Albuquerque citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1907-1909, 1909-03-04

Washington. March 4.-Washington
was swept by a blizzard early today
and though President Taft insisted al
most up to the last minute that his IN
auguration would be held in front OF
the capitol building as had been an
nounced, the committee on arrange
ments finally decided that 1t shoulu
be held in the Senate chamber. MI
Taft said he did not mind the Wlno
and snow in the least, but Senator
Krox who was in charge of the pro-
gram, declared that it would be un-
wise to subject the aged chief justice
and the older members of the Senate
to adverse weather conditions.
Wet ofing;ng snow, driven before a
singing northwest wind fell tIro,4S =
out the night and wrought havoc TO
telephone and telegraph lines, COM
pletely cutting off the capital cltE
from communication with the re-
mainder of the country for hours'
Snow and slush filled the streets To
dcpth of "A foot or more in places. The
wind thrashed many of the city
prettiest decorations to shreds I'M
mense reviewing stands along the line
of march were made well nigh unlh-
habitable.
President-eIect Taft and Mrs. Taft
spent last night at the White House
as the guests of President and MIS-
Roosevelt
II always knew it would be a cold
day when L was made president OF the
United States" was the laughing re-
mark of Taft as he looked out of the
White House windows upon rising.
When he met President Roosevelt
in the breakfast room this morning
Taft's greeting to the man he was 10
succeed was:
MIR. president, even the elements
protest"
MIR. president-elect | knew there
would be a blizzard clear up to the
time / went out of office" Was the re-
sponse.
Notwithstanding the fury of tne
storn outside there was happiness
and mirth inside the White House up
to the moment Taft and the president
started for the capitol
CJnsidera BILE amusement was deriN-
ed from the persistenecy with Whlch
the weather bureau officials prophe-
sled the inauguration day would be
ideal. Prof. Willis L. Moore, IN
Charge of the weather service. sent q
message to Taft last night assuring
him through a vale of binding snow
that he would take office under cloud
less skies, with a flood of sunshine
and the temperature about 40 de-
grees. with the break OF day tht
prOphesy was found to be an empty
dream.
President Roosevelt and Mr. Taf
were escorted to the capitol promptly
at the hour set, their progress through
the binding snow being met with
cheers from the thin fringe of specta'
tors who oraved the elements ant
stood ankle dcep in the snow anC
slush along the distance of Pennsyl
vania avenue. The presidential par
ty reached the capitol building at
O'Clock and were escorted to the pres
ident's room in the Senate wing.
President Roosevelt and President
elect Taft entered the chamber jus
few minutes before the ceremonie
incident to the inauguration Of MI
Sherman began. At the completion
of these ceremonies, interest chang
ed to the inauguration of Mr.. Tai
and the big chamber was hushed a
he advanced to the rostrum.
Laying his hand on the Bible h
swOre TO uphold the constitution an
to fuIfll the duties of his Office 20 tn
best of his ability and was swor
in by Justice Fuller.
He then began his inaugural ad
dress and when it was complete
there was rush TO congratulate tn
new president. Among the first I
reach him was President Roosevelt
For a time MI. TAFT received IN
congratulations OF his friends an
then said goodbye TO Presiden