The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1909-03-10
TAFT'S INAUGURATION.
EX-President Theodore Roosevelt
Shared i'm the Ovation Given Ohio
Man Who Succeeded Him-New
President Declares He Will Follow
Roosevelt Principles.

WASHINGTON, Marcn 4.-The
first chief executive to take the oath
of office in the senate chamber for
7G years, William Howard Taft, be-
came president of the United States
today. Accompanied to the capitol
through the swirl of binding snow
by President Roosevelt and guard
of honor. Taft returned to the White
House just as the sun began to force
it's way thror"h the clouds.
A sudden blizzard sweeping in last
night caused the abandonment of the
outdoor exercises on the famous east
front of the capitol, much to Presi-
dent Taft's chagrin, and threatened
for time to stop the brilliant pa
geant of the afternoon However
the passageway was cleared along
the center of Pennsylvania avenue
and for nearly three hours President
Taft and Vice President Sherman re-
viewed the passage of column re-
plete with martial splendor and pic
turesque with civic display.
Following the inaugural ceremon-
les in the senate, Theodore Roosevelt,
again a private citizen. babe an af-
fectionate farewell to his successor
and then hurried away through the
side door to take the train for New
York.
Roosevelt Given Ovation.
AS he passed ont Of the chamber,
Theodore Roosevelt was given an ova-
ton quite the equal to that rendered
the new president Outside the capt.
toll, the retiring chief executive was
met by 500 members of the York
county republican club and under
their escort was driven to Union sta
ton, a short three blocks away. There
was a wait of nearly two hours at
the station, during which Roosevelt
held an impromptu reception in the
presidential suite. Many of his old
friends among the government Off
Gals and diplomatic corps surround
ed him there for final word of fare
we'll. To all with whom he spoke,
Roosevelt declared while had had a
"bully time" as president. he was glad
to lay down the duties of office. He
praised his successor and especially
commented upon the latter's inaugur-
al address as a splendid effort.
Brilliant Inaugural Ball.
President and Mrs. Taft were the
centers Of interest at the eliminating
feature of the day, the inaugural ball
in the pension building. The scene
in the cavernous building, which had
been transformed into canopied
court of ivory and white, was another
of the brilliant pictures quadrennial-
ly painted here by the gathering of a
vast and brilliant assemblages from
every section OF the country. Prior
to his visit to the ball President Taft
had entertained at tea in the White
House, members of the Yale club,
and had dined with Mrs. Taft at 7
O'Clock and stepped into the Metro
politan club to say a few words at
the dinner of the class of rs of Yale.
President Taft's day was one of con-
tinuous cheers and plaudits from the
moment he first appeared on the
White House portico to go to his in
auguration, until he returned late
tonight an unwilling leave taker from
the inaugural ball
President Taft was deeply disap-
pointed when upon arriving at the
capitol shortly after II o'clock he
found the committee on arrangements
had abandoned all hope of an outdoor