The Topeka state journal., 1909-03-04

| ambassadors and ministers of foreign
countries, in their gorgeous court
| dresses. The ambassador from Italy,
the dean of the corps, was the first to
enter, being followed by the ambassa-
dors from Austria-Hungary, France,
Germany, Brazil, Russia, Mexico,
Great Britain, Japan and Turkey, in
the order named. They were. given
seats near the central aisle immediate
/ ly behind the space reserved for the
members of the presidents cabinet.
The House of Representatives form
| ed in line in the corridor in the south
| ern end of the Capitol, and accompan-
| led by mem mbers-elect, who were soon
! to take their places in the next con-
gress, marched slowly to the senate
| door, which they entered two by two
| Speaker Cannon, at the head of the
| column. was at once escorted to a
| raised chair on the left of the vice
| president, members of the House and
| mem bers-elect taking seats assigned
| them throughout the chamber. The
| representatives were accompanied by
| the house employees, who, together
| with many of the official attaches of
the senate, being unable to obtain
| seats, were obliged to stand through
| out the ceremony.
The doors leading to the floor of the
! senate had been thrown open at elev-
en- o'clock for the admission of any
persons entitled to seats there. Among
| those who arrived early were officers
of the army and navy. who had re-
ce1NeO the CnankS OIL congress, WHICH
entitled them to the privilege of taxi
ing part in the ceremonies. They
were attired in full dress uniform,
made picturesque by silver and gold
eral Bell were also present in full uni
form the official representatives of
the army and the navy.
Committee of Arrangements.
The committee on arrangements in
charge of the ceremony of inaugural
ing the president and vice-president
consisted of Senators Philander Chase
Chase Knox, of Pennsylvania; Henry
Cabot Lodge, of Massachusetts and
Augustus OctaviuS Bacon, of Georgia,
on the part of the senate, and Repre-
sentatives James Francis Burke, of
Pennsylvania; Horace Olin Young, of
Michigan, and John Wesley Gaines, of
Tennessee, on the part of the House.
This committee escorted Mr. Sherman,
the vice preSid ent-elect, to the cham
Der and later performed the same
service for the president and presi-
dent-elect. Each of these distinguish
ed personages received his full quota
of attention and although the rules OF
the senate forbid applause. there was
a pronounced demonstration in the
galleries which Vice-President Fair
banks, who was in the chair. did not
hasten to suppress. During these out
bursts ladies waved handkerchiefs
and each of the recipients of this at
tention made smiling acknowledge
ment. Mr.. Taft raised his eyes to the
senator's gallery in which Mrs. Taft
and other members of his family were
seated, and nodded recognition. Mrs
Taft responded with a smile.
Two Most Conspicuous Seats.
The two most conspicuous seats in
the senate were reserved for the pres
ident and president-elect, both of
whom faced the presiding officer, the
president in the front row on the right
side of the aisle, and the president
elect on the left. Members of the cab
met were also given places in the
front row seats near Mr.. Roosevelt.
and the committee on arrangements
were seated near them.
Mr.. Sherman was at once escorted |
up the steps to the desk of the vice |
president and was given seat on his !
right There the oath of office was |
administered to him by Vice-President |
Fairbanks, this being the first of the |
functions performed after the gather |
ing of the assemblage- Mr.. Fairbanks |
raised his right hand and Mr.. Sher- |
man assumed a like position. The
words of the oath of office We're pro- |
nounced in clear resoundtng voice
and the response was distinctly heard |
in every portion of the chamber, |
where except as it was broken by the |
voices of the officials themselves, quiet
reigned supreme for the time The |
ceremony was simple but OF tense IN
terest, and spectators were duly i'm
pressed.
Grasp Sherman'S Hand.
AS Mr. Sherman lowered his right
hand it was grasped in congratulatlon
by his predecessor and ripple OF ap-
plause was heard throughout the gal
leries.
At the instance of Senator Culber-
SON chairman of the Democratic eau
Gus. the senate adopted the following
resolutions expressive or IT'S apprecla-
ton of the able and impartial manner
in which the vice-president had pre-
sided over that body during four years,
as follows:
''Resolved, That the thanks of the
senate are hereby rendered to Hon.
Charles w. Fairbanks for the dignf-
fed impartial and courteous manner
in which he has presided over its de-
liberations during the present session
Mr. Fairbanks delivered his farewell
address, referring with evident emo
ton to the uniform support that had
been given him, and to the pleasant
associations throughout his admins
tration. Following is the text of his
speech:
Fairbanks Farewell.
Senators: Again a new admins
tration succeeds to the control of ma
tional affairs in conformity with the
sovereign capacity, under the orderly
processes of the law. We witness the
impressive .transference of national
power in accordance with their Will
deliberately recorded, with increased |
respect for our institutions. We in
dulge the fervent hope that the ad-
ministration which assumes authority
under such agreeable auspices will |
meet in full measure our national
needs; that we may continue in happy
accord with the powers of the world; |
that peace, contentment and progress
may prevail throughout our borders,
and that our country may grow in ma
terial strength; and more than that
and better than that, that education, |
morality justice, and patriotism which
are our chief sources of pride, may
continue to increase among our peo-