The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-09-17

Buffalo, n. Y. September H.-Theo-
dore Roosevelt who today was tragi-
cally elevated to the chief magistracy
of the American Republic by the death
OF President Mckinley. entered this city
of mourning this afternoon after re-
markable and perilous journey from the
heart of North Woods. He had been
president under the constitution and
law of the land since the minute the
martyred president ceased to live. All
the duties of the office had develved up
on him, but he was as powerless as the
humblest citizen to exercise one of
them until he had complied with the
constitutional provision requiring him
to take a prescribed oath to support
and defend the constitution and laws
. of the United States. He took that
Hoath at $3.50 o'clock this afternoon in
the library of the residence of Ansley
Wilcox, a personal friend with whom
he stopped earlier in the week when
the physicians thought President Nc
Kinley would recover from the wound
inflicted by the assassin.
The scene was a most affecting one.
The new president had Just come from
the Milburn house where his predeces-
sor lay cold in death. Overcome by the
deep personal sorrow he felt, in his
enthusiastically impulsive way, he had
gone first to the house of mourning to
offer his condolence and sympathy to.
the broken hearted widow.
Secretary Root. who twenty years ago
had been present at a similar scene
when Arthur took the <oath after the
death of another who. fell victim to an
assassin's bullet almost broke down
when he requested Mr.. Roosevelt on be-
half of the members of the cabinet of
the late president to take the prescribed
oath. There was not a dry eye in the
room. The new president was Wis
shaken, BUT he controlled himself.
With the deep solemnity of the occa-
sion fun upon him. he announced ID
those present that his aim would be to
be|WilIiam McKinley's successor indeed
-uas we'll as in name.
The great far-reacning significance
of this pledge to continue the policy of
the dead president, announced at the
very threshold of a new government
regime, profoundly impressed his hear
ers, and President Roosevelt's very
lfirst step after taking the oath was in
line of it's redemption. His first act was
to ask the members of the cabinet to
retain their portfolios in order to aid
him to conduct the government on lines
laid down by him whose policy he had
declared he would uphold. Such an
appeal was not to be resisted and every
member of the cabinet. including Sec
retary of the State Hay and Secretary
of the Treasury Gage. who were COM
municated with in Washington. have
agreed for the present. at least. to re-
tain their several portfolios.
WASHINGTON, September 14.-Secretary
Hay spent the morning in consultation
with the heads of the various depart
1 ments Upon being notified of the pres
Ndent's death in the early morning he
telegraphed as follows:
Department of State,
washington, D. c., Sept. IA.
Hon. Theodore Roosevelt, North Creek.
n. Y:
THE president died at 2:15 o'clock
this morning.
JOHN HAY,
Secretary of State"
Response came from President Roose-
velt as soon as he arrived at North
Creek at 500 o'clock this morning. He
replied with an acknowledgment of the
receipt of the message and stating that
he could not now express his sorrow
in suitable terms. He added that he
was starting at once for Buffalo on a
special train from North Creek, ex-
pecting to arrive at the former city at
y3 o'clock this afternoon.
I The secretary of state, after confer
ring with Secretary Gage, the only cab
met officer remaining in the city be-
aside himself. concluded that here was
no special reason for urgency in the
taking Of the oath by President Roose-
yelt. Under the terms of the constitu-
ton he became president in fact imn1e-
diately upon the death of President
Mckinley and he already had taken the
oath of office to serve the United