, 1925-01-25
INAUGURATION
Of PRESIDENT
TO Be SIMPLE
Washington Hope for
Brilliant Event Is
Passing.
BY ROBERT T. SMALL.

Copyright. 1925. Casper Tribune.)
WASHINGTON, Jan. 24.-Wash-
ington's hopes for some semblance
of an old time Inauguration on tho
fourth of March are fading fast
away in the face OF President Cool
idge's adamantine opposition to any
thing but the simplest sort OF cere-
mony. Evidently II the president
could have his way absolutely. he
would emulate Thomas Jefferson by
driving to the capitol. hitching his
horse outside. taking the oath of Of
fice and returning to the White
House without further ado.
But Washington has been cling
ing TO the hope the president might
relent. OF purse all thought OF an
inaugural reception o ball went bX
the board long ago. The president
set his foot down on that hard and
apparently there Is some pedal
weight to the president when he
chooses TO exercise 1t.
With the ball busted" the local
citizens found at least a thin ray of
sunshine in the fact that Mr.. Cool
idge said he would not object to a
military and naval parade. There
were thoughts Immediately of some
of the old time pomp and %splendor.
OF the appearance of the West Point
cadets and the Annapolis midshlp-
me in the line, Of the famous troop
A of Cleveland. of the Ancient and
Honorable artillery of Boston. Of the
Richmond Blues and other national.
L. .-t-I arca .fzarHnna ufffh Clnrtagfe
history and thrilling tradition behind
them.
But. alas. this hope was busted"
too. for the president said the cadets
and the midshipmen could not come
and hat state organizations must be
restricted to the governor of the
commonwealth. II he chose TO come,
and to not more than one hundred
members of his staff and escort.
United States troops and naval
forces were to be limited. the White
House decreed. to organizations
within easy marching distance OF
the national capital. In other words,
the president decided that the ex-
pense OF the Inauguration should be
held to an irreducible minimum. re-
CARELESS of whether the funds should
come from the government or
through popular subscription or resi-.
dents If the capital.
And so for the present moment It
looks as II Washington or the fourth
Of March will be all dressed up and
no place to go.
To the country at large, the radio
t--N4. -, H. -..- - -..--lt.- --1
comfort. There will be one Of the
greatest "hook.ups'' ever known In
radio history to broadcast the presi.
dents inaugural address. which will
be delivered, according to time hon
ored custom. from the east front OF
the capitol provided the weather is
not Toe stormy. If conditions are
unfavorable. the inaugural cere.
monies Will be switched to the SEN
ate chamber and the address deliver.
ed there. Microphones for the
b~roadcasting will be arranged in
both places. AS many millions as
want to Will be able TO listen in on
the inaugural address for the first
time IN history. The broadcasting
art had not reached the stage of
general usefulness when President
Harding spoke four years ago.
The radio was accused of taking q
good deal Of the pep and color out
of the last campaign. People stayed
at home and listened IN rather than
going to the political rallies.
Washington still thinks maybe the
president will weaken toward the
end but at the moment. the outlook
is both dubious and gloomy. The
total eclipse Of the u has nothing
on Washington's inaugural ideas.