Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1909-03-04

early today and though President
elect William Howard Taft insisted
up to almost the last moment that
his Inauguration should be held in
front of the Capitol building as had
been announced, the committee on ar
rangements finally decided that the
ceremonies should be held in the Sen
ate chamber. Mr.. Taft said he did
not mind the wind and snow in the
least, but Senator Knox, in charge OF
the program declared it to be unwise
to subject the aged chief justice ana
older members of the Senate to the
adverse weather conditions.
Decorations Ruined.
Wet. clinging snow, driven before
stingins northwest wind, fell through
out the night and wrought havoc to
telephone and telegraph lines, COM
pletely cutting off the Capitol City
from communication with the re-
mainder of the country for hours. The
snow and slush filed the streets to
depth of foot or more in places.
The wind thrashed many OF the clty's
prettiest decorations to shreds. The
immense reviewing stands along the
line Of march were made we'll nigh un-
inhabitable.
President-elect Taft and Mrs. Tart
snent last night at the White House
as guests of President and Mrs.
Roosevelt.
'I always knew it would be a cold
day when | would be made president
Of the United States was the laugh
ing remark of Taft as he looked out
of the White House windows upon the
storm.
Good Cheer at White House.
When he met the president IN the
breakfast room this morning, Ialt
greeting to the man he was to succeed
was: "Mr. President, even the ele-
ments protest. "Mr. President-elect'
knew there would be a blizzard
clear up to the time went out OF
Office" was the response. NotWlth-
Standing the fury Of the storm OUTSIDE
there were happiness and mlrth IN
side Of the White House up to the
moment that Taft and the president
started for the Capitol. Considerable
amusement was derived from the per
sisency with which the weather pu'
can officials prophesied that the IN
auguration day would be an ideal one
Professor Willis l.. Moore, in charge
of the weather service, sent a mes
sage to Taft last night assuring MN
through a veil of binding snow, thal
he would take Office under cloudless
sky. with flood of sunshine, ana a
temperature of about forty degrees
With the break of day the prophec.
was found to be an empty dream.
Start for the Capitol.
President Roosevelt and MI. Taf'
were escorted to the Capitol prompti.
at the hour set their progress
through the binding snow being mel
with cheers from thin fringe OF spec
tators who braved the elements ano
stood knee deep in the snow ano
slush along the entire distance ol
Pennsylvania avenue. The preslden
tial party reached the Capitol oulio
ing at II o'clock and were escorted
to the presidents room in the Senate
wing.
The inaugural Parade.
A force of shovelers were put te
work on Pennsylvania avenue ano
they soon cleared a path down lhe
center Of the street for trhe pararu
ars. use. In spite OF the slush the
sidewalks were lined with peopie
awaiting the start.
Az 2:47 D. m. President Taft ano
yice-President Sherman lett Ine
White House and took their places ~
the reviewing stand. They We're re
ceiyed with mighty cheer. Inc II
view Of the inaugural parade began a
once.
Simple Ceremonies.
Taft's Inauguration Immediately
followed that of Sherman, which was
carried out in accordance with the
original program. The distinguished
) company which gathered in the Sen
ate to witness the inauguration OF the
v;ce-Tesident simply remained N
their places in the chamber to vie"
the more impressive ceremonies a.
tending the induction into ONCE OF the
new chief executive OF the nation
President Roosevelt, arm-in-arm witn
president-elect Taft, entered tne
crowded Senate chamber shortly az
Ter 12 o'clock. The appearance q
the two chief figures in the events o.
the day was the signal for a spon'
taneous outburst Of applause. vice
President Fairbanks administered y
Sherman the brief oath OF ONCE, aftel
which the latter made brief address
III then raped for order for the fur'
ther business Of inaugurating the new
president. Chief Justice Fuller ad'
ministered the simple oath q fealty