New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-09-15

oeeS, ana at $50 O'Clock Mr.. Wilcox came Ou
on the lawn and said to the press representa-
tlVes that it was the desire of the Vice-Presl
dent that they be admitted to the house to wit
ness the solemn ceremony. A score or more o.
dusky library of the old house, where Will
bowed heads, stood the members of the Cabine
: and those who had been asked to be present
4 The room was silent as the house of deatf
Itself. No word was spoken above a whisper
Several women We're in the little room and al
death Were there
SOLEMN CEREMONY.
Ihe Vice-President stood on the south side o.
the room. with his back to a small window. and
the members OF the Cabinet and the men pres
|ent stood IN circle facing him. For some time
Mr. Roosevelt talked in whispers with Secretary
Root his arm over the Secretary,s shoulder
Then Secretary Root stepped back a few PAGES
ana the Vice-President stood motionIess by the
side of Judge Hazel. There was a dead silence
|of several seconds, and then Secretary Root
said:
MI. Observation-Disclosures long pause
III have been requested by all of the members
Oh the Cabinet of the late President Mckinley
who are present in the city Of Buffalo being all
except two. to request that for reasons Of weight
AFFECTING the administration of the government
you shall proceed without delay to take the
constitutional oath Of Office as President of the
United States.
He spoke with great deIiberation. and 40 sttu
was NE room thar Ilas his words been uttered
IN whispers they might easily have been heard
by every one present
Mr.. Roosevelts face was stern and ri,5d
Lifting his eyes. he looked steadfastly into the
race OF the Secretary for moment, and In a
voice with marked frmness and all of his
characteristic distinctness replied:
Mr. Secretary, shall take the oath at once
at the request Of the members of the Cabinet,
and in this hour Of deep and terrible national
bereavement I wish to state I shall continue
absolutely unbroken the policy of President
Mckinley for the peace. prosperity and honor
of our beloved country"
III.
Judge Hazel then stepped forward and ad-
ministered the following constitutional oath.
Mr.. Roosevelt repeating slowly the sentences as
spoken by the magistrate:
l do solemnly swear that will faithfully exe-
cute the office OF President Of the United States
and will to the best of my ability preserve nro1
tect and defend the constitution of the United
States.
When the last words were said, President
Roosevelt signed the document in the usual
form. All was silent. and scarcely movement
or hand or foot was made during the solemn
procedure. AS soon as the oath was taken the
President turned to the circle of Cabinet Off
GERS about him and said:
Il will ask the gentlemen Of the Cabinet to
stay that may have a talk with them alone"
The President then stepped out into the hall
and shook hands with those who passed out In
a few seconds the library cleared Of all
those except the members of the Cabinet and
there President Roosevelt sat down with them
for his first Cabinet meeting In the street al
large crowd still pressed hard upon the police
eager for glimpse of the new President as he
should emerge from the house. The newspaper
waited on the lawn outside and
Secretary Cortelyou. Secretary Loeb and mum
Der of the Presidents friends came out and
chatted in groups the porch behind the grea d
white pillars and the screen Of green vines Att
4 p. m. Senator Hanna drove up. in company
with Harry Hamlin, and went inside
ROOSEvELTs ADIRONDACK TRIP.
Shortly after that Mr.. Wilcox came out and
talked with the newspaper men. He said tha I,
the President would remain at his house as hi j
guest during his stay in the city, and that ba
would not leave the house that night. Speaking
of Mr. Roosevelt's visit TO the Adirondack
Mountains at the time of the Presidents re
lapse Mr. Wilcox said:
l wish to make a statement In that matta-
and 1 desire to have the exact circumstances
fully and accurately understood. Mr.. Roosevelt
was not on a hunting trip as has been stated ,n
some quarters. He merely went to the wood q
after his wife and family, who were there and
intended taking them Immediately home When
he left Buffalo he thought, as did all of us rho II
President Mckinley had practically passed the
danger line: but, as l have said, he had mol
thought of going hunting trip. When the
message came announcing the Presidents criti
tance in the mountains. having gone there for 81
long walk, is his custom whenever oppor-
tunity offers.
The house in which the oath of office was ad j
ministered is of the most historic spots in|