The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1909-03-11
BLIZZARD MARS
INAUGURATION
STORM coMPELs TRANSFER OF
CEREMONIES FROM PLAZA TO
SENATE cHAMeER's SHELTER
CHEER OLD AND NEW

Incoming President Shares Honors
With Retiring Executive-Taft Re-
views Splendid Civic and Military
Parade-RooseveIt Leaves Capital
for New York Home.
Washington, March L. William
Howard Taft, of Ohio, was inaugurated
as the twenty-seventh president of
the United States at five minutes be-
fore 1 O'Clock today.
James Schoolcraft Sherman, of Uti-
ca, N. Y, few minutes before, was
| inducted into the Office of vice pres
ident by a ceremony held in the senate
chamber in the presence of the coun-
| try's greatest statesmen, brilliantly
clad representatives of foreign courts
and their military aides, and the lead
ing officers of the army and the navy
of the United States.
| Mr.. Taft was anxious to adhere to
! the original plan of carrying out the
! Inauguration ceremonies on great
| platform built on the plaza of the
east front of the Capitol, but at the
last moment it was decided to hold the
ceremony in the senate chamber be-
cause of a blizzard that swept over
this section.
Senator Knox, who was in charge
of the program, declared 1t would be
unwise to subject the aged chief JUS
| tice and the other members OF the
senate to the severe weather.
| The storm that caused the changes
in the program began with light
rain last night that soon developed in
to a bowling blizzard. Snow fell all
night, mingled with gusts Of rain and
sleet, and at eleven O'Clock this morn
ing there was eight inches of ice and
slush in the streets. At 1880 o'clock
light snow was still falling but the
sun was beginning to break through
! the clouds.
President Taft and Mrs. Taft reach
ed the Capitol from the White House,
where they were guests Of the Roose-
velts last night, accompanied by the
retiring president in a closed carriage
at 10;45. They were followed by Vice
President and Mrs. Sherman and the
| cabinet parties. Mr.. Taft went with
President Roosevelt to the presidents
rooms and waited there until the call
came to enter the senate chamber to
witness the Inauguration of Vice Pres
ident Sherman.
Vice President Fairbanks after he
had made a brief address of farewell
| to the senate, administered the oath
to his successor James Schoolcraft
Sherman, and turned over to him the
presiding officers gavel. Vice Presi-
dent Sherman made a brief inaugural
address and then raped the chamber
to order for the Inauguration of a
new president of the United States.
Chief Justice Fuller of the supreme
court of the United States, clad in the
rich robes of his office, administered
the oath to President Taft, as he had
done for Presidents Harrison, McKin-
ley and Roosevelt.
In a firm, clear voice President Taft
repeated the words of the chief JUS
tice and revently kissed the Bible.
Chief Justice Fuller was the first to
congratulate the new president and
than Mr.. Roosevelt with whom he had
been So long associated in official life
and to whom Taft's nomination and
election were so largely due, congrat-
|
heartiness.
Other distinguished officials crowded
about the new executive and extended
him their best wishes in his exalted
office.
President Taft then began the de-
livery of his inaugural address. At it's
conclusion at 1882 o'clock Mr.. Roose-
velt again mounted the rostrum and
said farewell to President Taft and
Roosevelt then left the senate cham
Der amid tremendous cheering
Two minutes later President Taft
with the crowd still cheering, departed
to view the inaugural parade, mag
nificent spectacle combining civic and
military organizations from all parts
of the country. Besides representa-
ton OF a large number of the states
of the union there were organized
bodies from all the insular possessions
of the nation, including the splendid
Philippine Constabulary band, which
at the request OF President Taft made
thu long voyage across the Pacific
ocean to serve as his musical escort
and which had a triumphal tour across
the country from San Francisco to
Washington, giving concerts enroute.
Conspicuous in 0hio's delegation were
Troop A, the famous black horse cav
airy organization composed of some Of
Cleveland's wealthiest society men,
who on this occasion appeared on new
mounts purchased in Kentucky par
l,tieularly for this occasion and the
Eighth Ohio regiment of the National
guard. The latter organization is fa-
mlliarly known as the Presidents
own" title given it during the
Spanish-Amerlcan war because IL was
made up almost exclusively of men
in the congressional district which
President Mckinley had so long serv-
ed In congress, three Of the companies
being from Canton, the presidents