Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-09-16
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT.
Continued from page ~

Charles Cady, X. &. Scathard, j. ID.
lawyer. William LETTERS. official teleg-
rapher of the L. S. Senate, and Judge
| of the u. s. District Court John X.
Hazel.
Judge Hazel stood near the President
in the bay window and the latter
showed his almost extreme nervous
| ness by plucking at the lapel OF his
| long frock coat and nervously tapping
| the hard wood floor with his heel.
He stepped over once to Secretary
| Root, and for about five minutes they
ccnvcrsed very earnestly. The question
at issue was whether the President
| should first sign an oath OF office or
| swear in. or whether he should swear
| in first and sign the document in the
| case after.
At precisely 3.32 O'Clock Sec. Root
| ceased his conversation with the
| President, and stepping back while an
absolute hush fell upon everyone in
the room said in an almost inauiible
voice:
Mr.. Vice President. /" then his
voice broke. and for fully two minutes
the tears ran down his face and his
| lips univered 50 that ne could not con-
tinue ms utterdnccs-
| There were sympathetic tears from
those about him. and two great drops
ran down either cheek Of the success
sor Of William Mckinley.
Mr. Roots chin vas on his breast.
Suddenly throwing back his head as IL
with an effort. ne continued in n bro
| ken voice:
Il have been requested on behalf OF
| the cabinet Of the late President. at
least those who are present in Buffalo.
| all except two. to request that for rec
sons OF weight affecting the affairs Of
| government you should proceed 10 take
| the constitutional oath of Office 81 the
| President Of the United States"
| Judge Hazel had stepped 10 the rear
| az III. President, and Mr.. Roosevelt.
| coming closer To Sec Root. said in
voice that at first wavercd. but finally
came deep and strong. while as II %
| control his nervousness n held firmly
the lapel OF his coat with his right
| hand:
Il shall take the oath at once. In &C
cordance with your request. and IN
| this hour of deep and terrible national
| bereavement ! wish To state that IL
| shall be my aim To continue abso-
| lutely unbroken. the policy OF Presi
dent Mckinley. for the peace ana pros
petity and honor OF our beloved coun-
! try"
The President stepped rarther into
| the bay window, and Judge Hazel
| taking up the constitutional oath Of
Office. which had been prepared on
/ parchment. asked the President 10
/ ~. a q, f-.a
him.
There was hush like death in the
| room as the judge read n few words
at a time and the President in strong
voice and without n trcmor. ana with
his raised hand as steady as If carved
from marble. repeated 1t after him.
And thus swear he ended il. The
hand dropped by his side. the chin Tor
an instant rested on his breast and the
silence remained unbroken for 4 couple
OF minutes. as though the new Presi-
dent of the United States was offering
| silent prayer.
| Judge Hazel broke II. saying: Mr.
President. please attach your signature. :"
| And the President. turning to q small
table nearby. wrote: Theodore Roose-
welt" at the bottom Of the document IN
firm hand
| II should like to see the members of
the cabinet a few moments after the
| others retire. said the President, and
this was the signal for the scores Of peo-
pie 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
| gladly" and with something OF his old
| smile returning lie first shook hands with
the members OF the cabinet present. then
| with Senator Depsw and finally with a
| few guests and newspaper men.
Immediately following the dispensing Of
the spectators OF 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 ii was finished the Pres
| ident said:
Following out the brief statement |
made when taxing the oath. that ! would
follow the administrative lines laid down
by President Mckinley. requested the
| members of the cabinet who are present
| to remain in their positions. at least for
the present. They have assured me that
| they will, and may say that | have as
| surances 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
substance that there was no fundamental
law requiring the calling Of Congress to-
| gether upon the succession OF Vice
| President to the Presidency. and that al
ter consultation with the cabinet they
had decided that no such extra session
would be called.
The President after the meeting Of the
| cabinet. saw few personal friends and
| then, putting on his silk hat, said to Sec.
Root:
Let us take little walk; it will do us
both good
Sec. Root assented and they walked ont
on the porch. His host. Mr.. Ansiey Will
cox said:
MIR. President. shan't | go along with
you?"
He said: NO; | am going 10 take a
short walk up the street with See. Root.
and VIII return again.
| When he reached the foot of the walk
a couple of policemen and couple of
detectives in citizens clothes started To
follow him. He turned and told his sec
| rotary. MIR Loeb. to tell them that he did
not desire any protection.
II do not want to establish the prcce-
dent of going about guarded
The policemen and detectives touched
their hats. but before he had gone 100
yards two Of them were walking Just be-
hind him and two of them were follow
Ing him on the other side of the street.
The two distinguished men attracted
but little attention until they got up near
the police lines on Delaware Ave. when
as the President stopped TO shake hands
ana say goodby with Sec. Root some oil
the crowd recognized him and he was