The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-04
Roosevelt and Fairbanks Take
Oath of Office.
President Sworn in on Steps of
the Capitol.
GREAT CROWD THERE.
FunetiOnW Was Performed byChief
Justice Fuller.
Fairbanks Was Installed in the
Senate Chamber.
GREAT CROWD THERE.

Washington March l. President
Roosevelt took the oath of Office today
before a vast gathering of the people
he has been elected to serve. The at
tendant scenes were not unusual In
augurations 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 Oficiated in like capacity
IS on other occasions when presidents
have acceded to the highest Office in
the gift of the American people. Chief
Justice Fuller, in administering the
oath, repeated a solemn function he
has performed four times,-today his
last Yet with all this repetition, moth
ing was jaded and everything appeared
new.
The great crowd assembled for the
crowning event of a day full of fea-
lures. cannot be estimated even by COM
parisOn. It 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. re-
sourceful in accommodating the thou
sands eager to view the ceremony was
completely filed People came by its
numerous streets and avenues, which,
like so many yawning, rayenOuS maWs,
greedily swallowed the thrOng until ev-
cry 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
50 far away as the terranceS and marble
steps OF the library Of congress thou
sands stood.
Hours before the ceremony could be
expected to take place the people
sought the most advantageous posi-
tions. They came by every means of
conveyance, carria ges discharging
their occupants blocks away, and cars
in steady stream unloading their pas
sengers within the prescribed area from
which the unlicensed vehicles were ex-
cluded. The number OF conveyances of
all kinds was totally inadequate to
meet the demands of the public.
The scene was one of remarkable
animation Those who sought places
maintained a running fire Of raillery
and pushed and jostled each other, the
sound of their voices mingling with
the shuffling of feet on the asphalted
plaza 1t was a cosmopolitan public,
varied and inclusive, taking in those
who from force OF circumstances and
lack of opportunity We're unable to
gain desira BILE places to view the grand
procession that was to follow.
Although the ceremony differed lit
tie from those that have preceded 1t,
in the great sea of spectators prob
ably there was a larger number of
representative Americans than any in
auguratiOn has brought to Washing
ton The eastern states were rivalled
in point of attendance by reason Of
President RooSevelt'S great popularity
in the middle and far west Delega-
tions were present from every one of
the inSula- pOss OnS. Many of
them had never seen the capitol and,
TO 4 large number. the Inauguration of
a president was wholly strange.
During the hours intervening be-
tween the gathering of the crowd and
the ceremony there was no letting
down of the tension of interest The
passing of a uniformed horseman was
sufficient to call forth cheers. al
though in some sections the multitude
showed signs of restlessness- This
was true particularly on the outskirts
of the throng where, pressed by con-
Stantly arriving recruits, many strug-
gIed to get nearer to the point of in
terest. The effect upon the densely
packed multitude was a continuous
surging backward and forward tur-
bulent sea of humanity.
The rendezvOusing Of the troops
committees and civic societies, enter
tanned the crowd throughout the long
wait incident to the schedule. The
various organizations arriving by diff
ferent routes passed into the narrow
defles which the police kept open. the
brilliant uniforms of the troops, the
bright sashes of the committees and
the rich caparisoning of the horses
lending themselves to a Kaleidoscope
panoramic effect Cheers upon cheers
ture.
AS rapidly as the troops arrived
The military escort stretched. far to
the left and consisted of all branches
of the service-horSe. foot and artil-
lery. To the right were grouped di-
vision after division of state troops
and in different places of honor the
other organizations took their stand
to await the signal to move The
tramping Of feet. galloping of horses,
the hOarse orders from chiefs and
narshals. the rattle Of accoutrements
and occasional bugle calls contributed
TO a pandemonium of sound to which
the public is unaccustomed at such
close range
The movements of the gathering
troops and organizations were not all
the crowd had for its entertainment
Directly in its front preparations were
in progress for the Inauguration
itself A monster stand in the form
OF an open amphitheater had been
erected on a line with the rotunda of
the capitol and there decorators were
engaged in arranging for the ceremony
and ushers busted themselves learn
ing the sections to be assigned to the
various officials and distinguished
guests.
The stand itself was of symmetrical
architectural proportions. on a differ
ent plan from those used in former
years. For this occasion it had been
built in the form of a semi-circle in
cIining to a level platform on which
was placed a pavilion for the presi-
dents personal use The amphithe ca
ter accommodated nearly 1000 per-
sons. JuttinS out from the main en-
trance the platform. with its decora-
tions of flags, bunting, palms and
flowers was in brilliant contrast to
the naked purity of the stately capi-
toi, on which. by act of congress- no
decoTa tive dra ping is permitted.