Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-04

forward ait became plain, with Mr..
Hoover's final approval, that the civic
greeting to Mr.. Hoover and Mr..
Curtis would move out of the class OF
simple" inaugurals, established in 1917
by Woodrow Wilson, and would partake
more of the nature of an old-time cele-
bration than any similar affair since
Mr.. Wilson's first inaugural. Brig. Gen.
Anton Stephan, commanding the Dis
trict National Guard, was placed in
charge of the parade and soon found
himself confronted with the task of
curtailing the procession in order that
it might not become too long. He
finally settled on a parade of about 4
miles in length. to take about two
hours to pass a given point and to be
marshaled in two grand divisions. Co.
incident with the growth OF the parade
scheme, the Army Navy and Marine
Corps Joined in plans for an aerial
demonstration, weather permitting, with
crack military pilots wheeling heavier
than-air machines over the city and a
naval air unit led by the giant dirigible
Los Angeles, commanded by Lieut..
Comdr. Rosendahl, member of the
crew of the Inflated Shenandoah.
Realizing that large part of the
Job of organizing spontaneous and
hearty greeting to the incoming CHIEF
Executive revolved around the choice of
the personnel comprising the inaugural
committee and its various subcommit-
tees, Col. Grant gathered around him
group of Washingtonians with records
of achievement in this and other lines,
which functioned with precision and
eliminated its work today in the glory
of display such as the Capital City
has seldom seen.
onf q n c
the committee on reception to COVER
nors he chose E. F. Colladay. promi-
nent attorney and a man of large af-
fairs, who handled the reception at the
Willard last night. For the head of
the committee on general entertainment
he appointed E. G. Graham, another
prominent business man, and for the
Craftsmanship of the committee on
transportation, which entered into re-
duced fare arrangements to Washing
ton and return with most of the rail-
roads. he appointed Henry B. Spencer,
man whose lengthy experience in
matters of transportation well fitted
him for the post. Chairmen of the
other subcommittee were named as fol-
lows: Committee on historic sites. Miss
Mabel T. Boardman, former District
Commissioner; committee on budget
mittee on printing and engraving,
Charles F. Crane: committee on public
order, Commissioner Proctor L. Dough-
erty; committee on legislation, Joshua
Evans, jr.; committee on finance, Rob-
ert v. Fleming. president Of the Riggs
Bank; committee on medals, badges and
souvenirs, Julius Garfinckel: committee
on medical aid and emergency arrange
mentS, Gen. John A. Johnston; COM
mittee on decorations, w. c. Miller;
committee of press relations and COM
munications, Theodore P. Moves; COM
mittee on invitations and tickets, j. B.
Reynolds; committee on housing and
hospitality, Mrs. Virginia White Speel;
committee on parade, Gen. Stephan
committee on grandstands. Charles H.
Tompkins. prominent builder; commit
tee on membership, T. Lincoln Town.
send.
Little Time Wasted.
These men and women wasted little
time in preparing and putting into
execution the plans agreed upon at
frequent meetings of the general COM
mittee Of several hundred persons and
at committee meetings during the plan
preparation period. Not the least of the
big jobs done was that of Mrs. Spells
committee, which compiled list Of
more than $4,000 available rooming &C
commodations for the many thousands
of visitors to Washington, carefully in
spected and forced to meet high stand
ards Of cleanliness and accessibility
This committee was regarded as one Of
the most important because the thou
sands of visitors to the Capital who had
not made hotel reservations had to have
| some place to stay while here. Mean
while the hotels cast aside their Gus
tomary competitive feeling and under a
committee headed by Augustus Gum
pert, arranged for clearing house
number of guests could be accom-
modated without competition.
The congressional joint committee in
charge of the induction ceremony,
headed by Senator Moses and Repre-
! sentative Smell of New York, worked
separately from the inaugural commit
| tee, but maintained constant liaison
, with the latter body, particularly in the
; r>r-Sa-r Of -rranging accommodates
| for constituents and friends of MEM
bers of the legislative body. For this
! attache, was designated. and he
gathered about him committee which
worked hand in hand with that headed
| by Mrs Speel. While all the units of
this highly varied pattern were being
gathered together, Chairman Stephan
of the parade committee, in charge of
the most colorful feature of the cele-
bration, was swamped with requests
from scores of organizations and indi-
viduals to march in the parade. His
task became one of reduction, ard he
was forced by the limit set on the
parade to cut down the number of many
groups of marcherS.
Largest Since 1919.
Today's parade far eclipses in number
of units and number of participants
any similar ceremony since 1909. Presi-
dent Hoover has as his official escort
group Of 10 veterans of the Civil
War, while behind him stretches an
impressive cavalcade of representatives
of the military strength of the Nation
whose Chief Executive he became few
minutes ago; hundreds of friends
nearly twoscore governors of States
delegations from the National Guard
units of the States, military schools. the
American Legion, marching clubs, cow
boys and Indians. representing the ole
West, with nearly 40 bands furnishing
the martial airs to which this great
group of marchers proceed down
Pennsylvania avenue toward the White
House.
Washington's greeting to the scores
of thousands of visitors gathered here
today to welcome Herbert Hoover to the
presidency does not end with the COM
pletion of the parade march, for thi:
is the heart of the Nation today anc
every day. Washington is literally
keeping open house for the visitor!
within its gates. Every place Of public
interest which can be kept open /:
open. Historic Mount Vernon open!
, wide its hospitable arms to those wht
| have not visited the home OF the frs
President and many have already Wis
| tied or plan to visit the last resting
place of the Nations heroic dead across