The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-03-04

1
sumed the burdens and responsiSili-
| ties. the duties and the hOnorS Of the
| Office of president of the nited States.
On the stage erected on the east por
tico Of the national capitol. the place
llalOWed by The memories of Lincoln
and Grant and Garfield and Mckinley.
the oath Of nf:ce was administered to
President Taft. and he delivered to the
listening throngs the address III which
he accepted the Office conferred on
him by L majority of his countTynle.l,
Shortly before this event his colleague,
Vice President James Schoolcraft Sher
man. was indicted into Office. in ac-
rordance with historic custom, the lat
ter took the oath in the chamber Of
the United States senate. over whose
deliberations he will preside for four
years.
Principal among the features Of in
Inauguration day were the taking OF the
oath of Office by President Taft, the
great inaugural parade and the SPLEEN
did inaugural ball. Other features Of
the day of scarcely minor interest 10
"
as 1t was never before filled We're the
drive Of the retiring president and the
president elect from the White House
to the capitol. the taking Of the oath
Of office by the new vice president. the
return to the White House by FreSi-
dent Taft after the inauguration and
the fireworks display back Of the
White House in the evening. In each
case there were thousands to see and
hear and applaud the inauguration
ceremonies. which. it is generally
agreed. were the greatest and most
magnificent in the history Of the Unit
ed States
Following night Of revelry and joy
Gus anticipation. Washington's crowds
were astir early on the morning of in
auguration day. Daybreak showed the
crowds already beginning to gather on
Pennsylvania avenue seeking good
places from which to see the retiring
president and his successor drive along
the mile that separates the White
House and the capitol. The same
crowds held their places all day until
| the last man of the 10000 who made
up the great parade had passed along
to be reviewed by the new president.
| As far as Mr.. Taft and Mr.. Roose
welt were concerned, the day began
with breakfast at the White House.
where MIR. and Mrs Taft had been the
guests of Mr. and Mrs. Roosevelt,
From the instant the president and
president elect emerged from the White
House door. shortly after II o'clock,
on their way to the carriage which
was to convey them to the capitol,
Roosevelt and Taft shared equally The
public acclaim And from that mo-
ment to the conclusion of the inaugu-
raj ceremonies in front of the capitol
they were side by side-the two central
| figures in the great historic picture Of
| today They rode together from the
White House through history laden
Pennsylvania avenue to the capitol.
appeared together in the presidents
room In the senate wing. entered the
senate chamber arm in arm TO attend
the Induction into office of James
SchOolcraft Sherman as vice president
Of the United States. and finally they
marched side by side through the main
corridors of the capitol. passed togeth-
or through the great bronze doors on
the east front of the building and out
into that vast sky canopied auditorium,
where. face to face. still together. they
were with the American people
| Sherman Takes the Oath.
| 1t was select assemblage which
witnessed the assumption Of office by
Vice President Sherman The swear
Ing in of the vice president and Of all
the incoming senators was conducted
in the senate chamber in the presence
e distinguished company consisting
| Il leading officials Of the three co-ordi-
rate branches of the government and
the diplomatic representatives of prac
ticslly every nation of the world In
Joint of interest the personality of the
i.!en occupying seats on the floor Of
the chamber was equaled by the gath
e-irE in the surrounding galleries.
which were filed With the women who
make up the social life of the capital.
At II o'clock the gallery entrances
were thrown open to the holders Of
cards Of admission. Each senator had
;.een given two and each representa-
| live one Of these cards. without which
uests We're not permitted to enter the
senate wing. The demands of those
who desired to witness the event We're
80 great that the exclusion became a
Dacessity.
When all the witnesses to the cere-
laony were assembled Mr.. Sherman
was escorted up the steps to the desk
ct the vice president and was given a
eeat ON his right. There the oath Of
e0es WAS administered to him By Vice