Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-02-28
INAUGURATION
DAY most GEN
ERALLY stormy
Is Even bet That Harding
Will Need Heavy Over
coat When he Rides
to Capitol.
CHAMPAGNES FREEZE
Much Speculation as to why
March 4 was Selected
for Ceremony.
CHAMPAGNES FREEZE
(Hy The Associated Press.

/ L
Washington, d. c. Feb. 2S.-Vicwing
the weather probabilities of Inaugural
ticn Day in the light of the law of
Averages the odds probably would be
laid as follows:
Fair and balmy- my----12 to 1
Mild but overcast 3 to 1
Cold and damp------------
Very cold and very damp to 5
Snow, hail. etc. -- 3 to 1
Blizzard to L
The cold mathematics of historical
record would indicate such odds to be
fair. 1t is an even bet that Mr. Hard
ing will need heavy -0vercoat when he
rides to the capitol and three chances
out of five that some one should be
nearby with an umbrella and overshoes.
II seems to be safe at twelve to one
that Mr.. Harding will not experience
the perfect spring day which greeted
Mr.. Wilson on the occasion of his first
Inaugural.
On three occasions Washington has
given the Inauguration crowds wealth
er welcome in which warmth was con
spicuOusly absent. President Grants
second ceremony was "bitter cold" the
chronicles Of that day recorded, the
wind being of the "kecn. fierce" kind.
Champagnes Freeze.
Young cadets parading without
ovGrcoats were removed insensible from
the lines says one account which des-
cribe the quadrensial ball as "a most
dismal affair" at which the various
cEampagnes were found frozen
Mr.. Harrison met with bleak and
bitter cold day with a raw wind blow
irg," but the historians neglect to men,
ton the conditions of the liquids.
The climatic climax. however, came '
with the Inauguration of Mr.. Taft when
Il blizzard howlcd out of the north. !
telegraph wires, stalling
trains and utterly spelling an elaborate
program. Thousands of spectators |
waited in the railway cars in cold /
drifts miles from Washington while Mr..
Taft was being sworn in the senate
chamber, the first indoor ceremony in
years if the historian will
ignore the more or less informal inaug
lratiOns of Tyler. Fillmore, johnson,
Arthur and Roosevelt for unexpircd
terms.
The fierce nature of WaShington'S
weather gods has led to many move
nentS to change the inaugural date
he proponents of later date being
about equal to those who believe that
he induction of the new president and .
congress should follow more closely the
verdict of the polls Tradition. only.
$ responsible for the maintenance of ,
March 1 as the time for the ceremony.
I is said. Il careful research of legis- ,
Gtivc records failing to reveal the ;
pccitc naming of that day.
Two Theories Prevalent.
Two theories are prevalent as to the i.
manner in which the present date was
elected. One is that the revolutionary
athcrS, after an exhaustive computa
ion. became convinced that March 1 (
would not fall on Sunday in any leap ]
ears. Somebody evidently enormously |
valuatcd their ~ quantity. in that v
ase. for March / has come on Sunday {
hrce times since WaShington'S inuugu- /
al in New York. I
The second theory is based on the !!
minutes of the first constitutional con {.
ention where the delegates (uuder |.