The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-03-05
ROOSEVELT TAKES
OATH OF OFFICE
Scene in the Senate Chamber a
Brilliant One.
M'KINLEY WAS THERE
WITNESSED BY DIPLOMATS AND
DISTINGUISHED PEOPLE.

Washington, March 4-Standing upon
spot hallowed by history, and in the
presence of a brilliant and distin-
guished assemblage, Theodore Roose-.
into the Office of vice president of the
United States.
The solemn oath, the taking of which
places Mr.. Roosevelt in the
van of long list of emf
nent patriots and statesmen, was ad-
ministered by Senator William T.
Frye of Maine, president pro tempore
of the United States senate. The cere-
mOny was thoroughly democratic, yet
in its simplicity, profoundly impressive.
The setting of the scene would lend
inspiration to the artists brush.
The historic senate chamber, superb
in its white and gold beauty, was with
out decorations of any kind. Not even
the stars and stripes were displayed
officially, although, as the last words
of the oath of office fell from the lips
Of the stern Visaged, silver-haired SEN
atOr from Maine, and Vice President
Roosevelt fervently clasped his hand,
the galleries were SplaShed with the
national cOlors, many silken hand flags
duttering breeZily among hundreds of
handkerchiefs.
Upon the floor of the chamber, in
| tent upon the ceremony. were men
whose names are household words in
every city. The president of the Unit
! ed States was there, senators and rep
| reSentatiVeS, members of the supreme
| court of the United States, governors
/ of many states, members of the diplO-
/ matte CORPS army and navy officers
/ and men distinguished in all the walks
/ of life, were passive participants in the
! ceremony. The galleries presented a
| spectacle of marvellous beauty, the
/ hundreds of brilliantly attired women,
| gay in handsome toilets, lending a color
! scene TO the almost too sombre sur
/ rOundings.
First Glance at His Wife.
AS the new vice president dropped
| the hand of Senator Frye, he glanced
| upward at his wife, seated in the eX-
! ecutive gallery. She was the first of
I whom he thought in this momentOus
hour and to her he looked for inspira-
! ton.
| The senate was in session, COnStrUc-
I lively, having been so since IL O'Clock
/ Saturday morning, although recesSes
| taken at intervals, had rendered the
mental and physical strain the more
! endurable.
| Rapidly the galleries began to fill, and
long before the hour for the ceremony
proper to begin they were thrOnged tC
the doors. Among the first persons OF
note to enter the galleries were ladies
| and attaches of the diplomatic corps
| not entitled to the floor of the senate
| Lady PaUncefote, wife of the British
| ambassador. was among the early ar
rivals, as also was Nine. WI, wife OF
| the Chinese minister.
At 1870 o'clock the vice president
| elect arrived at the capitol accom-
| panied by Senator Spooner and Repre-
! sentative Dalzen. He went directly tC
| the vice presidents room. Shortly be-
fore 1880 o'clock, Mrs. Mckinley, es-
| cOrted by Major General COrbin, en-
| tered the executive gallery. She wa:
! accompanied by the members of hel
house party. She was assisted dOwI
the aisle of the gallery to a front seal
! which had been reserved for her. She
chatted spiritedly with her friends, and
at times smiled recognition to some
friend on the floor of the senate or in
the galleries.
Almost simultaneously with the pres
idential party, Mrs. Roosevelt and hel
| friends, principally relatives, entered
Accompanied by her children, she wa.
escorted to front seats in the gallery
reserved for them, just opposite thOs,
occupied by Mrs. Mckinley.
The exchange of greetings between
Mrs. Mckinley and Mrs. Roosevelt wa!
noted by all. The children of Mr.. anC
Mrs. Roosevelt, who, with eager eyes
drank in every detail of the histOri,
occasion, gazed with wide-eyed wonder
upon the scene, not missing d single
incident or detail.
Programme of Proceedings.
Upon the floor of the senate the pro
! ceedings were in accordance with
definite programme, from which Their,
was no deviation. The members of TIT
United States senate. the hosts of TIT
occasion, were seated in front and &
the left of the president pro tenn. Sup
porting the senate as host were repre-
| SentatiVes of the executive and judicia
departments Of the government includ
ing members Of the cabinet and hous
of representa- tiVeS and the suprem
/ court Justices and associate justices.
on the OppOsite-the Democratic
side of the chamber, the guests Wer
seated. AS distinguished bodies en-
tered the chamber they were announce,
to the president pro tenn of the senat
by Mr.. Stuart and Mr.. Layton, tn
dOOrkeepers of the senate.
While the senator from Montana (MI
/ Carter was pronouncing the las
words of the rites over the river am
/ harbOr bill, THE speaker and member
of the house Of representatives wer
announced. They were seated in tn
rear of the senate. Speaker Henderson
was escorted to seat to the right o
and Just below that of the presiden
| pro tenn.
At Has the entrance of the dipIo
matte corps was announced. Heade'
by the dean of the corps, Lord Paunce
fOte, the ambassador of Great Britain
the ambassadors of and ministers from
foreign countries passed down the mail
aisle. Five minutes later the nine su
preme court justices, in their flowing
robes, were seated.
Interest by this time was intense
All were awaiting the appearance o
Governor Roosevelt and President Nc
: Kinley. After the golden hand of tn
great blue-faced clock Immediately be
meath the diplomatic gallery ha
passed the stroke of noon the immens
doors swung open and 'the vice presi
: dent-elect of the United States wa
announced.
Governor Roosevelt was escorted [
his seat on the platform immediatel
to the right of Senator Frye, the preSi
, dent pro tenn. by Mr.. Spooner of Wis
consin, and Representative DalzeH o
Pennsylvania, of the congressional in
: augural committee.
Governor Roosevelt, frock-coated an
handsome, a splendid specimen o
American manhood. a picture of pei
feet health. approached his seat in
dignifed manner.
Meantime the members of the presi
dents cabinet had entered and ha
been seated upon the left of the am
bassadors. The sombre garb and sill