Weekly journal-miner., 1909-03-10


 bration.
 Prior to the visit to tine ball, Taft entertained with a tea at the White House to the members of the Yale Club and dined with Mrs. Taft at 7 o'clock. He stopped at the Metropol- itan Club to sa va few words at the dinner of the class of '7S of Yale.
 Taft's day was one of continuing cheers and plaudits, from the moment he first appeared on the White House porticO to go to the inauguration, un- til he returned late tonight, unwilling to take leave of his inauguration.
 When President Roosevelt and Taft were announced at the main door of the senate chamber, opposite the pre- siding officers desk, the auditorium of the upper branch of congress held what was probably it's most brilliant assemblage of dignitaries of the state and nation, richly uniformed ambassa- dors and ministers, and special repre- sentatives from virtually every eOun- try of the civilized world.
 The president and Taft walked side by side down the aisle to chairs placed
  and sat facing the audience.
 Every one in the assemblage arose and remained standing until the two had taken their seats.
 The ceremonies of the inaugural had begun when Fairbanks made his fare well address, and declared the Sixtieth congress at an end.
 Turning to Sherman, who had been escorted to a place beside him, he ad- ministered the oath of office, and turned over the gavel to Sherman
 In rapping the senate to order for a special session of the SiXty-first con gress, sherman made brief address.
 Then followed the swearing in of many senators. This completed, Sher- man said: ''The Chief Justice will now adpinister the oath of office to the president -elect.''
 The sudden announcement came as a surprise.
 Taft arose, and taking the arm of KnOx, chairman of the joint commit tee on arrangements, walked around to a position in the rear of the presiding officers desk, followed by Chief Jus tiee Fuller, officiating for fifth time at this ceremony.
 Taft took a position facing the mem hers of his family grouped in the gallery.
 The chief justice began the admins tration of the oath in low tone. Taft repeated the words in q slow and distinct voice.
 When at last he kissed the Bible amid an outburst of applause he was grasped by the hand by the Chief Jus tice.
 President Taft then began his inau- gural address.
 In the inaugural address Taft out lined the policies of his immediate ad laying emphasis upon his following of the principles of his pre- decessor. He was warmly applauded as his remarks showed this intention. He said: My Fellow Citizens:
 Any one who takes the oath l have 1 just taken must feel a heavy responsi | bility. IT not he has no conception ! of the powers and duties of the office upon which he is aorrc to enter, Or he is lacking in proper sense of the ob- 1 igatiOn which the oath imposes.
 The office of an inaugural address is | 70 give a summary outline of the main | policies of the new administration. so | far as they can be anticipated. I! have had the honor to be one of the | advisers of my distinguished predeces- scr, and as such, to hold up his hands m the reforms he has initiated. I | should be untrue to myself. to my promises and to the declarations of the party platform upon which l was elect ,d to office, if l did not make the main enance and enforcement of those re 'orms a most important feature of my They were directed O the suppression of the lawlessness md abUses of power of the great com linatiOns of capital invested in rail oads and in industrial enterprises ear wing on interstate commerce. The teps which my predecessor took and he legislation passed on his recOmmen- lation have accomplished much. have aused general halt in the vicious policies which created popular alarm. md have brought about in the busi- less affected, q much higher regard or existing law.
 To render the reforms lasting. how yer. and to secure at the same time recdom from alarm on the part of |r hose pursuing proper and progressive business methods, further legislative md executive action are needed. Re ief Of the railroads from certain re- trictions of the antitrust law have .eon urged by my predecessor and will 1 a urged by me. On the other hand, ne administration is pledged to legis- ation looking to a proper federal su- ervisi0u and restriction to prevent l. ycessiye issue of bonds and stocks by ] owning audloperating inter tate commerce railroads.