The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-09-16
How ROOSEVELT WAS SWORN
Dramatic Incidents Attending the
Important Ceremony.

Buffalo, N 7, Sept 1s.-President
Theodore Roosevelt. IN taking the oath
of office, struck the keynote of his ad-
rninistration, pledg1ng himself to carry
out rhe plans and policies of his prede-
cessor, in the following straightfor " ard
statement
In this hour OF deep and national be
reavement wish 10 state that II shall
De my aim TO continue absolutely IN
broken the policy Of President MckIn-
ley for the peace. and prosperity and
honor Of our beloved country
The taking OF the oath came at the
end Of an arduous and exciting journey
covering over 400 miles When notified
OF the dying condition Of President Nc
Kfnley, Mr. Roosevelt was hunting on
Mount Marcy, in the Adirondacks. p
miles from the Tahawus club The
search for him had taken hours. and he
was finally located BY 4 posse OF guides,
who attracted the attention Of the vice
presidential hunting party by mega
phone calls and a system OF rife shot
signals Then followed A twenty-five
mile horseback ride to the club, a thIr-
ty-t1ve mile drive over a dangerous and
precipirous mountain road to North
Creek, where q special train was wait
ing to bear him to Buffalo He arrived
at lao O'Clock in the afternoon
Colonel Roosevelt. the lawyers OF the
cabinet say, became the actual presf-
dent Of the United States BY operation
OF law as soon as the breath left the
These same constitutional lawyers. how
ever, fully agreed with the traditions Of
the government that the new president
could not act as such president until he
had taken the specified constitutional
oath For this reason the cabinet had
arranged at its early morning confer
ence to have the ceremony of taking the
oath in the paTlor Of the picturesque
home Of AnsIey Wilcox, where the vice
president had bean a guest when he was
called here By the shooting Of the pres
tdent- It had been expected that Col
o1e1 Roosevelt should take the oath OF
Office there as soon as he came to town
The cabinet officers were present at
the house at 81 Delaware avenue. about
z mile south CT the ALilburn house.
where the president died but they found
that the new chief executive had his
own ideas Of the proprietfes OF the &C.
casiOn. which. while they did him IN
finite credit. did not harmonic with the
plans prepared Tor him to follow
Upon arriving at the house. after
rapid triumphaI progress from the rail-
announced that he intended to go to the
4ilhurn house 70 pay his official and
personal respects as the vice president
and subordinate Of the dead man. and
not as the chief executive
This touch Of sentimentaIfsm and
good taste struck responsive chord IN
the members ct the cabinet. and they
followed him uorthWard for a mile TO
the house where the dead president lay
before they returned to 90 through the
solemn ceremony OF fnstituting a new
president.
Before the taking Of the oath he had
stopped at the Wilcox house for a mo-
ment to explain his change in the plans
made by the cabinet While he was
talking TO them he was fully alert to all
his surroundings. and a moment later.
as ne almost ran down the steps leading
from the lawn to the sidewalk he seem
was being escorted BY z somewhat fer
midable squadron Of cavalrymen-
There was a trumpet signal which
Col Roosevelt had heard before, but he
responded with no friendly smile n
stead Of that he turned back quickly ID
the steps and spoke to Mr. Wilcox with
a decided frown Of authority The rea-
SON OF all this was apparent few mo
meuts later when Mr.. Wilcox FASTENED
to the street and began a rapid explain
alton with the captain Of the escort
The wee president IS not z solder
now" said EIr- Wilcox. and he viii not
consent to Be followed by a military e.
eort- He did not ask fer such an -
c0rt and he directs you 10 take your
men away"
The captain Of the escort. who were
soldiers OF the signal corps. undertook
70 argue the matter. and declared that
the new president was fully entitled to
the protection Of the military auth0rf-
ties. the catastrophe which had de-
prived the country Of one president be
ing cited as an ample reason for afford
ing unusual protection to another The
captain insisted OF his duty IN the mt
ter and pleaded THE orders he had r.
ceived from MS superior officer
Mr. Wilcox was a private citizen. and
was getting the worst Of the argument
when Colonel Roosevelt took 4 hand
and settled the matter with charaeter-
fstic abruptness
.AThe vice president needs no prutec-
ton in the streets Of an American city