The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-03-08

congress 10 OIQeT.
Mr.. Fairbanks was forthwith usher
ed into the chamber, the senate mem
bers of the inaugural committee act
ing as his escort. He proceeded to the
rostrunn, where Senator Frye admin
istered the usual oath. The new vice
presidents first official act was to call
upon the senate's chaplain, the Rev.
DR.. Edward Everett Hale, to pray.
The broad plaza whose level sur
face stretches east from the National
Capitol can accommodate an army.
For hours this morning Washington
poured its own population and vast
increment of visitors into the front
yard of the seat of government. From
the porticos- and windows of the Cap
ftol building good idea Of the scope
of the multitude could be gathered.
Eight acres of humanity spread fan
shaped from the focus made by lit
tie covered shelter, open at the sides,
where the president was to stand.
Overtoward the imposing facade Of the
congressional library it extended, lit
orally a "sea of faces" There may
have been only $4,000; probably there
were nearer 100, 600 in sight Of the
president when he took the oath.
Stands on the central portico, ex-
tending to the tribune wherein the GER
emony occurred, covered an acre.
From the central entrance Of the
capitol to the seats Of honor surround
ing tie pagoda-like tribune was laid a
carpet Of crimson plush. Long before
the ceremonies in the senate. where
President Fairbanks was taking
is oath Of Office, were concluded, most
of the reserved seats had been filed
by ticket holders.
Four years ago there was an en-
barrassing misunderstanding between
the members of the Supreme Court
and the Diplomatic Corps as to pre-
cedence in the march Of notables down
the red carpet; also. the diplomats
found no seats reserved for them. This
year there were seats for all, but the
justices went aheadand the diplomats
followed.
The slight form of Chief Justice
Fuller was the oneto first catch the
eyes Of the vast crowd. The white
haired chief justice led his colleagues,
next came the president escorted BY
the congressional committee of ar
rangements.
Mrs. Roosevelt and Mrs. Fairbanks
were next escorted to seats just o1isiie
the tribune The presidents cl1il1-en
were with Mrs. Roosevelt. and Mr.
Fairbanks two sons, students at Yale,
and his daughter, Mrs. Arthur Tim
mons, were with Mrs. Fairbanks.
yice-President Fairbanks, accom-
panied by the secretary Of the senate
and followed by the senators and ex-
Senator'S, was next IN order. Then
came Speaker Cannon and the House
of Representatives.
Secretary Hay and other members
Of the cabinet we're ushered to their
chairs, and al. their heels came Ad-
niral Dewey and Lieutenant General
Chaffee
The governors of states and terri
tories and other distinguished guests
next came along in the prescribed or
der.
President Roosevelt advanced from
the. door of the capitol, arm in arm
with Chief Justice Fuller. Instantly,
frol., all parts Of the eight acres OF
humanity, arose a prolonged, tumul-
tuous shout. At distance it might
have been mistaken for chorus of
colossal fog horns, close by it filed
and deafened the ears. Behind the
president and his white-haired COM
panion came James II. McKenney,
clerk of the supreme court, bearing a
penderous Bible.
After all were seated Chief Justice
Fuller stepped from the tribune I'M
mediately followed by the president,
the two taking positions facing each
other. In feeble tones the venerable
jurist pronounced the oath.
President Roosevelt's voice was ca
silv audible at some distance when he
repeated the formal declartion pre-
scribed in article II Of the Constitu-
ton: "I do solemnly swear that will
faithfully execute the Office Of Presi-
dent of the United States, and will to
the best of my ability, preserve, pro-
tect and defend the Constitution OF
the United States
A second later he bowed and press
ed his lips upon the open pages Of the
Bible held toward him by Clerk Nc
Kenney, Of the Supreme Court.
Again erect, he faced the people,
and foran instant perfect silence held.
A signal had been flashed from the
dome of the capitol to the navy yard,
whence came the boom of a ten-inch
gun. first of twenty-one, fired in honor
of the newly inaugurated chief ex-
ecutive. The tension was broken, and
roar of cheers resounded far and