The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1904-02-05
Former Governor Of the Philippines
Takes Oath of Office as Head
of War Department.
IMMEDIATELY ENTERS UPON.
DUTIES OF HIS new POSITION
Gen. ChafRee In Charge of Ceremonies
Event the Most Impressive of Its
Kind I'm Years-GOv. Wright and
Vice Governor Ide of Philippines
1naugurated Mt Manila.

washington, Feb. 2. - Gov. william
H. Taft took the oath of Office as secre-
tary of war Monday and at once entered
upon his new duties. The ceremony took
place in the large reception room at
tached to the secretary's office In the
war department and the transfer of au-
thority from Elihu Root, the retiring
secretary, to Gov. Taft, while simply
made, was more impressive than any
similar event In many years.
Before noon, the appointed hour, Gov.
Taft came over to the department from
his hotel with little party of personal
friends and some Of his immediate fam
lily. These included Mr. Charles P. Taft
and Miss Wildly, of Cincinnati, and Mr..
H. w. Taft of New York; L. r. Whitley,
attorney general for the Philippines,
and J.. D. Schmidlapp, Of Cincinnati, a
personal friend of the governor. They
were ushered into Secretary Roots Of
flee, where the retiring secretary, in a
few we'll chosen words and with good
deal of feeling, surrendered his portfolio
to Gov. Taft.
Chanee Conducts Ceremonies.
The party then proceeded to the recep-
ton room, where Gen. Chaffee, chief OF
staff, in uniform, took charge of the cere-
emonies. The room was cleared of all
except the participants in the induc-
ton save the party Of friends and mem
bers of the general staff. Gov. Taft and
Secretary Root took their places at the
long table where stood John Randolph,
a notary, who administered the oath OF
Office to the incoming secretary. Then
there were congratulations shOwered
upon Secretary Taft and good-byes
were said to Secretary Root Every
army officer on duty in Washington was
aligned at the doorxay and the bril-
liantly uniformed column passing be-
fore the retiring and incoming secre-
taries formed a pretty spectacle. Secre-
tary Taft was in the best of spirits, and
he had a smile and good word for
every one, while Secretary Root showed
in his countenance the relief he felt in
laying down the cares of the great Office.
After the military men had passed
through the room the heads of bureaus
and finally most of the employees Of the
war department were admitted and each
of these received a pleasant greeting.
At the conclusion Of the reception Sec
rotary Taft with his personal friends
and family went to luncheon.
Wright Inaugurated.
Manila, Feb. Gov. Luke E. Wright
and vice-Gov. Henry c. Ide were in
augurated Monday. There was an i'm
posing demonstration, including bril-
liant military pageant, about 5000
troops being in line.
= After taking the oath Of office, Gov.
Wright delivered his inaugural address.
1t was a straightforward speech, dealing,
with the most important interests of the
islands. =
Gov. Wright invited attention to the
improvements that had been accom-
plished in the Philippines under Amer
lean rule and declared his intention of
adhering to the principles Of the Taft adj
ministration. He urged Americans to
establish cordial personal and business
relations with the Filipinos, who must
constitute their chief customers. In con-
clusion Gov. Wright asked for the SYM
pathetic cooperation of all classes to
whom, he said, were assured equal OPP
portunities for advancement.