Pueblo chieftain., 1921-03-05
SIMPLE, YET DRAMATIC.
HARD|NG'S INAUGURATION
Ceremonies Free From Pomp and Show-President
REEVES Washington Precedent in Confening
With Senate On Cabinet

Washington, D. c.. March 4.-(By
the Associated Press.)-The reins OF
presidential authority passed from
Woodrow Wilson to Warren G. Hard
ing today in an inaugural ceremony
at once the simplest and most drama
tic of a generation.
The drama centered about the re-
tirement of Woodrow Wilson. Insist
cnt to the last that he would carry
out retiring presidents custom in
the ceremony. Mr.. Wilson finally
yielded to the warning of his physician
that he might endanger his life and
only accompanied his successor TO the
capitol.
AS he descended from tho White
house portico to enter the waiting au,
tomobile. secret service men placed
his feet on each descending step; wher
he left the car to enter the capitol
he was practically lifted up a short
flight of steps by an attendant and
altho he walked alone with the aid OF
"A cane to the presidents room he talo
Senator Knox, chairman of the con
gressional inaugural committee, he was
not equal to participating in the cere'
mony of inauSuratinS Vice President
Coolidge nor in the ceremony of IN
ausurating President Harding.
After Il few moments at the capitol
Mr.. Wilson went to his private home
to become plain Woodrow Wilson
now as he expressed it and he never
even glanced at the White house as
he passed on his way. Before Mr.
Harding had been president an houI
he had revived a precedent set b,
George Washington by comforting
with the senate in executive session
submitting in person the nominations
of his ten cabinet officers. All wert
Immediately confirmed. Within an
other hour he had gone to the White
house to hang up his hat and go tc
work" as he often had said, and un'
locked the White house gates for -four
years closed to the public. The public
celebrated by actually over-runnine
the grounds and peeping thru the win
dows to see the new president.
FREQ From Pomp
Mr.. Harding took the oath OF office
at lis o'clock this afternoon exactl,
eight years to the minutes from th'
time Mr.. Wilson took his first oath
The inaugural ceremonies were KEEP
| free from almost every show of tn
pomp and circumstance that usual.
surround the incoming Of a chief exc
cutive.
| Thousands witnessed the oath ant
| cheered the old and new president, bu
the crowd was only a fraction of thu
customary throngs.
Bible Used By Warrington
On the Bible used by George Wash
ington at his first induction into office
and on n verse of scripture eStollinr
the virtues of an humble faith in God
Mr.. Harding pliGhted his best ability
to the presidency. In his inaugura
address he rcaffrmed his reverence fol
the traditions OF the fathers and re-
iterated his belief that the supreme
task ahead was TO bring the country
once more TO normally.
The inauguration ceremony took
place as usual on a stand erected abov,
the east steps OF the capitol. but In
marked contrast to previous inaugura.
tions. when thousands of seats were
provided, the company had to remain
standing. Even the inaugural stand was
much smaller and was erected to ac.
commodatc u telephone apparatu:
which carried Mr.. Harding's voice sc
that for the first time thousands heart
an inaugural address.
FIutterinR of Flag.
About the only features familiar &c
inaugurals were the patriotic decora
tions that huttcred under a bright sur
along Pennsylvania avenue and tho
usual escort of cavalry acting as 4
presidential guard of honor in the ride
to and from the capitol The only
semblance OF a parade was presented
by the little group of official motor C'trs
and the hollow square OF troopers.
Before his own inauguration began
Mr.. Harding attended that of his Vic,
President. Calvin Coolidge, in the sen.
ate chamber.
1t was an hour past noon when the
first OF the inaugural company began
to file out on the platform facing tn,
east plaza, members of the senate and
house coming first, followed by the
diplomats in dress uniform and last
of all by the justices Of the supreme
court and the prcsident-elect.
Chief Justice White and Mr.. Hard
ing walked to the front OF the plat
form together as the Marine band
played the national anthem. Then tho
oath was administered and the new