New-York tribune., 1921-01-13
Capitol Porch
/ Finally Chosen
For Inaugural
Harding Sends Word People
eemedPleasedWithOpen
Air Speeches at Marion:
sais Suggestion Adopted
Slight Change in Plans
Small Platform To Be Erect
ed OH Which Chief Justice
Will Administer Oath

From The Tribune'S vashtn0ton B1reou
WASHINGTON. Jan. 12-plans for
the Harding and Coolidge inaugural
took sudden shift to-day, when it
was decided that if weather permitte d
the new President would take the oath
and deliver the inaugural address from
the east portico of the Capitol.
Senator Harding suggested this in .
message to Senator Knox, chairman of
the Congressional committee on inau-
gurai ceremonies, and Senator Knox.
on behalf of the committee, promised
1t would be arranged. The joint COM
mittee at a meeting tomorrow no
doubt will ratify the promise Of SEN
ator Knox
However, the new plan does not in
terfere with the program of economy
and simplicity. The erection of cost
y platform and seats at the east front
of the Capitol has been banned and
the proposed parade and ball will not
be attempted
When the committee met yesterday
it decided in favor of having the oath
administered in the Senate chamber
and having the inaugural address de-
lyered there. AS it is arranged now
only Governor Coolidge will take the
oath and speak in the Senate chamber
Small Stand Planned
Inc only expense involved in the
changed plans will be the erection Of
a small stand from Wi ich Senator Har-
ding will speak and on which will be
seated President Wilson. Chief Justice
White, Of the Supreme Court of the
United States, and small body of
officials concerned directly with the
ceremonies. Exactly who will be seated
on this stand has not been determined.
Senator Harding's wire to Senator
Knox follows:
II am deeply gratifed to your COM
mittee for its action in arranging for
the simplest possible program for the
inaugural ceremony. 1t is wholly
pleasing to me to take the oath of
Office in the Senate chamber if such is
the decision of your committee How
ever, I am not unaware of a natural
and becoming popular interest in a
President-elect assuming his official
obligations, and / would gladly have
the simple ceremony on the porch of
the Capitol, weather permitting, pro-
viding it can be arranged amid such
facilities, without special construc-
tlon for the occasion.
II do not forget that during the late
campaign, which eliminated in my
election, spoke frequently to the peo-
pie from the front porch of my home,
and they were courthouse enough TO
stand and hear me amid accommoda-
tions less comfortable than the Capitol
steps and plaza afford.
If thls seems impracticable to your
committee, it deserves no further con-
sideration. The abandonment of pub
lie expenditure and the end of ali in
dividual outlay have put an end to my
own concern, and mere detail Of oath
taking which your committee deems
best Will meet my ready assent"
Senator Knox's Reply
Senator Knox sent the following tele-
gram to the President-elect:
The committee suggested the inside
Inauguration, subject to your approval,
as we understood that it might be your
preference, as you named it first in
your Telegram. Understanding now that,
weather permitting, you prefer the east
porch OF the Capitol, ! am sure the
committee will gladly SO arrange it,
and am calling "a meeting at once for
that purpose"
ST. PETERSBURG. RELLFATR, TAMPA,
SARASOTA and all Florida West Coast re