The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1905-03-09
INAUGURATION OF
A VICE PRESIDENT
Most Effective Ceremony in Ali
American Public Life
Seen by Throngs.
9 SPLENDID GATHERING
.ouse and Senate, Diplomatic Corps,
President and Cabinet, Naval and
Military Dignitaries, Meet
for Event.

'''' ~i". - 'N'
noon inducted into the office of vice presi.
dent. The ceremony vas quickly followed
by the final adjournment. of the senate o,
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 support the constitution. This was
the oath of office. administered by SEN
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
cign and domestic. civil and military.
A Notable Gathering.
On the senate floor, with his cabinet.
were the president himself about to be
inaugurated; the diplomatic corps, the SUI
preme court, the house Of representatives
the admiral of the navy, the 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 in
private and social life as the others in the
public service.
Practically all the variety of hue and
Vivacity 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 avy officers present were dec
GRATED, there was the duh level of blacl,
and brown on the first floor. The gallery
usually devoted TO senator's was surrend-
cred to the executive party, and occupied
by families and friends of the president
and vice president, the supreme court and
cabinet. vi.
The gallery visitors were practically al,
in their seats before the official guests
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 CT the capitol,
headed by Speaker Cannon, with all the
assurance of an invading army; and when
the south doors of the senate chamber
swung open and Assistant Sergeant-at-
arms Layton announced, THE speaker
and the house Of representatives" they
walked to the seats assigned them OH 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 Alcnzo r..
Stewart, also assistant sergeant-at-arms,
heralded in genuine feudal style the APP
proach 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 S~ergeant-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,
were 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
lutte constantly engaged in rising to re-
ceive newcomers. The ministers were
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 aid, and they by
Lieutenant General Chaffee. chief of starr
and his aid, who were separately an
nounced as the representative of the war
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Gradually the hall flied, 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 RansdelI.
Again all We're on their feet. All eyes
We're upon him as, a~ccoInpaniedW by the
congressional committee and the official
household, he walked down the center aisle
in the wake of the serseant-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 beena participant in an inaugural
ceremony, but then only as the recipient
of second henors He was there now as
the head of the people of the nation, and
by right Of their choice. His manner was
tina Of a man who appreciates responsi-
bilities and at the same time feels CAPABLE
of assuming theln--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 nerson of Senator Fairbanks. and was
even now standing where. on the 9Th
of March, 1901, Mr.. Roosevelt himself had
stood, to a k the oath of the vice presi-
Dental 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 ioes all things with
pronlptness and decision. The two Off
cial time pieces We're sgreed in proclaim
ing the hour of IL. when the Fifty-eighth
congress rlust come to a close
the Fifty-ninth 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 she
slender, but towering form of his sue
cessor. the president pro tempore repeated
to him the few words which transformed
the Indiana leader Com the senator to
vice president. The ceremony did not con-
sumo two minutes.
Congress is Adjourned.
The oath concluded. the participants
shook hands and Mr.. Frye spoke a few
words of congratulation, and wit. a last
thump Of the gavel, relinquished his posi-
ton by announcing the adjournment of lie
18th congress He yacatad the seat -. 80.