Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-03-05
Despite Snow and SluSh Thir-
ty thousand Men March In
Long Review Before Presi-
dent TAFT.
GEORGIA 'POSSUM CLUB
AND MARYLAND HUNTERS
TAKE PART IN PAGEANT
Military Organizations From Every
Part of Country Join With Taft
Clubs and Civic Associations in
Big Demonstration.
Nv AssOcia.sd Pres.,l.

WASHINGTON, March 4.-More than
thirty thousand marching men particle
pated today in the great military and
civic pageant, which constituted the prir-
cipal spectacular feature of the presi-
rental inaugural ceremony. Approxi-
mately twenty-five thousand of these
were soldiers, sailors and marines OF the
military establishments of the United
States. bodies of the National Guard Of
many states, with large eontingents OF
spruce cadets and midshipmen from the
National Military and Naval academies.
The remaining eight thousand were citi-
zens from all parts of the United States.
banded together in commercial and polit-
ical organizations, many of them distine-
lively uniformed campaign clubs.
Numerically, the inaugural parade to-
day 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 United States
since the Civil war, was indicted into the
office the first time. The parade today.
however, had a distictive and Impressive
quality, which no similar pageant ever
possessed. This year. each state repre-
sented sent the cream of its citizen sol
diery and the finest of its civic organiza-
tions to- do honor to William Howard
Taft and James Schoolcraft Sherman. the
new president and vice president Of the
United States.
Lining Pennsylvania avenue, from the
capitol to the white house. were immense
stands for spectators and every seat was
occupied. Every vantage point in win
dow and on hOuse-top was taken when
the head of the magnificent column or
thirty-odd thousand men swung around
the curve at the Peace monument and
Strengthened out for its mountaineering
long march to, through and beyond the
brilliant court OF honor. The avenue was
great lane of streaming white and vivid
green, the official colors of this, the most
picturesque of inaugural ceremonies
Crowds Wave Banners
of thousands that damned the sidewalk
and thronged the buildings along the
route of the parade carried a miniatura
Star Spangled Banner, attached to gol-
den staff. These were waved with right
good will and no better evidence of the
patriotism of the American people and
the popularity of the new president and
vice president could have been afforded
than The reception which greeted the or
CARNATIONS as the procession swept be-
tween the throngs which lined the great
avenue on both sides.
After Major-Geheral ]. Franklin Bell
the grand marshal of the parade. ac-
companied by his brilliantly uniformed
staff, had passed and been accorded
vociferous greeting, the crowds settled
down, with fine discrimination to APP
plaud those organizations which ap-
pealed most distinctly to thena.
In previous inaugural parades. the
midshlpmen from the Naval academy
si Annapolis and the cadets from the
Military academy at West Point have
won the greatest popular approval. To-
day they were no less favorites than
formerly among both residents and visl-
tors; but in heart interest they were
eclipsed by the detachment of $500 sail
ors from the great fleet Of American bat
tleships now anchored in the waters Of
Hampton Roads. just returned from
their world-encircling, epoeh-makfns
cruise of fourteen months. Tanned these
men were by tropical suns, 1.-the. active
and hard as nails through the rigidity
Of their work and discipline and as
they marched down the aag-decked lane,
with the sailor-man's quick, active step,
to the accompaniment of inspiring mu-
sic from their own hands, the thr0ngs
became nearly hysterical in the mani
IeSLaUOn
swung along in lively, happy fashion.
accustomed now as they are TO the
adulation of thousands they were EVIL
IDENTIFY pleased with the deep-chested
rear tina tgreeted them from the open
threats of a hundred thousand Amerl-
cans-their fellow-countrymeIi In this
way did the American people. as repre-
sented in the nations capital, express
their pride ir the men who. in time
of peace, had won undying fame in far
off countries.
'sMan Behind the Guns"
These men behind the guns fur
nished merely one of the interesting
features of the parade Eighteen gov
ernors of as many states who had
journeyed to Washington to do honor
to the nations chief executive. appear
ed in the pageant surrounded by hand
somely cararisoned STATS. Silk-hatted.
frock-ccsted and dignified. these men.
chosen beyond their fellow citizens, wers
accorded everywhere cordial recep-
ton by the cheering crowds.
There was tremendous applause, too.
for all organizations, civil and military
in the line. Among them several regi-
ments Of Khaki-clad soldiers OF the Uni
ted States army. only recently returned
from Cuba. and other regiments that hav6
won honor N wars and in plains fighting
with Indians. attracted notable atten-
@sor Among the state tro~ps were de<aof-