Morris tribune., 1909-02-06
.FINESTOF INAUGURALs
Taft's Induction Into Office to Be
Most Imposing.
SUPERB MILITARY DISPLAY.
General Bell Planning to Excel For-
mer lnaugurations In Showing OF
Troops-Famous Black Horse Troop
to Escort incoming President.

If the plans now under way for the
Inauguration at Washington of Will
liam II. Taft on March 4 are all
realized, the new president will be in
Quoted into office with ceremonies
such as have never been eclipsed on a
like occasion Indeed, it is probable
that the forthcoming Inauguration
will be the most attractive that Wash
ington has ever witnessed.
The inaugural Of four years ago was
marked by striking and conspicuous
military features, but the Taft inau-
guration promises to excel it in that
regard as we'll as in some other fea-
lures.
General J. Franklin Bell, chief of
staff of the army and grand marshal
Of the parade, is ambitious, of course,
. to have the military make a fine show
ing. He will be favored by the fact
that the troops now in Cuba will be
returning from the island about that
time. It is the intention to have all
the available troops in the region at
the time to take part in the parade.
The Cuban troops will be brought on
transports to Hampton Roads and
from there shipped to Washington by
rail. It is expected these veterans
from Cuba will make an especially
fine showing.
A powerful force Of the national
guard will be in line. National guard
troops have been invited from every
state. Not to exceed brigade is to
be allowed from any state. Pennsyl-
vania will send brigade. Maryland,
too, will be represented by brigade.
New York will have powerful force
of guardsmen. The District guard
viii be in line Then there will be
cadets from various schools and the
battalions from West Point and An
napolis.
The famous black horse troop of
Cleveland viii act as escort for the in
coming president The military will
head the parade, and when the east
front Of the capitol is reached the mill
tary organizations viii be drawn up
about the Inauguration platform, thus
holding back the tremendous crush OF
spectators that throng the capitol
grounds to see the new president sworn
In, and this whether the. weather
brings rain or shine. snow, hail or sleet.
This is one occasion when the AEneri-
can citizen takes NO thought OF COM
fort.
All the indications are that the. civic
side Of the parade VIII be more Inter
esting than usual. The efforts Of the
inaugural committee are being directed
to quality rather than quantity. Those
organizations that are given permission
to march will be distinguished by their
smartness and attractivneess. About
thirty civic organizations have thus
far arranged to appear In line. In pre-
vious inaugurations it has not always
been possible for the parade to pass
the reviewing stand before dark. This
parade is being arranged with view
to enabling it to pass the reviewing
stand before night falls. One. of the
civic organizations will be the Negro
Republican club of Richmond, with
800 members. .t%
There will be many other innova-
tions. A political club which attended
the Roosevelt inaugural carrying ''big
sticks" which they thumped loudly on
the asphalt as they marched, will at
tend the Taft-Sherman ceremonies, and
the members promise, striking nov
elty-they will not say what it will be
to take the place of the big sticks.
Then there will be ''possum" club
from Georgia and also an alligator
association" from Louisiana. The
rough riders, who were very much in
evidence four years ago, will be sue
ceeded in this years parade by a corps
of gentlemen riders from the fox hunt
ing districts of Virginia and Maryland,
wearing the pink coats and white rid
ing trousers and all the other acces-
sories of the regulation five barred
gate costumes.
Another feature Of the big parade is
to be a prosperity division" composed
of business men and organizations
from throughout the country. The
plan is being worked out Dy the Mer-
chants and Manufacturers association
Of Washington.
Still another innovation is found in
an order issued the other day by Brig
adler General j. Franklin Bell to the
effect that but one band will be per-
mitted to play Hail to the Chief"
That honor is reserved for the first
band in the line, the famous marine
organization.
OF course there will be. the usual
plethora Of bands, of glee clubs and
the like
The inaugural ball this year will be
marked by some departures and one
Of the most interesting of them will
be to have prominent citizen Of each
state on the COMMITTEES on arrange
ments. Z staid governors. sylphlike
state senators. graceful. na!itician~