The Washington times., 1937-01-02
Inauguration
Plans Win
Praise
RuLT. WILLIAMS, JR.

He will be inducted into the Office
with simple ceremonies, the dig
nifty of which will call to mind
the earlier days of the Republic,
in refreshing contrast with the
political showmanship' that has
marked more than one Inaugura-
ton Day in modern times.
All of this is due to the firm
resolve of the President that the
solemnity of the official cere-
monies incident to his second In
auguration shall not be subordi-
mated to a vulgar display either
Of political partisanShip or Of per-
sonal pomp and power. To the
end that his wishes for a simple
and dignified Inauguration might
be realized in letter and spirit he
drafted as Chairman Of the In
augural Committee this year the
same official who headed the COM
mittee four years ago-Admiral
Grayson. Under the Admirars
direction the Roosevelt Inaugural
program will be carried out with
a diligence and distinction that
should make the ceremony one
that will enthuse the thousands
who will come to the Federal City
for that day and leave them the
better Americans for their journey.
OFFICIAL ESCORT
More than any Presidential IN
auguration of recent years that Of
President Roosevelt on the twen-
tieth of next January will follow
the precedents of earlier times.
Weather permitting, the President
will take the oath on the east
front of the Capitol. It will be ad.
ministered by the Chief Justice Of
the United States in the presence
of the most representative official
assembly that Washington can
produce. On the Inaugural Plat
form surrounding the President
will be the Cabinet, the Associate
Justices of the Supreme Court,
the Ambassadors and Ministers Of
foreign governments and the Sen
ators and Representatives in Con-
greSS.
AS his official escort from the
White House to the Capitol for
this ceremony the President will
have the most representative body
Of men to be found under the
Flag. Every honorable walk Of life,
every county in the country,
every city and town will be repre-
sented in this escort. It will con-
sist of the Corps Of Cadets Of the
United States Military Academy
and the Regiment of Midshipmen
OF the United States Naval Acad-
e1ny. These two institutions are
the capstone of the system Of pub
lie education which is so distinc-
lively a part Of our American
form Of Government. They are the
merit system modified for duty.
Every Cadet and every Midship-
man is subjected to a merit test
in the form Of an examination un-
polluted by political or social fav-
oritism of any sort. Every Cadet
and every Midshipman advances
in his calling in accord with the
merit system. His graduation Ill
ploma is a certificate Of merit.
These young men to whom the
high honor will be accorded Of es-
corting their Commander-in- Chief
from the White House to the Cap
itol will represent as no other
group could Democracy on the
march.
Political spoilsmongers, the big.
wigs among political bosses, and
organizations based upon race, de-
nomination or class will be con-
spicuous by their absence from the
inaugural parade that will follow
the ceremonies at the Capitol.
NATIONAL UNITY
This parade will symbolic ma
tional unity, national defense and
national honor. It will consist OF
detachments of the armed forces
of the United States drawn from
the Army, the Navy and the Coast
Guard, together with the West
Point Cadets and Midshipmen as
the Presidents official escort
The Governors of the several
States with their aides will also
be in the parade.
In numbers the troops participat
ing in the parade will be much
smaller than has been customary
in recent years. In quality, how
ever, they will symbolic the best
there is among our Defenders with
the Colors on land and sea anc
in the air.
President Roosevelt at his sec
ond Inauguration will share with
President Washington the dis
tinction of being the only Presi
dent not to be inaugurated on tht
fourth of March. On April 16
1888, Washington, having beer
notified by Congress that he hat
received the unanimous vote TO
President Of the Electoral College
left his home at Mount Vernon
for New York City to take tn
presidential oath. His was a tri
umphal journey all the wa,
through Virginia, Maryland, Dela
ware, Pennsylvania and New Jerse
into the city of New York. Their