The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-05
Decorations Were Wonderful and Crowds Were Handled in an
 Ideal Fashion by Officers
INAUGURAL BALL CLOSES
 DAY OF GORGEOUS SCENES
Fireworks Display at Night Was One of the Greatest Ever Witnessed and Electrical Illumina-
 lions Magnificent.

Washington, March 1.-The most bril- liant and imposing inauguration whlcn the citizens of Washington have ever pre- pared has passed into the history of the republic.
 Theodore Roosevelt did not ride to the capitol. hitch his horse to a shade tree. enter the building and take the oath of office, booted and spurred. The tradi- tional Jeffersonian simplicity was re- placed by a pageant which has not been surpassed in the annals of the nation. For a week the District of Columbia has been the host of the union. Term after presidential term her citizens, without re- gard to party, unite with enthusiasm in preparing an inauguration that shall fit7 tingly show forth the national respect for the executive office. For the unparalleled demonstration of today, the sole credit Is due to these citizens. the officials or the war and navy department, and the officers of the afmy and navy.
 It Is a mistaken idea that Congress has much to do with the wonderful displays with which the District of Columbia well comes each successive President, be he democrat or republican. The citizens pro vide the money and do all the work WILT today s, demonstration, 1t had less to do than ever, and as a consequence the cil- izens had a greater task than ever. But all obstacles were overcome under the un- riyalled management of Gen. John M Wilson of the army, chairman Of the in- .ugural committee He was ably assisted by his vice chairman, George Truesdeii' and the inaugural committee of seventy five citizens and by Lieutenant Generai Chafree at the head of its military at- fairs-
 Was Truly National Inauguration.
 If was the first national inauguration since the civil war. The south sent up its warriors and its state officials. Men who fought each other for years unuer different fiags men who fought together in the war with Spain under one flag; executive officers of the states who up hald the stars and bars, and those who stood for the flag of the union, marched topether in review before their common President, soldier of the republic. With these to illustrate our new nationality, came marching representatives from the Philippines and Porto Rico. lands where sunset fades from the flag in the far Pacific, where the sunrise glows on It's
 
 The whole city was garden blossom ing with flags. For a week ever-ad- vancing waves of color have been sweep ing through all its 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 coIors. Acting under sugges- lion from inc inaugural committee. the hoard of education had requested its 50000 children to see that each one of their homes displayed the flag. It was re- o,est responded to by an army of chill dren. Hhis mass of colors was one of the striking clements of a gigantic scheme for expressing the national respect for a President.
 Marked With Artistic Taste.
 The committee on street decorations. street illumination and parks and re- viewing stands, worked together with artistic taste, and transformed two miles and a half of the city's most noted avenue into fitting highway for the nation in it's countless representative bodies. to march as an escort to it's Pres ident. Every square yard that was not black with people banked high upon the pavement, crowding all windows and frtnging all roofs, was brilliant with national colors. It was not a haphazard hanging of banners. but under the direc- tion and advice of a competent commit tee the best effects were produced. The light and airy stands conforming every where to elementary architectural rules, as to construction. painting and decor atIons. supplauted the huge and unsight- Iv lumber piles which were formerly toll erated as outlooks for the crowds.
 The Presidents reviewing stand. in front of the White House, was the cen fer of the court of history, which ex- tended two long blocks from Fifteenth street. Along each side of the avenue were noted historical figures In great numbers from the St. Louis exposition.
 The police management was perfected such as Washington has long been ac- crstomed to, under the management of Major Sylvester. it's chief of metropoli- tan police
 Cavalry Escort Was Perfect.
 General Chaffee had provided we'll ordered and perfect cavalry escort. which could have rapidly passed over the line, and made possible the prompt re-opening of the streets to the car lines and the pub lie in order that the residents of the su- burbs and the greater portions of the city might reach the centers of interest with the least delay. But the Grand Army, as ia its habit insisted on acting with this escort, and the President sharing the uni- ------~----->--
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