The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-03-04
ROOSEVELT TAKES
OATH OF OFFICE
Before Vast Gathering He Again
Becomes President of the
United States.


United States.
Washington, March 4.-President
Roosevelt took the oath of office before
a vast gathering of the people he has
been elected to serve. The attendant
scenes were not unusual. Inaugurations
from the time the east front of the
capitol first became the setting for the
ceremony have been much the same.
Many of the central figures have Off
ciated in like capacity on other occa-
sions when presidents have acceded to
the highest office in the gift of the
American people. Chief Justice Fuller,
solemn function he has performed four
times-today his last. Yet, with all
this repetition, nothing was faded and
everything appeared new.
Crowd Densely Packed.
The. great crowd assembled for the
browning event Of day full of fea-
lures, cannot be estimated even by com
parison. 1t extended far beyond the
reach of the voice, and was so densely
packed as to carry the stage out of
the sight of many. The capitol plaza,
resourceftl in accommodating the thou
sands eager to view the. ceremony, was
numerous streets and avenues, which,,
like so many yawning, ravenous maws,
greedily swallowed the throng until
every coign Of vantage was occupied:
The trees, barren of foliage, carried
their human burdens on limbs capable
of bearing the weight of man or boy,
and so far away as the terraces and
marble steps of the library of congress
thousands stood.
Hours before the ceremony could be
expected to take place, the people
sought the most advantageous positions.
They came by every means of convey
ance, carriages discharging their occu-
stream unloading their passengers with
in the prescribed area from which the
unlicensed vehicles were excluded. The
number of conveyances of all kinds
was totally inadequate to meet the de-
mands of the public.
Scene of Animation.
The scene was one of remarkable
animation. Those who sought places
maintained q running fire of raillery
and pushed and jostled each other, the
sound of their voices mingling with
the shutting of feet on the asphalteo
plaza. 1t was cosmopolitan public
varied and inclusive, taking in those
who, from force of circumstances anC
ldCh VI opportunity were uudDIe u
gain desirable places to view the grant
procession that was to follow.
Altho the ceremony differed LITTLE
from those that have prsceded it, il
the great sea Of spectators, probably
there was a larger number Of repre-
sentative Americans than any inaugura
ton has brought to Washington. The
attendance by reason of President
RnnSavalt = GREAT nnnnjSrltV thE
middle and far west. -~..-
Delegations were present from every
one of the insular possessions. Many
Of them had never seen the capitol
and, to large number, the Inaugural
tion of president was wholly strange
Tension Long Evident.
During the hours Intervening between
the gathering of the crowd and thu
ceremony there was no letting down O.
the tension of interest. The passing O.
a uniformed horseman was sufficient t.
call forth cheers, altho in some section
the multitude showed signs of restless
ness. This was true particularly OF
the outskirts of the throng, where
many struggled to get nearer to tn
point Of interest. The effect upon tn
densely packed multitude was a cor
tinuous surging backward and forwar
"A turbulent sea of humanity.
The gathering of the troops, commit
tees and civic societies, entertained tn
crowd thruout the long wait incident
the schedule. The various organization
arriving by different routes passed int
open, the brilliant uniforms of til
troops, the bright sashes of the con
mittees and the rich caparisoning c
the horses lending themselves to ks
leidoscopic, panoramic effect. Cheel
upon cheers greeted the CONSTANT
shifting picture.
AS rapidly as the troops arrived the
took the position assigned them. III
military escort stretched far to the lei
and consisted Of all branches of the Sc
vice-horse,, foot and artillery. To tt
right were grouped division after d
vision Of state troops. and in differe1
places Of honor the other organization
took their stand to await the sign
to move. The tramping of feet, ga
Looping Of horses, the hoarse orders fro
chiefs and marshals, the rattle of a
coutrements and occasional bugle cal
contributed to a pandem onium of sour
to which the public is unaccustomed
such close range.
Entertainment of Crowd
The movements Of the gatherir
troops and organizations We're not q
the crowd had for it's entertainer
Directly in it's front preparations we
in progress for the inauguration itse]
A monster stand in the form of ;
open amphitheater had been erected
line with the rotunda Of the capits
and there decorators were engaged
arranging for the ceremony and ushe
busted themselves learning the sectio
to be assigned to the various officis
and distinguished guests.
The stand itself was of symmetrie
architectural proportions, on differe
plan from those used in former yea
For this occasion it had been built
the form of semicircle inclining to
level platform, on which was placed
pavilion for the Presidents person
use. The amphitheater accommodate
nearly 1000 persons. Jutting out frt
the main entrance, the platform, wi
it's decorations Of flags, bunting, pal
and flowers, was in brilliant contra
to the naked purity Of the stately ca
tol, on which, by act of congress,
decorative draping is permitted.
Some time before the beginning
the inaugural ceremony several thu
sand persons holding tickets entitli
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