The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-09-19
ROOSEVELT TAKES OATH
Formally Assumes the Duties Which
Were His By Law.


Buffalo, Sept. 15.-Theodore Roose-
welt, who yesterday was tragically
elevated to the chief magistracy of
the American republic by the death
of President Mckinley, entered this
state of mcarning yesterday after
noon, after a remarkable and peril
Gus journey from the heart of the
north woods. He had been president,
under the constitution and law of
the land, since the minute the mar
tyred president ceased to live. All
the duties and powers of the Office
had developed upon him, but he was
as powerlcss as the humblest citizen
to exercise one of them until he had
complied with the constitutional pro-
vision, requiring him to take pre-
scribed oath to support and defend
the constitution and laws of the
United States. He took that oath at
$3.50 yesterday afternoon in the IL
brary of the residence of Ansley Will
cox, a personal friend, with whom
he stopped earlier in the week when
the physicians thought President Nc
Kinley would recover from the
wound inflicted by the assassin.
AS oSSliC was d VIM
The new president had just come
from the Milburn house, where his
predecessor lay cold in death. Over
come by the deep personal sorrow
he felt, in his characteristically i'm
pulsive way, he had gone first to
the house of mourning to offer his
coincidence and sympathy to the
broken-Learted widow.
f1yo NJ NC
ago, had been present at similar
scene when Arthur took the oath
after the death of another president
who fell victim of an assassin's bull
let, almost broke down when he re-
quested Mr.. Roosevelt, on behalf of
the members of the cabinet of the
late president, to take the prescribed
oath. There was not dry eye in
the room.
The new president was visibly
shaken, but he controlled himself,
and when he lifted his hand to swear,
it was as steady as though carved in
marbel. With the deep solemnity of
Jhe occasion full upon him, he an
nounced 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:
GIN this hour of deep and terrible
national bereavement, wish to state
that it shall be my aim to continue
absolutely without variance the pol
icy of President Mckinley for the
peace and prosperity and honor of
our beloved country"
The great far-reaching significance
of this pledge to continue the policy
of the dead president, announced at
the very threshold of new govern
mental regime, profoundly impressed
his hearers and President 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 gov
eminent on lines laid down by him
whose policy he had declared he
would uphold. Such an appeal was
not to be resisted and every mem
Der of the cabinet, including Secre-
tary of State Hay and Secretary OF
the Treasury Gage, who We're com
municated with in Washington, has
agreed for the present, at least, to
retain their several portfolios.
The president has made no plans
as yet. He said he was so shocked
by this national calamity that had
thrust new responsibilities upon him
Jiiau li't Hau ,sIu| .ysso--tu
his future career at Washington. He
will remain here quietly today and on
Monday will accompany the funeral
train to the national capitol.