and he has in this, as in all other
matters pertaining to his administra-
tion, consulted with men known to
be experts. It is believed that Presi-
dent Harding will urge the revision
of the revenue laws and reDeal OF
the excess profit tax in favor of fat
tax upon corporations thus placing
upon corporations their due share in
paying our enormous war debt.
There is another matter Of SER
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