The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-05
Taft Takes the Oath of Office in United States Senate While
 Blizzard HoWls Around Nations Capitol Spelling Days Plans
William Howard Taft Becomes President of the United States Under Very Adverse Weather Conditions Which Cause Great Disappointment to the Thousands Gathered
 to Bid Him God Speed
Ceremonies In the Senate Are Very Impressive and Heightened By the Parting Scene Between Roosevelt and Taft While the Street Parade and Inaugural Ball Fill Out
 the Brilliant Programme

in their ears, MT. Taft and President Roosevelt were as happy as two boys. l q knew it would be cold day when 1 was made President of the United States exclaimed Mir. Taft. And I knew there would be a blizzard clear up to the mo- ment I went out of office," rejoined l President Roosevelt.
 No Outdoor Ceremony.
 Despite his unfailing good humor, Mr. 1 Taft was deeply disappointed when, upon arriving at the Capitol shortly after Il o'clock he found that the committee on arrangements had practically abandoned ! all hope of outdoor ceremony MT. Taft said he was anxious that the great Amer l ican people represented in tNe throngs l which gathered every four years on the Capitol plaza should have their usual | share in and view the inauguration. It was deemed dangerous, however. to | force the venerable members of the su | preme court, the Senate and the diplo- | matic corps, the jeopardy of the long eX- , posture to the fury of the elements, and 1 the President-elect finally acquiesced in 1 the change of programme.
 Not since Andrew Jacksons first inau- 1 guration in 1883 had a President taken l the oath in the Senate. At his first in 1 augural, Jackson had protested against an l indoor ceremony when so many of his l lellOW ClllZenS were BdInereu OulS1ue Ine l Capitol. So, followed by all the distin- 1 guished company which had assembled in l the hall of the Senate he proceeded to the 1 portico of the east front and there took | the oath of office and delivered his in | augural address His second induction into office, however, was marred by weather which is reputed to have been 1 the equal of that which prevailed through | out last night and the forenoon of to- | day.
 l Few persons living in Washington, how i ever, can remember such weather since l the second inauguration of MT. Cleve- l land.
 Special Resolution. To effect the change in ceremonies from 1 the great stand erected along the east l front of the capitol to the Senate cham l Der 1t was necessary today to rush a | special resolution through the House and | Senate.
 When President Roosevelt and MT. Taft l were announced at the main door of l the Senate chamber, opposite the presid- | ing officers seat, the auditorium of the upper branch of Congress held what was l probably its most brilliant assemblage of | dignitaries of state anc nation and rich 1 1y uniformed ambassadors, ministers and I special representatives from practically | every country of the civilized world. 1 The voice of the usher at the doorway
 
 l the corridor throngs which followed the | two chief figures in the history-mak- l ing of the day into the crowded cham Der. The President and Mr. Taft walked side by side down the aisleway to chairs placed immediately in front of the clerks desk and sat facing the distinguished audience. They had been greeted with applause which begah among those on the floor and quickly swept up to the gallery throngs. Every one in the great assemblage arose and remained standing until MT Taft and MT. Roosevelt had been seated On the floor of the cham Der, to the right and left of the center aisle, were ranged the members of the diplomatic corps the black -gowned jus tices of the supreme court, the members of the House and Senate the admirals of the navy, the chief of staff of the army and scores of other officials and distinguished visitors. An entire section of the gallery to the left of the presid- ing officers desk had been reserved for Mrs. Taft and the other members of the new Presidents family. Members of MT. Sherman's family also had space set apart for them.
 Congress at an End.
 The ceremonies of the inaugural formal ly were begun, MT. Fairbanks in a fare well address which called out a tribute of cheering, declared the Sixtieth Con
 
 man. who had been escorted to a place beside him, he administered to his sue cessor the solemn oath of office, and turned over to him the gavel of the Senate. Previously a resolution of thanks to MT Fairbanks had been unanimously carried. MT. Sherman fin rapping the Sen ate to order in special session of the Sixty-first Congress made a brief address, and then followed the swearing in of many new senators. This ceremony com pleted and without further ceremony of any sort, Vice President Sherman an- nounced
 "The chief justice will now administer the oath of office to the President -elect"
 The sudden announcement came as a surprise and solemn hush fell on the assemblage. MT. Taft arose, took the arm of Senator Knox, chairman of the joint committee on arrangements, and a mem- Der of his cabinet, and walked around to a position in the rear of the presiding officers desk. He was met by Chief Justice Fuller, who was officiating In this ceremony for the fifth time.
 Taft Takes Oath.
 MT Taft took up a position facing the members of his family grouped in the gallery. The chief justice began the ad- ministration of the oath in a low tone. As he paused at the end of each phrase MT. Taft caught up his words and re- ptdltu tiiSul III u 5lOW, ulStlnCt voice which carried impressively to the farth- est reaches of the chamber When he at last had kissed the Bible, there was an outburst of applause, a grasp of the hand by the chief justice and President Taft began immediately the enunciation of some of the immediate policies of his administration in an inaugural address he read from typewritten manuscript, but his familiarity with the text enabled him to bring emphasis to the points he wished most to impress upon his hearers, not the least interested of which was the retiring chief executive.
 Mir. Taft won applause at the very out set by announcing his adherence to the Roosevelt policies and of his intention to carry them out by means of further legislation which would also have for It's purpose the freeing from alarm of those pursuing proper and progressive business methods" The galleries were not alone in applause accorded the points he made. The staid members of the Sen ate constantly interrupted with applause while the representatives of the House were even more demonstrative in express ing their approval. The diplomats list ened intently to MT. Taft's outline of foreign policy for his frankness in deal ing with the various subjects touched upon in his address won much commenda- s~~~~~-~-~~~~~~~-~>~>--~~~ ~~~~~~-~~~~~-~>~