Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1909-03-05

the night at the white house last night
as the guests of President and Mrs,
Roosevelt.
Taft Keeps Up Humor.
81 always knew it would be a cold
day when | was made President of the
United States" was the laughing remark
of MIR. Taft this morning as he looked
out of the white house windows on one
of the prettieSt winter pictures ever seen.
The snow, clinging to the trees and
shrubbery has transformed the white
house grounds into veritable fairyland
of dazzling white and fantastic forms.
Mr. Taft said he had never felt bet
ter in his liz and personally the terrible
weather was not a hardship TO him, but
he regretted exceedingly the conditions
that confronted the men in the militia
and the marching clubs who had Travelled
so many miles to have part in the
parade.
Roosevelt Feels Happy.
President Roosevelt who has always
chosen stormy weather for his most
strenuous riding and walking expedi-
tons. greeted his successor with rare
good humor as they met at breakfast
and there was much bantering between
the two friends who played today such
important roles in the newly written
chapter of American history.
With the break of day this morning,
the weather bureaus prophecy of fair
and somewhat cooler was found to be
but an empty dream. Washington is
filled with a mountaineering throng
whose disappointment today knew no
bounds Owners of reviewing stands
privileges and ticket spectators will lose
thousands of dollars.
Today's storm, the worst Washington
has known III ten years, followed wealth
er which for Il time on Yesterday was
suggestive of late April. Fog was fol
lowed by heavy showers and rising tenn
Dera ture Thunder and lightning PLAYED
about the city i'll the afternoon and then
with the coming of night snow began to
fall.
Streets Are Deserted
Down town Washington was deserted
this morning during the hours which in
previous inaugural years have witnessed
the struggling Of thousands for places
of vantage along the sidewalks of the
route of the big parade. Street car traf-
fic was so uncertain that few people in
the residential districts cared to venture
forth Hundreds who on yesterday had
paid fancy prices for grandstand seats
remained at home regardless of their
pecuniary loss.
When Mr.. Taft and President Roose-
welt met this morning in the breakfast
room Mr.. Taft's greeting to the man he
was soon to succeed was:
Mr.. President, even the clements
protest"
Mr.. Roosevelt, Il knew there would be
a blizzard clear up to the minute [
went out of office"
Cheer Within Doors
Notwithstanding the fury of the storm
outside, there was happiness and cheer
~. L, Al,
ment that Mr. Taft and President Roose-
welt started for the capitol Vice Presi-
dent Fairbanks and the entire member
ship of President Roosevelt's cabinet
had arrived by quarter of 10.
President Roosevelt and Mr.. Taft left
the white house at 1910 a. NJ, on their
Journey to the capitol. AS he came out
of the front door Mr.. Roosevelt babe
goodbye to the various officers and at
tendantS who were gathered on the Dor
tico. Mr.. Taft followed The President
was first to enter the carriage taking
the right hand seat. Mr.. Taft followed
and sat beside him. Senator Knox and
Senator Lodge of the committee on ar
rangements also entered the carriage.
Troop \ of Cleveland, the famous
Black Horse cavalry of the Ohio Ma
tional guard, which has acted as escort
to number of Presidents. performed a
similar service today.
Mrs. Roosevelt was the last of the
presidential family t. leave the white
house. In the automobile purchased for
the Taft family Mrs Roosevelt took her
final departure from the white house.
She was accompanied by two other la
dies and Capt. Archibald ". Butt,
President Roosevelt's chief military aide
The auto car proceeded directly to the
Union station, where Mrs Roosevelt
awaited the arrival of her husband III
the presidential suite of rooms.
Former President Roosevelt and party
left Washington in private car at
tached to the regular train leaving
Washington at 3 p. IN. At Long Island
City the Roosevelt party will be sup
at 9 O'Clock tonight, due at Oyster Bay
at 1918 p. III.