Evening star., 1909-03-04

More than thirty thousand HEEL SUI
diers and civilians, were TO have par
ticipated in the inaugural parade today,
which constituted the principal spec
tacular feature Of the ceremonies attend
ing the induction into the highest offices
in the land Of William Howard Taft and
James S. Sherman.
R,lt the tickle forces OF meteorology
willed otherwise, and the number was
materially reduced by the snow which
fell so plentifully in the morning hours,
leaving the roadways covered with slush-
Tho weather was most freakish. and the
blizzard conditions last night and early
this morning served to dampen the ardor
as we'll as the uniforms of the visiting
soldiers sailors and civilians.
There was no material reduction in the
number of regular soldiers. sailors ana
marines that came here To take part in
the parade Wind and weather are not
reckoned with in military tactics or gem
ersl orders Cf the army or navy. 1t is
the part of IA soldier to face the storms
of the elements as we'll the blizzards
of shot and shell in battle Hence In the
first division of the parade The regulars
marched today will; full ranks and did
honor TO their historic traditions. There
were approximately 5000 OF them,
with fairly full ranks, but the storm
had played havoc with some of the civic
organizations. especially the high-hatted
contingent of political clubs. and the dim
NUMBER TO parade WAS noticeable. The
prospective number of paraders was given
as about 5000, but the number that act
uaIlv marched was several thousand shy
of that figure.
Withal. considering the most unfavor-
able and unheralded weather. the display
today was creditahle. The civic orsani-
zat.ons represented many sections OF the
Cniteo STATES. banded together for politi-
cal or business purposes, most of them
wearing distinctive uniforms.
While the parade was not as large nu-
merically as some of its predecessors on
Gays Wien the sun was shining and the
breeZes blew baimy. yet il was impre
and picturesque, despite the we;iinS down
the marchers received i'm the morning
hours
There was equality. even though guam
tity was lacking
This year each state represented sent
the cream of its citizen soldiery and the
finest Of it's civic organizations to do hon
or TO William Howard Taft and James
Schoolcraft Sherman.
The immense stands along Pennsylvania
avenue were damp and uncomfortable as
a result of the northwest disturbance and
snowstorm but many people braved the
dampness. and this afternoon they were
filled nearly if not quite to their capaci-
who had the foresight to rent windows
or purchase seats in glass inclosej stands.
Hot coffee and iuncheons were served 10
the indoor spectators who viewed the
known as ''housetoppers,' who had ar
ranged to witness the pageant from the
roofs of buildings along the line, had
most uncomfortable and dangerous time
of it.
The crowd along the sidewalks, usually
congested TO an almost sickeniag degree
on Inauguration day, Was noticCaDly thin
ner this afternoon. and folks Who could
rot get d better place al least had elbow
room.
The profuse decorations along Penn
sylvania avenue presented d most for
lorn appearance as they dropped under
their weight of moisture or snow. In
stead of the flags and banners f1uttering
in the breeze they hung limp and listless
from their staffs.
No better evidence Of the patriotism
of the American people and the popu-
larity of the new President and Vice
President could have been afforded than
the reception which greeted the organi-
cations as the procession swept between
the throngs which lined the great ave
nue. on both sides.
After Maj Gen. j. Franklin Bell, the
grand marshal of the parade, accom-
panied by his brilliantly uniformed staff,
had passed and been accorded vocffer-
Gus greeting. the crowds settled down.
with fine discrimination. to applaud
those organizations which appealed
most distinctively to them
Cadets and Tars in Line.
In previous inaugural parades the
m idshipmen from the Naval Academy
at Annapolis and the cadets from the
Military Academy at West Point have
won the greatest popular approval To-