Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-03-07

never dawned a more beautiful inaug-
uration day. The weather was sim
ply ferfect, climatic conditions break
ing the record of inaugural ceremo-
MES. The entire city was alive at
dawn. Twenty-Five thousand soldiers
who will participate in the parade
were early astir, and at s o'clock ey-
erything seemed in readiness for the
ceremonies. Arrangements are NOV
ing with clocklilSe precision. Up to
noon there is not hitch in the pro
ceedings.
Vice President Roosevelt. the first
inaugu-ated, left the house of his sis
ter Mrs. Cowles, for the Capitol at
exactly 1915, accompanied by joint
congressional committee and the
squadron from New York, which act
ed as his guard of honor
President Mckinley started from
the White House to the capitol five
minutes later to witness the inaugu-
ration of his associate. The streets
at this hour were alive with tire
menduous crowd and the scene in the
vicinity of the capitol was animated
and brilliant in the extreme.
The diplomatic corps arrived short
ly and among the distinguished peo-
pie entering the hall of representa-
tives were sixteen governors attend
ed by their handsomely attired suites
When the president arrived at the
capitol he was alone. For the first
time in quarter of a century there
1, 81. In,
to today General Grant Was the last
of the presidents to occupy such po-
sition. When President McKin-
lie entered the capitol most of the
throng present arose and stood until
he went to his seat IN the senate cham
ber. Immediately upon his arrival
the formal inaugural ceremonies be-
gan. At this time the city was a
mass of brilliant color, splendid dec
orations superb weather, magnificent
military display and the booming of
guns on all the thoroughfares both in
the neighborhood of the capitol and
the treasury buildings.
Mrs. Roosevelt and her six children
watched the inaugural ceremonies
from the senate gallery.
After the president was seated Mr.
Roosevelt walked to the desk of the
presidents chamber and the oath was
administered by the venerable eX-Sen.
ator Frye, president pro TEN. AS
the last words of the oath of office fell
from the lips of the silver-haired SEN
ator Vice President Roosevelt clasp
de his hand bowed to the assembled
multitude, glanced up at his wife and
an instnat later stepped into the pres
dents chair as presiding officer OF
that august body. The scene was
brilliant in the extreme, the galleries
presenting a picture of marvellous
beauty, the attire of the women being
brilliant and the distinguished crowd
very sympathetic. Mrs. Mckinley
was present and bowed to the presid-
ing officer graciously as he finished his
address.
When Roosevelt had finished the
secretary of the senate read the proc
1amation of the president calling the
senate in extra session. The new
senator from Colorado. T.. NJ. Patter
son, was among the first presenting
himself to take the oath of office.
A few minutes later the president in
leaving the senate hamber went up
on the inaugural platform and bowed
his acknowledgements to the multi
tudes who cheered him to the echo.
The weather took a change for the
worse and light rain began to fall
but stopped while Mckinley deliver
ed his speech.
The inaugural speeches of both the
president and vice president were
brief, pointed and incisive Roose-
velt's address was the first to be de-
liyered, his Inauguration taking place
half an hour before that of the presi-
dent. After he had been sworn in
as vice president he said:
THE history of free government is
in large part the history of representa-
tive legislative bodies. Brief privi-
leges ard great powers are ours, and
heavy are the possibilities that go
with these privileges. Accordingly
as we do well or i'll shall mankind in
the future be raised or cast down.
We belong to young nation already
of gigantic strength, yet whose pres
enJ strength is DuL Il loEeNtst Vi the
power that is to come. East and
west we look across the two great
oceans toward the larger world.
which, whether we will or not. we
must take an ever increasing share
in. We must face these duties with
II sober appreciation of their import
ance and their difficulty. great
work lies ready to the hand of this
generation and leading part must
be taken by this, the august and pow
erful legislative body over which
have been called upon TO preside
Most deeply do | approximate the
privilege of my position, for high in
deed is the honor OF presiding over
the American senate at the outset of
the twentieth century"
President Mckinley was inaugural
ed and took the oath ofoffice at exact
ly 1;17. JUST at this point rain be-