The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1901-09-20

Buffalo, Sept. l6.-Theodore Roose-
welt. who was tragically elevated to
the chief magistracy of the American re-
public bv the death of President McKin-
lev. entered this city of mourning
after remarkable and perilous jour
ney from the heart of the north /
woods. He had been president under the
constitution and law of the land since
the martyred president ceased to live. All ,
the duties and powers Of the office had
devolved upon him, but he was poweress
as the humblest citizen to exercise one OF
them until he had complied with the con-
stituton and laws of the United States.
He took the oath at o'clock in the aft
ernoon in the library of the residence of
Anslev Wilcox, a personal friend, with
whom he stopped earlier in the week
when the physicians thought President
Mckinley would recover from the wound
inflicted by the assassin.
There were present when he swore to
the oath: Secretaries Root, Hitchcock,
Long. Wilson and Postmaster GeneraR
Smith. Senator c. NJ. Depew of New York,
Judge of the Court of Appeals Haight,
John n. Scattered, Mr.. and Mrs. Ansley
Wilcox, Miss Wilcox, George p. Sawyer,
Drs. Mann. Park and Stockton, Mr.. and
Mrs. Carleton Sprague, Mr.. and Mrs. John
G. NIiburn, the secretary to the president,
William Loeb, Jr.; the secretary to the
! deceased president. G. b. COrteyou; Mr.
! and Mrs. Charles Carey, C. R. Scattered,
j. d. SAWYER and William Jeffers official
2 telegrapher, in addition to Judge j. r.
Hazel of the United States district court,
who administered the oath.
, The scene was a most affecting one.
o The new president had just come from the
4 Milburn house, where his predecessor lay
Q cold in death. Overcome by the deep per-
sonal sorrow he felt in his characteristic
cally impulsive way, he had gone first to
the house of mourning to offer his con-
Y dolence and sympathy to the broken
3 hearted widow Secretary Root, who q
wears ago had been present at similar
t scene when Arthur took the oath after
e the death of another president who fel
Is victim to an assassins bullet, almost
It broke down when he requested MIR. Roose
$ welt. on behalf of the members of the cab
II met of the late president, to take the pre-
scribed oath. There was not dry eye
r in the room. The new president was visi
1t bly shaken but he controlled himself
h and when he lifted his hand to swear i
is was as steady as though carved in mar
es BILE With the deep solemnity of the oc
lie casion he announced to those present tina
e. his aim would be to be William Mcnin
Sc lev's successor in deed as well as in name
Deliberately he proclaimed 1t in thes
words: 'In this hour of deep and terribl
national bereavement l wish to state tina
of it shall be my aim to continue absolutel,
n without variance the policy of Presiden
IS Mckinley for the peace and prosperit
n and honor of our beloved country"
The far reaching significance of thi
i'll pledge to continue the policy of the dea
IN president announced at the very thresf
is hold of a new governmental regime pre-
ge foundly impressed his hearers and Pres
b. dent Roosevelts first step after takin
n the oath was in line with its redemption
he His first act was to ask the members {
the cabinet to retain their portfolios
order to aid him to conduct the govern
ment on lines laid down by him who;
policy he had declared he would uphold
ed Such an appeal was not to be resisted an
IN every member of the cabinet, includin
Secretary of State Hay and Secretary
- the Treasury Gage, who were commun
q Gated with in Washington, has agree
for the present at least to retain the
q several portfolios.