Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-01-11
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HARDING s|AAsH[s
INAUGURAL PLANS
Committee Complies With
His Request For Stint
pie Ceremony
Ac4INcT nTSPI AY
AGAINST DISPLAY
Position Stated in Telegram to E. B.
Mclean and Senator kncx-oppos-
es Extravaganza.

WasaingtonsJan. 11.-All pans foa
big cetebraS;cn in connection with
the Inauguration Of Pres.aent-e.ee
Harding have been abandoned. This
announcement was made last nigh;
by E. 3. Mclean, chairman of tne
Washington inaugural Committee
/ The change was made IN accordance
with Mr. Harding's wishes.
The decision followed the receipt OF
teegrams from ,the President-elect at
Marion to Mr.. Mclean, chairman cf
the Washington Inauguration Com
mittee, and Senator Knox, Of Penn
sy.vania, in charge OF the Congress
sional end Of the program.
: In his message Mr.. Harding stated
he preferred simply to take the cath
of office, deliver a brief address and
then taEe up his duties. lie said il
would make his position a very un-
happy one # the outlay for an elabo-
rate inaugural created the impression
of extravaganza.
Mr.. Harding suggested to Senator
Knox that the proposal to erect
stands on the Capitol grounds for the
event be abandoned
Mr. Har4ling's telegram to Mr.. Nc
Lean follows:
II beg respectfully to sugges. to
your committee the complete abandon Q
ssiiiens Of alf pans for an inaugural ee.e
bra:ticn.
Heretofore have been very re-
luctant To express my personal views
to your committee because I knew CT
the cherished regard in our nationsl
capital for this quaarcnnial event,
ard the generosity CT the citizens CT
the District in making provision for
it. You were good enough to accept
the chammarship- at my request and
you and your associates have won
s lasting gratitude for the time and
labor you have given in preparation.
""However, if It is becoming to eS-
press my preference, wish you and
YOUR committee to know that the I'M
preston of cxtravagant expenditure
aud excessive cost would make me q
very unhappy participant. ! know full
we'll that the Government outlay is
relatively small and that the larger
expenditure comes from the generous
contributions of District citizenship,
brit it is timely and wholesome to
practice the utter denial of public ex,
pendsture where there is no real ne.
cessfy. and it win be wholesome
example of economy and thrift if we
save the many many thousands which
the inaugural celebration win call
from the private purse Of. those al
/ tending.
81 have sent message OF like pur-
port to the Congressional committee
and expressed the wish that no pre-
rarat:ons or outlay of any kind bs
made. 1T viii be most pleasing to mt
to be simply sworn il, speak briefly
my plight OF faith to the country ant
turn at cace to the work which wi.
De calling.
Warren G. HMd:ang."
The message sent to Senator Kno'
was:
81 have been reluctant to intrudt
my views relating to inaugural plans
but | cannot longer remain slen'
without embarrassment ard misunde,
standing which l had rather avoid
P.ease convey to your committee m!
sincere wish for the simplest inau
grral program consistent with tn
the awtual requirements in taking tn
oath Of cfhce and TIE ut'te-ance OF be
f:tting address. I very respectful
request that Congress- Will rot ap
p.ropr:ate and your con.mSttee will no
s eNpend any fund whatever,
Il am fam1&ar with the custom. o
erecting a platform and providin;
sears fer guests who witness the cere
nony at the Capital, but it will b
most pleasing to me to have this Ger
nrony take pace within the Capt.:
or on the east porch, with its stated
s!mp ic:ty. w;thout-a single extra Pre-
4 parat:on for tie occasion. This W.
require no eSperse and We shall b
Joint participants in an example o
economic as vel as simplicity whic
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