The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1909-03-05
TAfTS INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
Weather Prevents Many From Reach.
Ing washington In Time.
TOOK OATH IN SENATE CHAMBER.

and Rain TO View Parade e-Mr.
Taft'S Address.
Washington, March 4.-Wil-
liam Howard Taft, of Ohio, was
inaugurated as the twenty
seventh president Of the United
States at 1856 today under the
most extraordinary circumstan-
ces that ever attended this cere-
mony.
James Schoolcraft Sherman, of
Utica, N. Y, was a few minutes
before inducted into the office of
vice-president.
Immediately following the oath
of Office, the president delivered
his inaugural address. which fol-
lows:
My Fellow Citizens--Any one who
takes the oath have just taken must
feel heavy weight of responsibility.
II not. he has no conception of the
powers and duties Of the office upon
which he is about to enter. or he is
lacking in proper sense of the obliga-
tioa which the oath imposes.
The Office OF an inaugural address
Is to give summary outline of the
main policies of the new administra-
tion, SO far as they can be anticipa-
ted. / have had the honor to be one
of the advisers of my distinguished
predecessor. and. as such, to hold up
his hands in the reforms he has initia-
ted.
should be untrue to myself. to my
promises and to the declarations Of
the party platform upon which / was
elected to ONCE, II 7 did not make the
maintenance and enforcement Of
those reforms a most important fea-
ture Of my administration. They
we're directed to the suppression of
the lawlessness and abuses of power
of the great combinations Of capital
invested In railroads and Industrial
enterprises carrying on interstate
commerce.
The steps which my predecessor
took and the legislation passed on his
Recommendation have accomplished
much. have caused a general halt II
the vicious policies which created pop
ular alarm. and have brought about,
In the business affected. much high.
er regard for existing law.
WILL. URGE RELIEF FOR RAIL
ROADS
To. render the reforms lasting, how.
ever, and to secure al the same time
freedom from alarm on the part OF
those pursuing proper and progressive
business methods. further Legislative
and executive action are needed. Re
lief OF the railroads from certain re.
strictions of the antitrust law have
been urged by my predecessor and
will be urged by me.
On the other hand, the administra.
tiol Is pledged to legislation looking
to proper federal supervision and
restriction to prevent excessive issue
OF bonds and stocks by companies
owning and operating L .erstate com.
merce railroads
Then. too. q reorganization OF the
department OF justice. or the bureau
Of corporations in the department OF
commerce and labor. and OF the inter.
state commerce commission. looking
TO effective cooperation Of these agen-
cies. is needed 10 secure more rapid
and certain enforcement OF the laws
affecting interstatr railroads and in
dustrial combinations.
hope TO be able TO submit. at the
first regular session of the incoming
congress. In December next, definite
suggestions in respect to the needed
amendments to the antitrust and in
terstate commerce law, and the chan.
ges required In the executive depart
ments concerned in their enforce
ment.
TO SAFEGUARD ALL LEGITIMATE
BUSINESS.
II is believed that with the changes
to be recommended American business
can be assured Of that measure OF
stability and certainty in respect to
those things that may be done and
those things that are prohibited.
which Is essential to the life and
growth of all business. Such plan