The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1909-02-19

SnOWQrlfCS ana SluSn Oh Tie Cdp1IOA
plaza in the hope of witnessing the
taking of oath by the new president.
MIR. Taft was extremely anxious that
the original plans should be adhered
to, but, after he ghad arrived at the
capitol, he gave consent because OF
the danger Of exposure to the ele-
ments would have entailed upon the
venerable Chief Justice Fuller OF the
supreme court of the United States,
and the elder members of the sante
and diplomatic corps.
Mr.. Taft's Inauguration immediate
ly followed that of Vice President
James S. Sherman, which was carried
out in accordance with the original
program.
President Roosevelt entered the
crowded senate chamber arm in arm
with President-elect Taft. The ap-
pearance of these two chief figures
in the days events was a signal for
q spontaneous outbreak of applause
on the floor and of cheers in the gal
leries
Speaker Cannon took place on
the presiding officers bench by the
side of Vice President Fairbanks.
Prior to the entry of the president
and the distinguished invited guests,
the senate had adopted a resolution
of thanks to Mr.. Fairbanks, who re-
piled in a farewell address.
He then administered to Mr.. Sher-
man the brief oath of Office prescrib-
ed by the constitution and turned
over to him the presiding officers
gavel Vice President Sherman. made
but a brief inaugural address and
then raped the chamber to order for
the further business of inaugurating
the new president of the United
States.
Mr.. Taft's induction into Office was
the same simple ceremony devised in
the early days of the republic. He
sWore to uphold and defend the con
stitution, to enforce all laws and to
protect the republic against all enc
mics, both foreign and domestic.
The oath was administered by Chief
Justice Fuller who was officiating at
such a ceremony for the last time in
his notable career as the chief pre-
siding officer of the country's highest
court. President Roosevelt, who be-
came again a private citizen Of the
L
had kissed the Bible in consummatio
of his oath, was quick to congratulate
his successor in Office, being second
to the chief justice in exercising that
privilege.
When Mr.. Taft had concluded his
address he was escorted to the wait
ing carriage outside the senate wing
and there was joined by Mrs. Taft
and by Vice President and Mrs. Sher
man for the return ride to the white
house.
Ex-President Roosevelt walked out
of the capitol amid a cheering throng
and, escorted by nearly a thousand
members Of the New York County
Republican Committee, was driven to
the union station several blocks away
and boarded a train for New York
and Oyster Bay.
The Parade.
More than thirty thousand march
ing men participated in the great
military and civic pageant, which con
stituted the principal spectacular fea.
ture of the presidential inaugural GER
emory. BY almost superhuman eff
'I0rIS, a pdSSdS6Wdy Was CISdISu dlOus
the center OF Pennsylvania avenue
however, and for nearly three hours
President Taft and Vice President
Sherman reviewed the passing col
umn. Approximately twenty-five thou
sand of these were soldiers, sailors
and marines of the military establish
ments of the United States, bodies Of
the National Guard Of many states
with large contingents Of spruce ca
diets and midshipmen from the Ma
tional Military and Naval Academies
Numerically, the inaugurate parade
was not so large as that which
marched along historic Pennsylvania
avenue from the capitol to the white
house when Grover Cleveland, the
only democratic president Of the Uni
80 ctntn. sinca the civil WAR was