Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-01-13
BAN ON FRILLS
AT INAUGURAL
SUITS HARDING
BY ROBERT r. SMALL
U.eased Wire Service to The Journal
DOWNRIGHT 1921

(C0pyrlgnC, I9zl.
| MARION, Ohio, Jan. lin calling
off all the proposed inaugural fes-
tivities at Washington, including the
time-honored parade and ball, Senator
Warren G. Harding acted on his own
personal convictions. When the sub
preached to him more than two
months ago, he said:
IF could have my own way about
| it, I would walk to the capitol on
March 4, take the oath of office, speak
my little piece and then ride back to
the White House on street car"
When Senator Borah, therefore,
proposed recently in the senate that
inauguration expenses be limited to
$40 to provide a taxicab for the new
extravagant ideas about the ceremo-
ny than the man most concerned in
it.
Subordinated Own Wishes
Senator Harding was prevailed
upon, however, to subordinate his own
wishes in the matter. He was told
that return to normalcy carried
with it a return to the impressive
inaugural ceremonies of the days of
Taft, of Roosevelt and Of Mckinley
He was told that while the festivities
attending the actual inaugural cere-
monies might be irksome to him.,
they would bring pleasure to thou
sands of red-blooded Americans who
wanted to see the change of admin
lstrations made an occasion for re-
joicing.
So at last Mr.. Harding consented,
but hardly had he done so when he
was made aware of the fact that a
serious controversy was threatened
among the Republicans in Washing
ton city as to which one of them
should have the honor of serving as
chairman of the civic inauguration
committee.
Mr.. Harding disposed of this gor-
dian knot by forcing the chairman
ship on his warm personal friend, Ed
ward Beal Mclean, publisher of the
Washington Post and the Cincinnati
Enquirer. Mr.. Mclean was reluctant
to take the place, but when it was
put before him in the light Of a per-
sonal service to the senator, he ac-
cepted.
Frankly Dazed
When Mr.. Mclean and Senator
gressional inaugural committee, were
in Marion ten days ago, it was stated
in these dispatches that Senator
Harding frankly was dazed that $50
| much FUSS should be made over him.
He interposed no objection to the
plans at that time, however. Later
when he realized that congress was
| being asked to appropriate $4,000 OF
the peoples money for the mere pur-
pose of erecting a stand at the capt.
toll and to provide police protection,
the president-elect became worried at
the possible total of the entire inaug-
uration outlay, despite the fact that
he was told the celebrations in the
past always had paid for themselves.
All of this was followed by an out
break of criticism in the senate and
house. Senator Harding has been
reading this criticism with a great
deal of care. 1t has been apparent
to all who have had contact with
him the last week or more that his
worries embraced more than the mere
making Of a cabinet or deciding upon
plan for new association or ma
lions.
The senator hesitated long while
before finally dispatching his tele-
grams of cancellation to Senator
Knox and Mr.. Mclean. He was
afraid his motives might be misun.
derstood. He was afraid he. would
hurt the feelings of many Of his old
friends in Washington who were
looking forward to the celebration
and who had accepted responsibilities
in connection Herewith at his own
suggestion. -!
his own inclination of merely taking
the oath of office in the simplest
possible way, making the expected
inaugural address, which is likely TO
be shorter than most inaugural ad-
dresses Of the past, and then return
ing to the White House to go to
$3.50 for Three Rooms
Just what the particular straw was
that broke the cameIs back has not
been disclosed. Some are inclined
to believe that the dromedary's Verte-
brae gave way when the senator as
dearest friends here in Marion was
being "held up for $3.50 for three
rooms engaged at pennsylvania
avenue hotel.
The bill for this amount actually
arrived here and it is believed 1t
was shown to Senator Harding him
self. It was necessary to take each
room for a week, whether desired
that long or not, and the charges
were $3.50 a week per room
The Marion home folk naturally
are somewhat disappointed that all
the Festivities at Washington have
been thrown intb the discard. They
wanted to march in the parade, many
of them had planned some unique fea-
lures for "the big show" The Hard
ing marching club had ordered 200
special suits of clothes.
There had been some trepidat1on
about the hotel rates, but hopes were
expressed that the Marionites might
travel by special train and be al
lowed to occupy the, cars while in
Washington. Several score of the
home folk will go to the capital any
way to see Senator Harding sworn
in and to call later at the White
House and wish. him Godspeed.
The calling off of the inaugural
ceremonies has in no way affected
Senator Harding's plans for vaca-
ton in the south, which will begin