The New York herald., 1921-03-05
WILSON GOES WITH
HARDING IN MOTOR
Continued from First Page.

and Uncle Joe, whose overcoat collar
was turned high to protect him from the
chilly March weather, and whose hat
unlike the others, was the soft one he
always wears. Then the ride to the
Capitol began. Mr.. Wilson did not look
back.
Motors Leave the White House.
AS the Presidential automobile moved
quietly down the wide gravel drive ten
other automobiles, including those occu-
pied by the wives Of the principals OF
the days events, swung in behind. There
was q moments hesitation at the heavy
iron gates and the line passed into
Pennsylvania avenue.
AS the party came to the Peace Mon
ument, at the foot Of the Capitol steps
turn was made to the left and the Cap
itol driveway to the Senate side or the
building was followed. There were great
crowds In front Of the Capitol and on
either side, held back by heavy police
guard reinforced by soldiers and ma
rtnes.
Mr.. Harding, with Senator Knox and
Mr.. Cannon, left the automobile at the
foot OF the long steps to the Senate
wing Of the Capitol, while Mr.. Wilson
continued on around to another en-
trance, distance of about Atty feet.
This enabled him TO use one OF the Sem
ate elevators rather than attempt to
climb the series of fifty steps.
Wilson Refuses Wheel Chair.
Upon entering the Capitol building by
the side entrance. q negro messenger.
standing near, hurried to an adjoining
room and brought out wheel chair, the
property Of Senator Boies Penrose
Do ,+al. rtat.
his return to Washington, following his
Illness. had been using this entrance.
getting from his automobile into the
wheel chair to be taken to his office.
I Lately however, he has not been using
the chair, SO that it was near by to be
offered to Mr.. Wilson.
There was something of a defiant air
about Mr.. Wilson when nc declined the
! use OF the chair. He preferred to walk,
and walk he did, n hundred feet on more
to an elevator that carried him to the
Senate foor, on which IS located the
Capitol office OF the President. There
was a warm welcome for him In the Of
Ace when he arrived.
All the members OF the Cabinet were
there, as is the custom when Congress
adjourns and q President goes to the
Capitol. They are needed sometimes to
give advice on bills and resolutions
dealing with questions which fall with
in their executive departments Their
presence to-day was with the double
purpose of performing this duty and
of bidding farewell to their chief in his
last official work.
Mr.. Wilson, removing his overcoat
and hat. sat at a small table in the
centre of the room. Rudolph Forster.
executive secretary at the White House,
laid before him the bills and resolutions
that We're ready for his signature. In
all about thirty measures, most OF them
OF routine character were signed.
The notable measures that received ap-
proval were the sundry civil bill, a bill
appropriating SIe.Oo0.00o FOR hospital
service for disabled soldiers and bill
appropriating a years salary of the
Speaker OF the House to Mrs. Clark, the
widow of Champ Clark, who died on
Wednesday.
Many Join In saying S.ood-by.
Mr.. Wilson remained In his Office alto
gether about an hour: There were long
spaces between the arrival of bills and
resolutions and these intervals gave the
opportunity for saying good-by to the
Cabinet officers, Senators and Repre-
sentatives who filed in and out OF the
room. II had been Mr. Wilson's first
NlSlL 10 inc - III the Cdp-
itol in eighteen months. 1t was the
same room in which he took the oath as
President for his second term. four
years ago. when March fell on Sum
day. although the ceremonies were re-
peated the next day in front of the
Capitol.
As the clock passed Il and the Senate
and House finished their work Mr.. VIII
son laid down his pen. He said MOTH
ing. merely nodded his head. but It
meant to those who were near that he
was ready TO 20. He went out the way
he came In. down in the elevator and
through the corridor to the side en-
trance-on ordinary occasions an en-
trance for the receipt OF freight
In the little group that went silently
and slowly were Mr.. Wilson. with Mrs.
Wilson at one side and Joseph p. Tum-
ulty at the other. DR.. Grayson kept
close behind. an assistant carrying a
medicine case. There were two secret
service operatives, but no other persons
except handful of newspaper men who
were to write the story of Mr.. Wilson's
last day In office. Nobody spoke
AS the automobile sped away through
the outskirts OF the inaugural crowd
there was scant opportunity for Mr..
Wilson TO be recognized. Although
technically still the President. for Mr..
Harding did not take the oath for al
most an hour, Mr. Wilson's official duties