The Portland daily press., 1889-02-18
MARCHING FIFTY THOUSAND
The Army Which VIII Serve as Escort
for President Harrison.
Regulars and Militiamen, Veterans
and Civilians In the Ranks.
Other Timely Topics from the City
on the Potomac.

WASHINGTON, Feb. l7.-Spartan simpliei-
ty will not characterize the Inauguration of
President Harrison. He will not ride on
horseback to the Capitol, hitch his old mare
to tree and go into the Senate chamber to
take the oath, as it is said one Of his illustri-
GUS predecessors did, but he win be accom-
panied to the platform with all the pomp
and parade possible. The preparations are
very nearly completed, and II the day Is
fine, the demonstration will be Dtore impos-
ing than anything OF the kind the country
has ever seen. The size Of the procession
will be limited only by the width and length
of Pennsylvania avenue. Fifty thousand
soldiers and members Of civic organizations
will be in line, and under the rules Of the
committee Of arrangements they must be
uniformed.
There have been few great parades in this
country, and the intention has been to make
this one surpass all the rest. The inaugural
proceedings will take place at high noon on
the eastern portico Of the Capitol. General
Harrison will be accompanied from the
White House to the Senate chamber by
President Cleveland and his cabinet, by
committees from both houses, by the citi-
zens in charge of the inaugural proceedings,
and the escort of the party will be composed
infantry and artillery-and by the National
Guard of the District Of Columbia, who
comprise about 800 men. The immediate
personal escort Of General Harrison will be
the members of the regiment he commanded
during the war, the Seventieth Indiana.
Arriving at the Senate Chamber the Presi-
dent elect will see the Vice President elect
sworn In, and then accompanied by both
houses of Congress, will proceed TO the east
portico, where the oath will be administered
to him by Chief Justice Fuller. he Will
then deliver his address. get into carriage
and be escorted back to the White House by
procession of $1,000 men. This procession
Will be of six divisions. In the first division
will be the regular troops, under the com
mand Of General Schofeld, and the militia
Of the District of Columbia, numbering
about z, 200 men the second division will be
the National Guard of Pennsylvania, COM
manded by General Hartranft, 5000 men
the third division will include the other mil
itary organizations. numbering about 10000
men. who will be commanded BY Governor
Foraker of Ohio. The fourth division will
be composed of the Grand Army Of the Re
public, under the command OF Representa-
tive William Warner of Missouri, as COM
mander In chief, 5000 men.
The fifth and sixth divisions will be COM
posed Of civic organizations under the COM
mand of Miron M. Parker OF Washington
and Edwin S. Stuart Of Philadelphia respec-
lively. The reports received at inaugural
headquarters show that civic organizations
numbering 1900 men have already indica-
ted their purpose to be present and parti-
cipate in the procession. As soon as the
formal proceedings at the Capitol are con-
cluded President Harrison and ex-President
Cleveland will be escorted to their places In
the procession, which will then pass down
Pennsylvania avenue to the White House.
where the President and ex-President will
take their places In the reviewing stand, and
the column will march along Pennsylvania
avenue as far as Twenty-second street,
where K street intersects the avenue and
forms what Is known as washington Cir
cle." The procession will pass around this
circle and proceed down K street for two
miles. when 1t will be dismissed.
Pennsylvania avenue and K street are to
be elab0rately decorated for the occasion,
and there will be show of bunting such as
there win be a procession Of tiambeau clubs,
prize having been offered for the best dis
play. There will also be $4,000 or 5000
worth Of fireworks exploded in the park
south of the White House, and private
illuminations on the principal streets. The
ball takes place in the Pension building,
where there Is floor room to accommodate
1900 people. The committee In charge Of
the ball proposed to limit the sale Of tickets
TO that number, which 1t Is quite probable
they will be able to do.
This will bring them fund of 100000,
which will very nearly pay all the expenses
of the Inauguration. A guarantee fund Of
$4,000 has been raised and placed In a
bank, and the surplus will be returned to
the subscribers after all the bills have been
paid.