Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1901-03-09
SECOND TERM BEGUN
President Mckinley and Vice Pres
ident Roosevelt Inaugurated.
Despite Heavy Rain. tho Crowds Wore
Unprecedented and Ceremonies Success
full Beyond All Prccedent-The Hall
Splendid spectacle.

Washington, March 5.-William Nc
Kinley second time Is president OF
the United States. He was ushered
into that office yesterday in n city
ablaze with more and finer decora-
tions than ever have graced the holi'
day-loving national capital, whose
streets yesterday resounded to the
tread Of more marching soldiers and
sailors than ever have participated in
like function, and had as witnesses
to the ceremonies n vast multitude
who cheered frequently whenever he
or his vice presidential colleague was
visible. The weather was in capri.
cious mood and by noon u slow driz-
zle had begun that lasted with some
imterinissons and an occasional lively
downpour until late in the afternoon,
The worst of the weather, unfortu-
nately. came just Mt the time Presi'
dent Mckinley was being indicted
into Office on the east front of the
capitol. in the presence of crowd
estimated to number 10000 persons
Yesterdays downpour ut the most in.
teresting point of the proceedings,
while the oath was being admins
tered on the east front of the capitol,
again brought forward the agitation
in favor of April 30 us the date for
future inaugurations.
Washington had decked herself MS
never before for the second Inaugural
ton of Mckinley and the induction
into the vice presidency Of Theodore
Roosevelt. The gem of it all was the
court of honor, where the president
reviewed the parade. 1t extended
from the treasury building, with its
severe classic facades and columns, to
the state, war and navy buildings,
with its imposing Italian Renaissance
architecture, comprising the stretch
In front of the executive mansion.
Guarding the entrance were gigantic
white pilons, surmountcd by bronze
urns for the Greek fire Mt night.
Doric columns. like measured senti-
nels, stood before the white-roofed
stands in which the distinguished
personages were seated, while other
columns ran in q scmi-circle through
the white house grounds. 1t was rs
beautiful as the setting in n thenter.
Only n comparatively insignificant
norton of the vast multitude saw
ANYTHING of the actual inauguration
ceremonies ut the capitol. The great
unnumbered thousands were content
TO wait in the avenue below to see the
two men on whom the mental atten-
ton of the world was fixed yesterday
and the great procession which fol-
lowed them.
When the president and vice presi-
dent quilted the capitol to take their
places Mt the head of the procession
the soldiers stretched across the
Mace where the multitude had been,
their bright uniforms, gay standards
and accoutrements of brass and gold
and such showing no bad effects OF
the wetting they had received. The
procession wound down the hill ana
IN the broad rain-drenched avenue
through q living lane of people. The
cheering rose and fell and rose again,
swept up the avenue around the
treasury building and on through the
court of honor TO the white house.
The regulars, infantry. cavalry and
artillery, the jack tars and marines,
the sombrero cowboys. the dark
skinned Porto Ricans in the American
uniform, the militia of 90 states and
the political clubs of the civic divi-
sion swelled the great procession
which escorted the president and vice
president back to the white house.
The eliminating event of the i'm
auguraI festivities was the inaugural
ball, held last night in the vast audi
torium of the pension office. The
president and Mrs. Mckinley were
present, but did not lead the grand
march, owing TO slight indisposi-
ton of Mrs. Mckinley. AS specific
ular event it was unparalleled in the
history of inaugural balls in the
sumptuousness of arrangement, in
the bewildering splendor of decora-
tions and of marvellous electrical ef-
fects, and in the countless throng
taking part in the spectacle.