Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-03-04
THE INAUGURATION.

liam Mckinley today for the second
time took the solemn oath as President
of the United States 10 the presence OF
a vest multitude. He laid down the
sceptre of power and PATRONAGE only
for an Instant to reanswer allegiance to
the constitution, to read a second in-
aupural address, to receive again the
cheers OF thousands, then to return TO
the White House for term OF four
years more. >,
Today's ceremonies might be describ'
ed as simple, impressive, yet spectacular.
Several reasons conspired to make this
inauguration different from President
McKinley's first. The eager Office
seeker, with voice pitched high to
hope OF place, was not in line.
Along the line OF march between the
Treasury building and the Capitol WIS
a Kaleidoscope mass OF color, red, white
and blue predominating, with here and
there greenery.decked balconies and
little and great pictures of the Presi-
dent and his running mate. In addition
to the dozens OF stands erected by the
inaugural committee, there we're hun
dreds of private structures fastened to
the fronts ofstores and private build
ings. The windows from end to end
of the avenue were crowded and the
scores of balconies that overhang
goodly portion of the stores seemed all
inadequate to support the sightseers
that loaded them down. An army OF
fakirs vending badges, flags, pictures and
canes struggled through the crowds and
here and there before the parade lunch
wagons trotted east and west dispens'
ing sand witches, pies and coffee. hun
dreds of those standing eight deep along
the sidewalks were glad indeed to avail
themselves of the high priced but low
quality food handed out by these buck
sters, for after ten O'Clock 10 the morn
| ing IL was as much az ones life was
worth 10 sQueezs into restaurant any
where near Pennsylvania avenue.
President Mckinley arose at his
usual hour. He breakfasted, read the
morning papers ss is his wont, and dur
| ing the forenoon received the coDgratu.
lations OF several cabinet members and
officials.
As early as 8 o'clock the downtown
streets bsgan to fill with horsemen and
the various military, state and civic or
CARNATIONS formed rapidly 10 the
places assigned to them on the cross
streets and avenues interesting the
line OF march. The committeeman se'
Iected from the Senate and House In
lieu OF the retiring Chief Executive
called at the White House for the
President shortly after ten o'clock. He
did not keep them waiting but stepped
] briskly out of the front door of the Ex
Iecutive Mansion, and, raising his hat 10
recognition OF the cheer that went up
as soon as he was seen, got into the
carriage. The committeeman followed
aud the march to the Capitol began
Despite the fact that thousands had
fastened to the Capitol to get view Of
the oath-taking, the streets leading To
the huge dome-covered building were
packed about as tightly as human flesh
could stand.
EscortiDg the President was the
Grand Marshal, Gen. Francis v
Greene and staff.
Then came the famous Troop A, o.
Ohio, acting as the Presidents per-
sonal escort. Behind the President
rode the members of the joint commit
tee OF arrangements, the members o.
the Cabinet, Lieutenant. General Mile:
and Admiral Dewey, all In carriages
Then followed the first division OF the
military grand division OF the parade
consisting of the West Point and An
nspols cadets, U. s. forces and the
National Guard of the District OF Co
lumbia. One of the most interesting
features OF the e:cort was the native
Porto Rican battalion commanded by
Mel. Eben Swift. East on the broad
smooth surface OF Pennsylvania ave
nue., after the Treasury building had
been turned and passed, was a wall o
humanity on either side straining at The
ropes as those behind lunged eagerly
forward to get view OF the President
and his following.
| Meanwhile great concourse Of PEG
pie bad gathered about the Capitol
Ten minutes of after doors OF the Senate
galleries were opened every available
seat had been taken. The buzz OF OOH
yersation that filed the chamber ceased
as the official crier announced succes'
sively the ambassadors and ministers o.
foreign countries, the Supreme Court O
the United states, the membere of The
House OF Representatives, the admlra
OF the navy, the lieutenant-general o
the army, and the heads OF the various
executive departments. President Nc
Kinley and Vice President-elect Roose
welt entered escorted by the committed
on arrangements, the president taking
his seat directly In front of the presid
ing officers desk. Vics President-elec
Roosevelt received the oath OF Office
from president pro tempore Frye, who
thereupon declared the Fifty.sixth Con
gress adjourned. Vice President Roose
yelt Immediately took the gavel, de
claring the Senate OF the Fifty-seventf
Congress convened In extraordinar,
session. After prayer by the blint
chaplain, Mr.. Roosevelt delivered hi
inaugural address.
AT the conclusion of the address ant
the swearing in OF the new Senate th
assemblage left the Senate chamber ant
proceeded to the east front Of the Capt.
tol to witness the Inauguration of th,
President.
, Senator McLsurin was reported
sick, and Senators Mitchell and Nelson
were absent 80 that they we're no
sworn 10 to-day. 1t was five minute
of l o'clock by right time before thes
ceremonies were concluded.
The question Of precedence whicl
had been raised, as to whether tn
ambassadors should precede one Of tn
following members of the Suprem