The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1901-09-20
ROOSEVELT SWORN.

I'm this hour of our terrible national
bereavement l wish to say that 1 shall
carry out, absolutely unbroken, the policy
of President Mckinley for the peace, the
prosperity and honor of our beloved
country"
With these words upon his lips, Theo
dore Roosevelt, at So minutes after
o'clock last Saturday afternoon, took the
oath of the President Of the United States
He had actually been President since the
moment Mr.. Mckinley had expired, the
cloak of responsibility shifting without
ceremony from the shoulders of the dead
President to those of the living.
The oath was administered at the house
of Ansley Wilcox, Gal Delaware avenue,
Buffalo, N. Y, and President Roosevelt S
declaration of policy was made in the
presence of all the members of the Cabi-
net and distin gulshed gathering of
friends of the dead Chief Magistrate as
we'll as of the young, selfreliant man who
had stepped into his place.
AS important as the declaration that he
would carry out the Mckinley policy was
President Roosevelt's request to all the
members of the Cabinet and to Secretary
Cortelyou that they remain in office.
Standing beside the President as he took
the oath was Judge Hazel, who admins
tered it. The President was grave and
there was not smiling face in room.
Some of the women were in tears.
president Roosevelt" said Mr.. Root,
Il have been requested by all the men,
bers of the Cabinet of the late President
who are here in the city of Buffalo, bein G
all except two, to request that for reasons
of weight affecting the administration of
the Government you should proceed
without delay to take the constitutional
oath of Office
Silence fell upon the group. 1t lasted
minute, and then Mr.. Roosevelt spoke
"Mr. Secretary" he said, Il shall take
the oath at once, agreeable to the request
of the members of the Cabinet, and in
this hour of our terrible national bereave-
ment wish to say that I shall continue
absolutely unbroken the policy of Presi-
dent Mckinley for the peace, the pros
perity and the honor of gu: beloved
country"
Theodore Roosevelt, hold up your
right hand
The President complied and Judge
Hazel read the oath, the President re-
peating it after him. 1t was very
brief, reading as follows:
II do solemnly swear that will faith
fully execute the Office of President of
the United States and will, to the best of
my ability, preserve, protect and defend
the Constitution of the United States"
Another pause was broken by Secretary
Root quickly stepping up to the Presi-
dent, shaking hands with him and wish
ing him success during his term. Some
shed tears.
Presently everybody except those who
had some official connection with the in
coming of the new President left the
house. Mr. Roosevelt met the members
of the Cabinet in the parlor. With them
was Secretary Cortelyou. The President
asked them all to refrain from presenting
their designations and for the present at
least to continue in office. He said he
had not in mind single thought that
would lead him to deviate from the policy
that had been successfully carried out by
the late President. The members of the
Cabinet told him what had been done in
the way of arranging for the funeral.