The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1921-01-07
A SMALL CUES TION THAT is BIG.

A SMALL CUES rION THAT is BIG.
Senator Dorah may not have
been universally popular in his
role as watchdog of Americanism
but he will come mighty near
being so as watchdog of the
Treasury, says the Baltimore
Sun. And the heavily burdened
taxpayer and the struggling ulti-
mate consumer will be delighted
to see that he knows no friends
or favorities in his guardianship
of the peoples dollars, and
snarls as fiercely at Senator Knox
and other friends of the Repub-
lican family who seek to use the
public revenues for an inaugural
Notification as he does at Secre-
tary Daniels big navy propos-
ais. More power to his teeth
and his tongue in This battle to
make the Government safe for
the taxpayer and for business!
The Republican party is pledg-
ed to strict economy, and to begin
the new Administration by lavish
expenditures for an inaugural
show especially at a critical time
like this, when unemployment
is on the increase, and when the
common people are being urged
the virtue of thrift, would tend
to create a reaction against Re-
publicanism at the very outset
of its new term of power.
That, however, is the Republi-
can party's affair. It it wants
to start to cut it's own throat on
the very day that sMr. Harding
takes the oath of office, Demo.
Gratis will not object. They will
laugh with sardonic glee, and
from this reversion to the normal
Republican spirit, will draw cheer
full reductions as to further and
grosser regulations of beauti-
full campaign pledges. But the
real question involved is not as to
whether it will help or hurt this
or that party, whether it will be
nuts" to the Democrats or poi
son to the Republicans. The real
point is whether public funds
shall be diverted to a mere ssoff-
cial jamboree, to making!a Wash
ington holiday at the expense
of the plain people who are strain
ing every nerve at home to pay
their taxes and to make both
ends meet.
The principle involved is more
important than the million which
Senator Borah estimates the ella
borate inauguration program
contemplated will cost. 1t is an
appropriation not for the 'Old
Flag but for private enjoy
ment. Senator Knox asks $50, :
900 to erect a stand of special
privilege to which Senators and
Representatives can invite their
friends. Society" folks want the
Pension Building turned over to
them so that they may dance and
show off at the public expense,
at an estimated cost to the tax
payers of 5000, 900; and 5000, 900
more will be required, it is as
serted, to provide for visiting
State militia and for the mid
shipmen and the West Point
cadets.
Nobody wants to take the joy
out of life on the 4th of ssMarch,
if the weather permits anything
like joy on that treacherous date.
But why should these inaugural
joy-riders make other people pay
for their joy? The real inaug-
uraI ceremony is the simplest
and most impressive of Undue
ton rites known among men.
1t does not need imperial, mill
tary or social pomp to enhance
its dignity. Uncle Sam is too
great parsonage to ape the taw-
dry splendor of kings and Gaze
sars. Buff people want an in
circus, let them
Cponnn an fh1.