The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1905-03-10
INAUGURATION OF
A VICE PRESIDENT
Most Effective Ceremony in All
American Public Lite
Seen by Throngs.
A SPLENDID GATHERING
House and Senate. Diplomatic Corps,
President and Cabinet. Naval and
Military Dienitaries. Meet
for Event.


Washington. u. C. March lin the
presence OF as many OF his fellow citizens
as could be crowded into the senate cham
Der. Charles Warren Fairbanks was at
noon inaucted into the office of vice uresi-
dent. The was quickly followed
by the final adjournment of the senate of
the Fifty eighth congress. the beginning
OF a special session. an address by the Vice
president and the swearing into office of
almost a third of the membership of the
senate.
The installation OF the vice president
was simple and brief. 1t consisted of a
promise to perform the duties of the office
and to supper the constitution. This was
the oath of office, administered by Sem
ator Frye. The two officials stood con-
fronting each other on the elevated plat
form. practically the spot on which all
vice presidents for fifty years have stood.
Pain and democratic though the cere-
mony was. it attracted many of the fore
most representatives of official life. for
eisn and domestic. civil and military.
A Notable Gathering.
or the senate floor. with his cabinet.
were the president himself about to be
inaugurated: the diplomatic corps. the SUI
preme court. the house of emit
N''1 wv VI NiC navy. Tue lieutenant
general of the army, the governors of the
states. and others distinguished by posi-
ton or achievement. In the galleries were
friends of the men who occupied seats
below, many of them as distinguished i'm
private and social life as the others Ia the
public service.
Practically all the variety of hue and
vivacitN of scene came from the galleries
for aside from the decorations worn by
the foreign representatives and the GOLD
lace with which the uniforms of the few
army and navy officers present were dec
Grated. there was the DUH level of black
and brown on the first floor. Thu gallery
usually devoted to senators was surrend-
cred 10 the executive party, and occupied
by families and friends of the president
and vice president, the supreme court and
cabinet.
The gallery visitors were practically all
in their seats before the oficisl quests
appeared. But the wait was not long The
senators We're grouped together compactly
on the republican side of the chamber
an arrangement necessary to make room
for other dignitaries.
The House Appears.
The two big clocks had measured the
time to Has when the members of the
house came. They had marched over in a
body from the other end of the capitol,
headed by Speaker Cannon. with all the
assurance of an invading army: and when
the south doors of the senate hamber
swung open and Assistant Sergeant-at-
arms Layton announced The speaker
and the house of representatives" they
walked to the seats assigned them on the
democratic side of the chamber.
The speaker had scarcely taken his seat
at the side of the presiding officer when
the doors again parted, and Alonzo II.
Stewart. also assistant sergeant-at-arms.
heralded in genuine feudal style the APP
preach of the diplomats headed by Count
Cassini. dean of the corps.
The ambassadors and ministers pleni-
potentiary." he said in ringing tones. and
again. upon the fall of the gavel. all came
to a standing posture, while Sergeant-at-
Arms Ransdell escorted the dignitaries to
their places fronting the presiding officer.
The foreigners attracted much attention.
and the brilliancy of their dress and the
distinction of the gentlemen themselves.
We're the subjects of much admiring com
ment.
The Supreme Court.
Events followed quickly. From this time
until Senator Fairbanks began his address
the senators and their visitors were kept
quite constantly engaged in rising to re-
ceive newcomers. The ministers We're
sharply followed by the supreme court.
officially gowned in long monkish robes
and with Chief Justice Fuller. distin-
guished in appearance, leading the van.
The judiciary was in turn succeeded by
Admiral Dewey and his ale, and they by
Lieutenant General Chaffee, chief of staff
and his aid. who were separately an
nounced as the representative of the war
like arms of the government.
Gradually the hall filled, until for the
last time the doors were opened to admit
a guest. the president.
The president and his cabinet pro-
claimed sergeant-at-Arms Ransdell.
Again all were on their feet. All eyes
U.pra t,y,p,, Ii,, os ~ -;.l., L.. a..
congressional committee and the official
household. he walked down the center aisle
In the wake of the sergeant-at-arms, who
placed him in a big red leather chair in
front of the presiding officer. where he
faced the other spectators. He had once
before been a participant In an inaugural
but then only as the recipient
of second honors. He was there now as
the head of the people of the nation. and
by right OF their choice. His manner was |
hat of a mar who appreciates response
bilities and at the same time feels capable
of assuming them-self conscious and self
reliant.
The Inauguration.
Inauguration time had arrived. The man
who had shared with him the honors of
the last election had been ushered in In
the person of Senator Fairbanks. and was
even now standing where. on the 4th !
of March, 1901. Mr.. Roosevelt himself had
STOOD, 10 take the oath or The vice preSl-
dential office. Senator Fairbanks had
been escorted to the platform on which
sat President Frye and Speaker Cannon
the former on the eve of performing the |
last act of his present term in that office |
by administering the oath which would
make Mr. Fairbanks presiding officer of
the senate.
Senator Frye does all things with
promptness and decision. The two Off
cial time pieces We're agreed in proclaim
ing the hour of IL. when the Fif~ty-eighth
congress must come to a close,
the %Fifty-nlnth started on its ca
reer. and the new presiding Of
ficer was introduced and installed.
Mr.. Frye had already said farewell; the
visitors were in their seats. Not a mo-
ment was lost. Rising in front of the
slender. but towering form of his sue
cessor. the president pro tempore repeated
to him the few words which transformed
the Indiana leader from the senator to
vice president. The ceremony did not con
sumo two minutes.