The Somerset reporter., 1905-03-09
The Inauguration.

As WAS reasonable to expect the it
auguration of President Roosevelt and
Vice President Fairbanks at Washington
on Saturday last, was great event.
Magniiieence was apparent In every part
OF the extended program.
For week the District of Columbia
has been the host OF the Union. Presi-
dental term after presidential term,
citizens, without regard to party, unite
with enthusiasm In preparing an inaug-
uration that shall fit ingly show forth
the national respect for the executive
officer. For the unpara leled dem0nstra-
tlon OF Saturday the sole credit is due 10
these citizens, the officials OF the war and
navy departments aud the officers of the
army aud navy.
The committees on street decorations,
street illumination and parks and review
Ing stands worked together with artistic
taste and transformed % miles of the
ciLy's noted avenue into fitting high.
way for the procession.
Heretofore the decorations of the
avenue have been chit fly flags streamers
and bunting. To these were ADDED
palms of large growth, and in endless
abundance, brought from the south and
from Porto Rico.
The presidents reviewing stand In
front of the White House WAS the centre
of the court of history, which extended
two long blocks. Along each side Of the
avenue were noted historical figures In
great numbers, from the ST. Louis ex-
position.
The imposing exercises at the capital
where Vice President Fairbanks took the
| oath OF Office, in the Senate Chamber,
aud President Roosevelt at the East
front of the building before an immense
concourse OF people covering many acres
adjacent to the capital took the oath OF
| office and delivered his brief inaugural,
were followed by the grand spectacular
| event of the occasion, the great process
sion in which the interest of the great
cOncourse of people centered.
More than 10000 men, military and
civic organizations, representing every
State in the Union participated in the
grand parade on the historic Pennsyl-
vania Avenue, under command OF Gen.
Chaffee U. 8. Army.
The military division was made up of
! u S. Army and Navy organizations and
National Guards of States, Scouts from
Philippines and Porto Rico, etc.
The civic grand division Of eight
brigades in three divisions, made up OF
over so organizations, was In every re-
spect better organized than ever before,
and 80, like the whole column, more
interesting. There were governors and
their gorgeous stats, many noted pc
llLical clubs from east and west, college
and university men, high school cadei g
from north and south, several original
Roosevelt clubs, "Roosevelts neighbors'
anthracite miners, "rail-splitters," It.
allan clubs, Spanish veterans, secret so
cieties, boys brigades, newsboys, drum
corps, bugle corps, church societies,
cowboys, and clubs in great v, riety.
On turning from the pageant of the
day, the doubled population of the city
disposed itself for the three imposing
spectacles of the night, the promenade
and hall at the pension office, the fire
works and the dazzling street decoration
The attendance at the ball was limited
to the II, 900 or 5000 which the building
would hold. The street decorations were
viewed by solid marching column fill
ing the wide pavements Of the avenue
and the street itself.
The fireworks on the "Mall" are s
feature of inaugurals and this time they
were intended to eclipse anything ever
before displayed. The whole Inaugural
program was upon scale OF grand mag
nificance never before surpassed IL equal
led.
The day was fine one and everything
was favorable for the enjoyment of thu
200, 900 visitors to the city of Washington
upon this occasion.
We give the Presidents inaugural ad
dress on page 3.