Evening star., 1939-02-13
Presidents Drenching in 1887
Fired Auditorium Discussion
Alternatives Omittine Stadium Features
Were Certain AfterWet inaugural

This is the second of a series OF
articles dealing with the audi
torium stadium problem noW
pending in Congress. Further
discussion Will tolloW, and the
opinions OF readers are inuited.
Alternative proposals for an audi
torium in Washington, emitting the
stadium features, were certain to
develop when, on January %, 1887,
President Roosevelt told his press
conference: Washington has urgent
need of large auditorium, not only
for inauguration purposes, but also
for other large gath ings."
| The Chief Executive, naturally,
was thinking of his experience two
days earlier. He had risked his
life by riding to the Capitol and
back in an open automobile, been
| drenched to the skin by torrential
downpour during the reading of his
second inaugural address. remained
in wet clothing several hours and
then, having changed to dry ap-
parel gone out into the storm again
to watch parade in which every
single marcher was miserable with
cold and the acute discomfort of a
steady drizzle.
If anything were required to
dramatize the desirability of a great
auditorium for the Nations Cap
ital," The Star said editorially, "the
inclement weather yesterday should
serve. Granted that no inaugural
parade could be staged in any build
ing, it still remains a fact beyond
all question that much of the pag-
eantry of Mr.. Roosevelts second in
auguration might have been pre-
sented under protective roof. If
Washington were possessed of the
facilities which Atlantic City enjoys
in it's vast convention center his
! taking of the oath could have been
arranged indoors"
Views of Many Officials.
Such were the views of many Off
Gals of the Government and many
| private citizens. In an editorial
printed on the day of the Presi-
dents pronouncement, The Star de-
clared: 'Secretary of the Interior
Harold L. Ickes and Senator Joseph
T. Robinson have expressed their
fortnight approval of the plan to
build an auditorium in Washing
ton. Their experience on inaug-
uration day may not have been
needed to convince them of the de-
STABILITY of such structure, but 1t
prompted them to speak out at a
moment when thousands of people
are in mood to appreciate their
sentiments. It is nothing less than
providential that the Capital is not
suffering a plague of influenza or
pneumonia as one result of Wednes-
days drenching. President Roose-
velt himself certainly must have
been conscious of the fact that he
was imperiling his health But
regard for weather alone is not the
only argument for an auditorium
AS Mr.. Ickes pointed out, it is ridic-
ulous to permit the Capital to re-
main so impoverished for accom-
modations as to possess nothing but
the waiting room of the Union Sta
ton to shelter function like the
world power conference banquet
The annual automobile show merits
housing in better quarters than a
garage. Many conventions have been
lost to the city because of the lack
of hall large enough for their
use. The National Guard is drill
ing in the streets, public school COM
mencements are scattered all over
the District, when they should be
correlated to a single center and
for a single occasion, and the gen.
eral cultural growth of the COM
munity is retarded through want of
a place of assembly competent in
size and facilities for music fes-
tivalS, opera, etc."
These objectlves were included in
bill introduced by Senator Robin
son to set up the Capital Auditorium
Commission ito study desirable sites
and make recommendations on the
scost of the project" His purpose
the Senator summarized In these
words: For many years the need
of commodious auditorium In
Washington has been apparent
Many conventions assemble here
and it is desirable that sunicient
space be provided to meet the rea-
sonable requirements of occasions
when large numbers assemble. ]
favor an auditorium that may be
used under proper regulations, which
regulations might provide for suf-
flcient revenues or returns at least
to take care of operating expenses.
Among those indorsing the bill
were Senators Alben w. Barkley
of Kentucky, William H. King OF
Utah and Tom Connally of Texas
Speaker William B. Bankhead OF
Alabama and Representative Sol
Bloom of New York.
BY January 81, 1887, Secretary
Ickes had prepared survey showing
chow far the Capital is behind other
cities with respect to auditorium
facilities. He suggested an audi
torium as a Jefferson memorial
This proposal, however, did not
prove to be popular. Attention
shifted to consideration OF possible
locations for the Development in al
its various aspects.
The National Capital Park and
Planning comrnission xsrted that