The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1901-09-21

DEATH OF PRESIDENT MCKINLEY
Roosevelt Sworn In and Issues a
Proclamation--The Same Cabinet
Will Act for the Present. Mourning
In Every Quarter.

A foreshadowed in our last issue President
Mckinley died at 2 15 a. IN. on Saturday, the
18th instant from blood poison, superinduced
by gangrene.
In moment the world knew Of The great
calamity that had befallen this country, and
kilograms of coincidence were received during
the day from every place where cable or tele
graph office was located. Business exchanges
adjourned, and evidences of mourning were
placed on State, municipal and many business
places.
Vice President Roosevelt was in the Adj
rondack Mountains so confident was he and
members of the Cabinet that the President
would live, that they left Buffalo for their re-
spective homes or places OF resort The
change in the Presidents condition was tele
graphed them, and they hurried at once 10
that city, though Mr.. Roosevelt's had to be
taken 10 him by courier distance of 80 miles,
and he returned by relay of horses, reaching
the railroad where special train was await
ing him, leaving at 5 o'clock Saturday morn
ing, reaching Buffalo at l.30 p. m.
THE OATH OF OFFICE.
The President went soon TO the Mllburn
House and offered his coincidence to Mrs.
Mckinley. 1t was shortly after 8 O'Clock
when Mr.. Roosevelt returned to the Wilcox
house to take the oath. Senator Chauncey
M. Depew, who made the speeches nominal
ing Mr. Roosevelt for Governor and Vice
President, was one of those to arrive early.
Among others in waiting were Dr. and Mrs.
Charles Carey, William Jefferies, George Il.
Williams, Judge Albert Haight, John N.
Scateherd, Robert Scatcherd, Carlton Sprague,
George P. Sawyer, John N. MIlburn, Mrs.
Apsley Wilcox, Miss Wilcox, Mrs. Milburn,
Mrs. Sprague and Mrs. Mann, the wife of one
of the Presidents physicians. Later there
came Secretary of War Root, Attorney Cen
eral Knox, Postmaster General Smith and
John r. Hazel, Judge of the United States
Court of the Western District of New York.
In another carriage arrived Secretary of The
NAVY Long, Secretary Of the Interior Hitch.
cock, Secretary of Agriculture Wilson and
Colonel Bingham, superintendent of the White
House buildings and grounds. Following III
a third carriage came Secretary Corteiyou,
John I. Milburn and George P Keating the
Clerk of the United States District Court.
Standing beside the President as he took
the oath was Judge Hazel, who administered
it. The President was grave, and some of the
women were in tears.
president Roosevelt" said Mr.. Root, II
have been requested by all the members of
the Cabinet of the late President who are here
in the city of Buffalo, being all except two. to
request that for reasons of weight affecting
the ADMINISTRATOR Vi lut OONCIuluCHb JOu
should proceed without delay to take the con
stitutional oath of Office"
Silence fell upon the group. 1t lasted
minute, and then Mr.. Roosevelt spoke:
"Mr. Secretary, he said, II shall take the
oath at once, agreeable to the request of the
members of the Cabinet, and in this hour of
our terrible national bereavement L wish to
say that shall continue absolutely unbroken
the policy of President Mckinley for the
peace, the prosperity and the honor of our
beloved country.
Judge Hazel said:
Theodore Roosevelt hold up your right
hand
The President complied and Judge Hazel
read the oath, the President repeating it after
him, phrase by phrase. 1t was very brief,
reading as follows:
81 do solemny swear that | will faithfully
execute the office of President of the United
States and will, to the best of my ability, pre-
serye protect and defend the Constitution of
the United States"
Another pause was broken by Secretary
Root quickly stepping up to the President
shaking hands with him and wishing him sue
cess during his term. Some shed tears.
Presently everybody except those who had
some official connection with the incoming OF
the new President left the house. Mr.. Roose
welt met the members VI the OdblHeG III
parIor With them was Secretary Cortelyou.
The President asked them all to refrain from
presenting their designations and for the pres
ent 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 ar
ranging for the funeral.
Saturday night President Roosevelt issued
a proclamation appointing Thursday, Septem-
Der 10Th, as a day of mourning and prayer
throughout the country.
The remains of the late President, after
short services at the Milburn residence, Sun
day morning, were taken to the City Hall,
Buffalo, under military escort, and lay in state
until midnight. On Monday the body was
taken to Washington and placed in the White
House. On Tuesday morning it vas taken to
the Capitol by the army, navy and civic or.
carnations, and funeral services were held
at once, after which the remains laid in state
until evening, when they we're taken to Can
ton, Ohio, and deposited in the family vault on
Thursday.
At every station from Buffalo to Washing
ton and from Washington to Canton, hundreds
of people stood with bare heads as the funeral
train passed.
Memorial services were held during the
funeral Thursday in nearly every church IN the
country, and in MANY factories; bells tolled,
and nearly all business houses closed for the
day or suspended for two or more hours; and
never perhaps, was there ever such universal
| attendance at churches. Throughout the
world there were special memorial services.