Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-03-04
Taft's inauguration.

| doWArd lSf, Of ONO, To-Day pecan .
the tWeoty- seventh president of the
United s a;es, and Theodore Roosevelt,
Of New York, who bella the Office for
seven aud bali Yeas at the same in
slant became private citizen.
Half an hour before Mr.. TAFT repeated
the cath of Office, james Schoolcrat
Sherman, OF New York, was sworn In
as vice. president, succeeding Charles
Warren Fairbanks, Of Indiana, Who
had presided over the Senate Chamber,
10 which the ceremony took place, for
one term of four years.
The swearing 10 Of the new president
took place a half hour after noon In the
Senate chamber 10 the presence of 8
large Thong.
Immediately following the ceremony,
! President Taft proceeded to The White
House to review the military and civic
parade, while ex.Presdent Roosevelt
went to the Union station, where be
took train for bis old home at Oyster
By.
roday's Inaugural, fashioned to honor
msu 80 different from the one who re-
tires to private life, was on quieter lines
than that Of 1905 The wild whoop Of
the cowboy is missing. So is the buck
Ing "cayuse" that he rode up aud down
Pennsylvania avenue TO the high de-
light OF the boy and the CONSERVATION OF
the boys parents. The rough rider is
not the "whole show" today. The
lighting companies that journeyed with
the last president TO Gu ba have resigned
their places of preference to the bat
tsllions of peace. The Black Horse
Troop, OF Cleveland, which escorted
President Mckinley to and from the
Capitol, was chosen by Mr.. Taft for the
duty performed by the First United
S,stes Volunteer Cavalry four years
sgo; and the pink-coated fox.hunters of
Virginia won the cheers today that be-
ouged at the last Inauguration to Seth
Bullock and his cow.punchers from The
Bad Lands of the Dskotas.
Immediately after the president had
taken the oath of Office, administered by
the chief justice of the United States,
and had started from the capitol
where the ceremony took plfc', the gov
erlmenrs official participation 10 the
proceedings ceased, and the inaugural
COMMITTEE again took command. Con-
trsrJ to popular belief, the Inauguration
of the president is not "nstoral af'
fair" at all. Except for the swearing
in of the president and vice president, it
is privats business concern. The
chairman of the national committee, of
whichever party happens to be In con-
troll, appoints the chairman OF the in-
augural committee, usually selecting s
sell.known business man of the capital.
The latter thereupon names bis sub.
committees, who in turn collect the
money to defraY expenses. This years
chairman was Edward j. S.ellwagen.
Many thousand people had gathered
at the east front of the Capitol TO witness
the swesripg In Of the new president.
The presidents stand with its hsnking
rows of seats was built some eight feet
from the level OF the pavement. The
only decoration of the stand was TIE
great blue aud gold flag of Office belong
| ing to the Chief Executive. At either
side of the sand, upon msrble-whitt
foundation, was q mass of palms and
ferns, and upon the front of each of theae
giant flower boxes MAS a medallion oil
the Great Ssfl Of he United States. On
account Of he ba weather the ceremony
took place 10 tn senate chamber.
| At12:30 O'Clock the justices Of the
Supreme Court OF the United States ap
peared in the chamber, with Ohie
Justice Fuller at their head. The ser
geauls.st-arms OF the Senate aud House
and the marshals of the District Of Co
lumbis and the Supreme Court escorted
the justices to their appointed places, tC
the left of the presidents tribune. They
sere scarcely s:a,ed before the commit
Toe of arrangements of the Senate auc
House entered sscorliug President Roose'
Welt and President-elect Taft. The
president that was aud the president
that was to be stepped into view arm
ia arm.
| A fash aud glitter Of gold lace, q
spsrkle of stars and crosses proclaimed
the appearance OF the diplomatic corps,
with Baron Edmondo Mayor de-
| Planches, ambassador from ally, lead
ing. After the ambassadors came the
ministers, and, after the ministers, the
charge d'ahaises, the secretaries, attaches
both military and naval, and all the
other dignitaries of the little courts that
are in our midst.
Following the diplomatic corps came
the new vice president, Mr.. Sherman
the senators; Speaker Cannon and the
members OF the House; heads OF the ex.
ecutiye departments of the government ;
the governors of the states and terri
tories; Admiral Dewey al the head OF the
navy; Major General Bell, chief OF staff
of the army; snd lastly the invited
guests. The 6rst lady to be seated
was Mrs. Taft. She was followed By the
Younger members OF her family.
After all had been seated Chief JUS
| tlce Fuller advanced toward the. places
occupied by President Roosevelt and
President-eect Taft. Mr.. Tsft met the
Justice az center of the platform. James
| Il. McKenney, clerk of the Supreme
Court, advanced with the old Supreme
Court Bible, and almost before the
gathering of people knew what was trans
piring, Mr.. Taft had taken the cath Of
office.
A second later the crowd saw Mr.
Taft press his lips ~ the Holy Book.
A signal va, flashed FROM the dome Of
the Capitol 10 the navy yard, and was
answered BY the booming Of gun, and