Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-03-08
INAUGURATION OF Theodore
ROOSEVELT AS PRESIDENT
Every Part of the Country Represented at the Cere-
monies Streets Swept by Wavesof Color ELOQUENT
Address by the President-Bi Demonstration.

Washington, March 4.-The most
brilliant and imposing Inauguration
which the citizens Of WASHINGTON
have ever prepared has passed into
the history Of the republic. Theo-
dore Roosevelt did not ride to the
capital. hitch the horse to a shade
tree. enter the building and take the
oath Of Office booted and spurred.
The traditional Jefferson simplicity
was replaced by pageant which has
not been surpassed in the annals of
the nation.
For a week the District of Colum-
bia has been the host of the union.
At the beginning Of each presidential
term her citizens, without regard to
party, unite with enthusiasm in pre-
pairing an Inauguration that shall fit-
tingly show forth the national respect
for the executive Office. For the un.
paralleled demonstration of today the
sole credit is due to these citizens,
the officials of the war and navy de.
partments, and the officers of the
army and navy. Gen. John Wilson,
of the army, chairman of the inaug-
ural committee, was ably assisted by
his vice chairman, George Truesdell,
and Commissioner West and the in
augural committee of Is citizens, with
Lieut.. General Chaffce at the head Of
it's military affairs and c. c. Glover
responsible for its finances. These
perfected and carried through an in
auguratiOn which, for variety of de.
tall, completeness Of every part, and
the splendor of the whole, stands
without a rival among it's notable pre-
decessors.
It was the first national Inaugural
tion since the civil war. The south
sent up it's warriors and it's state Of
ficials. Men who fought each other
for years under different flags, men
who fought together in the war with
Spain, under one flag, executive Off
GERS of the states who upheld the
stars and bars, md those who stood
for the flag of The union marched to-
gether in review before their common
president, soldier of the republic.
Gaze In Wonderment.
Fully 100000 visitors gazed with
wonder and enthusiasm at the dis
trict's handiWOrk for nonoring it's
president. The whole city was gar
den blossoming with flags. For a
week great waves of color have been
sweeping through all it's streets. Not
only was the line of march artistically
decorated to a degree never before
attained, but no street in the city was
without its national colUrs. Following
suggestion from the inaugural COM
mittee, the boaru of education had re-
,Quested its $4,000 school children to
see that each of their homes displayed
the flag. 1t was a request responded
to by an army of children. This
apotheiss of the colors was one Of
the most striking elements of gi-
gantic system for expressing the ma
tional respect for president.
A committee on street decorations,
street illumination and parks and re-
vlcwing stands, worked together with
artistic tastes, and transformed two
miles and half of the city's noted
avenues into a fitting highway for the
nation in its countless representative
bodies to march as an escort to its
president. Every square yard, that
was not black with people banked
high above the people, crowding all
windows and fringing all roofs, was
brilliant with the national colors.
The light and airy stands, conform
20 Vxxyn0 n n10nn0nf0rV
tectural rules as to construction, paint
ing and decorations, supplanted the
huge and unsightly lumber piles which
for the crowds. The scene by day
was magnificent: by night, under the
committees scheme of illumination,
the tremendous crowds wandered In
fairyland.
The presidents reviewing stand in
front of the white house was the CEN
ter of the court of history. which ex-
tended two long blocks from Fifteenth
street. Along each side of the ave-
nue. were noted historical figures in
great numbers from the st. Louis ex-
position.
This triumpnal pathway, along
which the kings of earth might have
deemed it an honor to be conducted,
was cleared and closed to cars and
vehicles at an early hour. The police
management was perfect. 1t was a
royal highway upon which the presl-
dent early entered and proceeded to
the capitol.
The Grand Army of the Republic.
as is it's habit, insisted on acting as
the presidents escort; and the pres
ident's rate of progress to the capitol
was reduced to the pathetic pace Of
men who were fast approaching the
scripture limit OF life. But the delay
had it's compensations. Many thous-
ands had opportunity to see and greet
the president as his cortege slowly
passed along the miles from the white
house to the capitol hill, where con-
gress was concluding its labors.
The five minutes remaining OF the
session after the arrival OF the pres
ident were given to inaugurating the
vice president. The president was
escorted to a seat near the presid-
ing OFFICER, where he delivered brief
inaugural remarks, and repeated the
oath of office after the presiding ohi'
Ger, Senator Frye.
In Senate Chamber.
When the stroke of noon put an
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