The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1937-01-20

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night when the last tired d
FOR Washington, Inauguration
day Is a major holiday. Business
is at standstill. Schools are out
The streets are packed. "The Ave-
nue Is transformed into a gala
paradeway, with flags bunting
and blocks Of grandstands. And
the local citizenry are lost amid
the throngs Of visiting strangers.
The capital Is used to conven-
tons and parades. They are an
old story. From bankers TO bonus
marchers, 1t has seen them all.
But 1t has never become blase
about the quadrennial big show
that marks the induction Of a
President.
For the big show Is never
the same. II has changed .
lot since the days when the
presidents elect demonstrated
their democracy by coming to
the Inauguration on foot. Thorn
as Jefferson, the first president
to be iaaugurated in Washing
ton, walked from his lodging
house 70 the capitol, accom-
panied by alexandria Rifle
men," and after simple cere-
mOny returned In q similar
manner TO his lodgings, where
he sat down 10 dinner ut his ac-
custOmed place at the foot Of
the table.
There was a pretty legend to
the effect that jefferson rode on
horseback unattended to the
capital, dismounted without as
sistance, and hitched hts. horse
to a fencepost. But II IS only a
legend. NJ 4g,-cef
jackson was another who came
afoot, walking from Godsby's hotel
to the capitol, accompanied by a
few personal friends.
Protected from Populace
In contrast to this. the aPresi-
dent today rides to and from
the capitol accompanied by a
vanguard Of motorcycle police and
a deputatoin Of Secret Service
operatives. His car proceeds down
the center Of Pennsylvania ave-
nue. with the tens Of thousands
that pack the streets held back
by wire ropes.
Even the cameramen are
banned. Formerly, they were
permitted to run alongside the
cars taking random shots. Now
they are provided with plat
FERNS at strategic spots, and
are not allowed elsewhere.
There was no such restraint a
hundred years ago. After the
Inauguration in 1926, John Quincy
Adams, attired in "a plain suit Of
black clothes made. entirely Of
home manufacturers" proceeded
down Pennsylvania avenue more
in the manner Of a modern foot
ball hero than a President. As
he rode down the avenue he was
surrounded by IAN immense con-
course of citizens"
NOTE-Of the first five presi-
dents, only one had a son, and he
became the sixth president,--John
Quincy Adams, son Of John Ad-
ans.
Further to make the events OF
the evening as democratic as those
of the day, the inaugural ball was
IHA1A IL, tho a ce am k1lvr vsNCr,nc fHpyNt1- :
larry known as Carusi's Saloon.
The Inauguration in those days
was also a field day for pick
pockets. Newspapers Of Andrew
Jackson's time report that petty
thieves made a rich haul, the
largest single stake" being 5000.
Rough On Crooks
But this def craft, together with
the other vices, today are under
strict police surveillance. Uni
formed and plainclothes men
from a number of large cities are
sent to the capital to aid the local
force to guard the crowds. Known
crooks are promptly arrested on
suspicion.
Woodrow Wilson invited
trouble at his first inaugural by
risking the danger Of being
trampled by the jealous multi
tude. He saw q vacant space
between the reviewing stand and
the crowd, and he ordered the
ropes TO be let down 50 the on
lockers could draw nearer. This
upset the well-ordered plans Of
the Secret Service, who had
purposcly reserved that space for
an emergency getaway. But the
crowd closed In with shout
and q rush that endangered
them and the President.
The Secret Service has taken
extraordinary precautions to pro-
tect the President. At frequent
points along hts route and on the
Capitol plaza 1t has arranged Sc
cret guard posts where arme'
men will be stationed.
One of the major fears Of the
Secret Service Is a sideways move
ment OF a crowd. TITS not 50 bad"
says a Secret Service veteran
when q crowd n swaying back
ward and forward. because they
can catch themselves. But you
want TO- watch out when a crowd
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