Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1901-09-18

Buffalo, Sept. l6.-Theodore RoOse-
welt, who was tragically elevated to
the chief magistracy of the American re-
public by the death of President McKin-
ley, entered this city of mourning
after remarkable and perilous jour-
ney from the heart Of the north
woods. He had been president under the
constitution and law of the land since
the martyred president ceased to live. All
the duties and powers of the office had
devolved upon him, but he was powerless
as the humblest citizen to exercise one of
them until he had complied with the con-
stitution and laws of the United States.
He took the oath at o'clock in the aft
ernoon in the library of the residence of
Ansley Wilcox, personal friend, with
whom he stopped earlier in the week
when the physicians thought President
inflicted by the assassin.
There were present when he swore to
the oath. Secretaries Root, Hitchcock,
Long, Wilson and Postmaster General
Smith, Senator c. M. Depew of New York,
Judge of the Court of Appeals Haight,
John N. Scattered, Mr.. and Mrs. Ansley
Wilcox, Miss Wilcox, George P. Sawyer,
Drs. Mann, Park and Stockton, Mr.. and
Mrs. Carleton Sprague, Mr.. and Mrs. John
G. Milburn, the secretary to the president,
William Loeb, Jr.; the secretary to the
deceased president, G. B. Cortelyou; Mr.
and Mrs. Charles Carey, C. r. Scattered
]. D. Sawyer and William Jeffers, official
telegrapher, in addition to Judge j. R.
Hazel of the United States district court,
who administered the oath.
The scene was most affecting one
The new president had just come from the
Milburn house, where his predecessor lay
cold in death. Overcome by the deep per-
sonal sorrow he felt in his characteristic
cally impulsive way, he had gone first to
the house of mourning to offer his con-
dolence and sympathy to the broken
hearted widow. Secretary Root, who 20
years ago had been present at similar
scene when Arthur took the-oath after
the death of another president who fell
a victim to an assassin's bullet, almost
broke down when he requested Mr.. Roose-
welt, on behalf of the members of the cab
met of the late president, to take the pre-
scribed oath. There was not dry eye
in the room. The new president was visi-
bly, shaken, but he controlled himself,
and when he lifted his hand to swear it
was as steady as though carved in mar
BILE. With the deep solemnity of the oc-
casion he announced to those present that
his aim would be to be William Mckin-
ley's successor in deed as well as in name.
Deliberately he proclaimed it in these
words: "In this hour of deep and terrible
national bereavement wish to state that
it shall be my aim to continue absolutely
without variance the policy of President
Mckinley for the peace and prosperity
and honor of our beloved country"
The far reaching significance of this
pledge to continue the policy of the dead
president announced at the very thresh-
hold of new governmental regime pro-
foundly impressed his hearers and Presi-
dent Roosevelt's first step after taking
the oath was in line with its redemption.
His first act was to ask the members of
the cabinet to retain their portfolios in
order to aid him to conduct the govern
ment on lines laid down by him whose
policy he had declared he would uphold.
Such an appeal was not to be resisted and
every member of the cabinet, including
Secretary of State Hay and Secretary of
the Treasury Gage, who were communi-
Gated with in Washington, has agreed
for the present at least to retain their
several portfolios.