The Topeka state journal., 1909-03-04
REINS ARE IN new HANDS
CONTINUED from Page onel


mark of Mr. Taft this morning as he
looked out of the White House win
dows on one of the prettiest window
to the trees and shrubbery had trans
formed the White House grounds into
a Veritible fairyland of dazzling white
and fantastic forms. 1t was 8 o'clock
and Mr.. Taft had lust finished his
breakfast. He had spent the earlier
hours of the morning going over his in
augural address, eliminating paragraph
after paragraph, which he intended to
omit in reading the document toOlay
The address for publication he allowed
to stand in full
Mr. Taft said he had never felt better
in his life and personally the terrible
weather was not a hardship to him,
but he regretted exceedingly the con-
ditions that confronted the men of the
militia and the marching clubs, who
had Travelled so many miles to have
part in the parade.
President Roosevelt who has always
chosen stormy weather for his most
strenuous riding and walking expedi-
tions, greeted his successor with rare
good humor as they met at breakfast
and there was much bantering be-
tween the two friends who played to-
day such important roles in the newly
written chapter of American history.
Weather Affected the Parade.
With the break of day this morn
ing, the weather bureaus prophesy of
fair and somewhat cooler was found
to be but an empty dream. The pa
rade planned for the afternoon, was
so curtailed as to spoil what promised
to be one of the most splendid spec
tacles of any ever seen on Pennsylvan-
ia avenue.
Washington is filed with a record
breaking crowd whose disappoint-
ment today knew no bounds. Owners
of reviewing stands privileges and
til TI-f- hon f1c
Of dollars.
Today's storm-the worst Washing
ton has known in ten years-follow-
ed weather which for time on yes
terday was suggestive of late April.
Fog was followed by heavy showers
and rising temperatures. Thunder
and lightning played about the city
in the afternoon and then with the
of night snow began to fall.
The weather bureau had sent out a
today, however, and as the wind had
shifted from the east to the north and
west, WaShingtonianS were inclined to
smile at the snow as calculated SIM
ply to send cold shivers down the
backs of the governments optimistic
prophets.
Weather Bureau Stuck to 1t.
At midnight, in spite of the contin-
louS fall of snow and the white COW
ering of streets, the weather bureau
claimed anew that the day of Mr..
Taft's Inauguration would be ideal
Prof. Willis l.. Moore, in charge of
he weather service, sent a message
% Mr.. Taft at the White House last
night assuring him through the vale
Of binding snow, that he would take
office under cloudless skies, with a
Hood of sunshine and a temperature
of about 40 degrees.
Downtown Washington was desert
En
which in previous inaugural years
nave witnessed the struggling thou
sands for places of vantage along the
sidewalks of the route of the big pa
-ade. Street car traffic was so uncer-
ain that few people in the residential
districts cared to venture forth. Hun
1reds, who yesterday had paid fancy |
prices for grandstand seats remained |
1t home regardless of their precun- |
airy loss.
When Mr.. Taft and Mr. Roosevelt
met this morning in the breakfast |
room, Mr.. Taft's greeting to the man |
ne was so soon to succeed was:
''Mr. President, even the elements (
protest"
To which Mr. Rooseve1t's reply was: |
Mr.. President-ele I knew there |
would be a blizzard clear up to the |
lime I went out of office"
Leave the White House.
Notwithstanding the fury of the |
and cheer inside the White House up |
% the moment that Mr.. Taft and |
Presiden Roosevelt started for the
capitol. Vice President Fairbanks
lent RooseveIt's cabinet had arrived !
1y a quarter of ten.
President Roosevelt and Mr.. Taft
eft the White House at 1910 on their
pRETnENT WITT