The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-15


head. as If with an effort. he continued in
broken voice: 81 have been requested on
hehalf Of the Cabinet Of the late President.
at least those who are present in Bu1alo,
All EXCEPT two. TO request that for reasons
or weight affecting the affairs of govern
uent you proceed to take the constitu-
tional oath OF President Of the United
States"
ROOsEVELT's PROMISE.
Judge Hazel had stepped 10 the left Of
the President. and Mr.. Roosevelt, coming
closer TO Secretary Root. said in voice
that first wavered. but finally came deep
and strong. while, as If 10 control his
nervousness. he held firmly TO the lapel
of his coat with his right hand:
II shall take the oath at once in accord
ance with your request. and in this hour OF
deep and terrible national bereavement
wish 10 state that it shall be my aim TO
continue absolutely without variance the
policy Of President Mckinley for the peace
and prosperity and honor Of our beloved
country"
The President stepped farther into the
bay window. and Judge Hazel taking UP
the constitutional oath of Office. which had
been prepared on parchment. asked the
President to raise his right hand and re-
death i'm the room as the judge read few
words at a time and the President IN a
strong voice and without a tremor and
with his raised hand as steady as If carved
from marble repeated it after him.
And thus 1 swear" he ended it. The
hand dropped back TO the side. the chin for
an instant rested on the breast and the ST.
lence remained unbrOken for couple or
minutes as though the new President of the
United States was Offering silent prayer.
Judge Hazel broke it. saying:
MIR. President, please attach your sigma
ture." and the President turning to small
table near by. wrote Theodore Roosevelt
at the bottom Of the document in firm
hand.
IL should ike to see the members of the
Cabinet a few moments after the others
retire" said the President, and this was
the signal for the score Of people who had
been favored by Witnessing the ceremony to
retire. AS they turned to go the President
said:
II will shake hands with you people glad
Iy.' and with something OF his old smile
returning he first shook hands with the
members of the Cabinet present, then Sena-
tor Depew and finally with a few guests
and newspaper men.
The house in which the President took
the oath of office is picturesque old man
sion of colonial style built somewhat back
I'm the fhirtes and standing upon ground
once the property of the United States
government. 1t was used for some time as
an army headquarters. While the house
has been added 10 and improved it has not
been allowed TO lose any of it's colonial
charm. The room I'm which the oath was
taken is ceiled high in dark oak, the floor
heavily polished, and the only bit of relief
10 IL is a bay window set in palms and re-
lieved with stained glass. 1t was in this
embrasure that the President and Judge
Hazel stood when the oath was admins
tered.
Immediately following the dispensing Of
the spectators after the taking of the oath
the President asked the Cabinet members
present to confer with him. The conference
lasted very nearly two hours, and when it
finished the President said to the Associated
Press:
Following out the brief statement made
when taking the oath that I would follow
the administration lines laid down by Pres
fdent Mckinley requested the members
OF the Cabinet who were present to remain
ia tirrir positions at least for the present
They have assured me that they will, and
may say that have assurance also from
the absent members"
Inquiry was made OF the President as
TO whether an extra session of Congress
would be called by him. and he said in sub
stance that there was no fundamental law
requiring the calling OF Congress together
upon the succession Of Vice President to
the presidency and that after consultation
with the Cabinet they had decided that no
such extra session would be called. The
oft - h.
saw a few personal friends, and then, put
ting on his hat. said to Secretary Root:
Let US take a little walk; it will do US
both good
Secretary Root assehssd, and they both
walked oft on the porch. His host, Ansley
Wilcox. said: Mr.. President, shall 1 go
along with your
mo. 1 am going to take a short walk
up the street with Secretary Root and will
return again
When he got down to the foot OF the
walk couple Of police and couple OF de-
tectives in citizens clothes started to fol-
low him. He turned and told his secretary
to tell them that he did not desire any pro-
lection. Il do not want to establish the
precedent OF going about guarded
The policemen and detectives touched
their hats, but before he had gone hun
dred yards two OF them were walking just
behind him and two of them were follow
ing him the other side of the street The
two distinguished men attracted but little
attention until they got near the police
lines on Delaware avenue when, as the
President stopped to shake hands and say
goodbye to Secretary Root some of the
crowd recognized him and he was sur
rounded. The police drove the crowd back
and the President, accompanied by Col
Bingham. who joined him, and watched
also by his former military secretary at
Albany, Col. George Curtis Treadwell
walked briskly back TO the Wilcox man
sion He announced later that he would
when the funeral train is to leave
The President passed the evening rather
quietly at Mr.. WilcoXs home, dining quite
CuOmEDc To nAU