The Tupelo journal., 1909-03-12
Thousands Delayed.

49, A -
last night at the White House as the
guests of President and Mrs. Roosevelt.
Il always knew it would be a cold
day when l was made president of the
United States" was the smiling remark
of Taft, as he looked out of the White
House windows on one of the prettiest
winter pictures ever seen. The snow,
clinging to trees and s%hrubbery, had
transformed the White House grounds
into a veritable fairyland of dazzling
white and fantastic forms.
Cuts Much of Speech.
IT was 9 o'clock and Taft had just
finished his breakfast. He spent the
earlier hours of the morning going over
his inaugural address, eliminating para
graph after paragraph, which he intend
ed to omit in reading the document.
Taft said he had never felt better in
his life, and, personally, the terrible
weather was not a hardship to him, but
he regretted exceedingly the conditions
that confronted the men of the militia
and the marching clubs who had travelled
so many miles to have a part in the
pageantry of the inaugural parade.
President Roosevelt, who always has
chosen stormy weather for his most
strenuous riding and walking expedi-
lions, greeted his successor with rare
good humor as they met at breakfast,
and there was much bantering between
the two friends who played such impor-
tant roles in the newly written chapter
of American history.
With the break of day the weather
bureaus prophecy of Fair and some
what cooler" was found to be but an
empty dream.
The parade planned for the afternoon
was SO curtailed as to spoil what prom
ised to be one of the most splendid spec
tacles of marching men ever seen on
Pennsylvania avenue.
Washington was filled with a record
breaking throng whose disappointment
knew no bounds. Owners of reviewing
stands and ticket spectators lost thou
sands OF dollars.
Worst Storm in Years.
The storm-the worst Washington has
known in ten years-followed weather
which for a time Wednesday vas sug-
gestive of late April. Fog was followed
by heavy showers and rising tempera-
ture. Thunder and lightning played
about the city in the afternoon, and then
with the coming night snow began to
fall.
The weather bureau had sent out a
definite promise of fair weather for
Thursday. Washingtonians were inclined
to smile at the snow, as calculated to
send cold shivers down the backs of the
governments optimistic prophets.
Even Elements Protest.
When Taft and President Roosevelt
met in the breakfast room of the White
House, Taft's greeting to the man he
was soon to succeed was:
"Mr. President, even the elements pro-
test"
"Mr. President-elect," quickly r%ejoined
Mr.. Roosevelt, q knew there would be a
blizzard clear up to the minute l went
out of office
Notwithstanding the fury of the storm
outside, there was happiness and cheer
inside the White House up to the mo-
ment that Taft and President Roosevelt
started for the capitol.
Vice-President Fairbanks and the en-
tire membership of President Roosevelt's
cabinet had arrived by a quarter of ten.
Roosevelt Says Goodbye.
President Roosevelt and Mr.. Taft left
the White House at 1910 on their jour-
ney to the capitol. As he came out of
the front door, Roosevelt babe goodbye
to the various officers and attendants
who were gathered on the portico. Taft
followed. The president was first to en-
ter the carriage, taking the right-hand
seat.
Taft Followed and sat beside him.
Senator Knox and Senator Lodge, of the
committee on arrangements, also entered
the carriage, which was drawn by four
horses.
The two leading horses were unruly
and kicked out of the traces, and for a
time it seemed that the driver would
lose control. Everything was straight
ened out, however, and the president and
president-elect drove away amid the
cheers of the White House attendants.
Officers of President Roosevelt's cabi-
net also took carriages from the White
House to the capitol, being given places
in line Immediately following the presi-
Dental equippage.
Troop A, of Cleveland, the famous
Black Horse cavalry of the Ohio Nation
al Guard, which has acted as escort to a
number of presidents, performed a SINH
lar service Thursday. The large veter-
ans escort also provided for the march
to the capitol was on hand promptly,
in spite of the storm, and were loudly
cheered by the crowds which began to
gather along Pennsylvania avenue in the
slush and snow after 10 O'Clock. Mrs.
Roosevelt was the last of the presidents
family to leave the White House.
Uses Taft Auto.
In the limousine automobile purchased
for the Taft family Mrs. Roosevelt took
her final departure from the White
House at II I'm. She was accompanied
by two other ladies and Capt. Archibald
w. Butt, President Roosevelt's chief mil