The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-09-15

Buffalo. Sept. 14.-Theodore Roose-
Welt, who to-day was tragically ele-
waited to the chief magistracy of the
American republic by the death of
President Mckinley entered this city
of mourning this afternoon after a re-
markable and perilous journey from
the heart of North Woods.
He had been President under the
constitution and law of the land since
ceased to live. All the duties of the
office had devolved upon him. but he
citizen to exercise one of them until
he had complied with the constitu-
tional provision requiring him to take
a prescribed oath to support and de-
fend the constitution and laws of the
$50 o'clock this afternoon in the Ii
brary of the residence of Ansley Will
stopped earlier in the week, when the
physicians thought President McKin-
ley would recover from the wound in
ficted by the assassin.
The Scene Was Affecting.
The scene was a most affecting one.
The new President had just come from
the Milburn house, where his predeces-
sor lay cold in death. Overcome by
the deep personal sorrow he felt, in his
Enthusiastically impulsive way he had
gone first to the house of mourning to
offer his coincidence and sympathy to
the broken-hearted widow. Secretary
Root, who twenty years ago had been
thur took the oath after the death of
another President who fell victim
to an assassin's bullet, almost broke
down when he requested Mr.. Roose-
Welt, 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 shak-
en-, but he controlled himself. With the
deep solemnity of the occasion full
upon him, he announced to those pres
ent that his aim would be to be Will
liam McKinleys successor in deed as
well as in name.
Significance of Pledge.
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
very first step after taking the oath
was in line of it's redemption. His first
act was to ask the members of the
cabinet to retain their portfolios in or
der to aid him to conduct the govern
ment on lines laid down by him whose
policy he had declared he would up
hold. Such an appeal was not to be re-
sisted and every member of the cabi-
net, including Secretary of State Hay
and Secretary of the Treasury Gage,
who were communicated with in
Washington, have agreed for the pres
ent at least to retain their several
portfolios.
President Roosevelt reached Buffalo
this afternoon. accompanied only by
his private secretary. An immense
crowd which had been awaiting his
arrival for hours, was gathered about
the station. eager to catch first sight
Of the President.
The train, however, did not enter the
station proper, but the President land
ed at The Terrace. When he left the
train, an escort of the Fourth Signal
Corps formed about him and conducted
him to an automobile which his friend,
Ansley Wilcox, had in waiting. The
demonstration which greeted his APP
pearonce was in keeping with the
solemnity OF the occasion. Those wko
saw HAM aid not raise q cheer, but