Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-01-11
Citizens Committee
Adjourns Following
Reading Of 1eIeqram

After listening to the telegram
from President elect Harding sur
geSing complete abandonment D.
all plans for an inaugural celebxs-
tep," the citixens inaugural commit
tee adjourned today without any dis
cussion or action.
The csninifttee was in session hard
ly ten minutes. Chairman Edward b.
Mclean called it to order and i'm
mediately asked Secretary Jess W.
Smith to read the telegram from,
Senator Harding. AS soon as this was
finished Barry huxley moved that the
committee adjourn subject to the cali
of the chairman
Action on the motion was DELAYED
while Milton +. Allies, chairman OF
the finance committee. reported that
subscriptions to the ina ugural fund now
totaled $160.6S0. of which 3I15. 5.o22. 80
had been received in sh and the rest
had been asked for not later than
January Is.
On motion of Colin II. Livingstone
II was agreed that the committee
should send a letter to President
elect Harding. signed by the chair
man. expressing the kindest feelings
toward the President-elect and thank
ing MIN Tor his courtesy in dealing
An effort was made to set the tim.
for adjournment thirty minutes later.
but EDWARD F. Colladay pressed a
motion for immediate adjournment
and it carried viva voce.
Though so little was done at the
formal meeting Of the committee,
which was held in the red room of the
New Willard. the position taken by
Senator Harding was the subject Of
some $50 Of the leading citizens of the
District Of Columbia, both before anS
after the meeting.
What appeared to be the opinion OF
the majority was expressed by MI
Smith. close friend of the President
elect, who said:
when Senator Harding asks ths,
all plans Of his Inauguration be abap
doned there is nothing We can do but
abandon them 1t is inconceivable that
he would today ask that preparations
be dropped and tomorrow suggest thar
we might go ahead with them"
Others were of the opinion that
the citizens of Washington might
we'll organize a demonstration on
their own initiative. without the aid
of the federal government. Col. John
McEiroy. commanding the Depart
ment of the Potomac Of the G. A. R.
dent followed during the period since
the civil war called for a procession
or parade of some nature, but he was
ruled out Of order when he attempted
70 up Iue SUBJECT Shlte the
committee was in session.
Chairman Mclean would ao.i moth
ing to the telegram he had received
from Senator Harding, except to say
that he did not believe that the opro-
sition to an inaugural ball and parade
which has developed in Congress wa.
what induced the President-elect to
call or those events.
II know that the senator objected
to being made the central figure of a
;rro a r. n
sonally he did not desire to be con-
spicuous, and, furthermore. he felt
that it was not a good beginning for
an era of national economy"
A meeting of the executive com
mittee of the inaugural committee
will be held this afternoon, and on IT,
action may depend what the full
committee will do. Chairman Mclean
could not say when he would call the
full committee together.
Illuminatiens Suggested.
Several Of the members Of the com
mittee were of the opinion that the
citizens of Washington might make
the occa sion Of March a local cele-
bration. and group Of them discussed
the feasibility of Illuminating the
White House, Capitol and other public
buildings that evening.
1t seemed assured. however that
there would be no time or for gov
eminent employees on the day OF the
inauguration.
So far the committee has expended
not more than ) per cent OF the sub
scriptions it has received, in the
opinion of Mr.. Allies. and IL all cele-
bration is abandoned. as seems PROB
able. the rest will be returned to the
contributors shortly. Several men,
hers of the clerical force Of the COM
mittee were allowed to go today.
None of the members Of the inau
gural committee showed disposition
to criticise Senator Harding for the
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