Evening journal., 1909-03-01
MRS. TAFT TORIDE
WITH HUSBAND
Will Accompany New PreSi.
dent to the White House
on Thursday

WASHINGTON. March Mrs. Taft
will ride down Pennsylvania avenue with
her husband on his. way from the Capt.
tol to the White House at the end of
the inaugural ceremonies at the Capitol.
The carriage will be under escort, but
its only occupants will be Mr. and Mrs.
Taft. This will be the first time in the
history OF such functions that the wife
of an incoming President has enjoyed this
distinction.
President Roosevelt will not return to
the White House after the inauguration
of his successor. He will go direct to the
Union Station and take a train for New
York. preparatory TO his departure for
his African hunt for big game He takes
the view that there is no necessity for
his return to the White House, and Mr.
Taft acquiesces in that decision
The decision Of Mr.. Roosevelt to go iii
rect to the depot from the Capitol was
reached more than a year ago That was
long before the holding Of the Republi-
can National Convention at Chicago and
before many Of its delegates had even
been chosen. He announced his mind on
the subject one morning at a Cabinet
.
welt felt that Mr. Taft would be both
nominated and elected. At that time The
"third-term" boom was stiu raging in
certain minds. and especially agiating
the serenity of senator Jonathan Bourne.
of Oregon. AS he stepped into the Cabi-
net chamber that morning Mr.. Roosevelt
announced his intentions respecting the
way he would leave the White House.
Il don't see why should come back
to the White House when my work is
over" he said. The story got out and
was printed i'm the newspapers at that
time.
Mr. Taft will be sworn in upon the
ancient little Bible of the United States
Supreme Court. He said he preferred "a
have this Bible used. There is a pretty
little touch of sentiment in this idea.
This is the Bible which would probably
have been used In the event of his eleva-
tion to the United States Supreme Court
Mr.. Taft closest friends know that the
ambition OF his life was the Chief Justice
ship of the United States Supreme Court
He really perferred it TO the Presidency.
And because of his election as President
he never viii serve as a member of the
court.
The usual rule OF the Supreme Court
has been to furnish a new Bible for the
Inauguration of a President. This was
the custom until the Cleveland inaugura.
tion, when that Presidents mother came
along with family heirloom which she
wished used. There was another depart
ure in the case Of Mr.. Mckinley, but
the usual custom is for the clerk to fur.
nish standard Oxford Bible brand
new, in which a certificate is inserted
after the ceremony attesting its use. and
TO present the Bible thus used to the
wife of the incoming President Mr.. Taf
is aware of this practice, but he prefer,
that the Supreme Court Bible. the ons
that would have been used IL he hat
been sworn in as a Chief Justice. the
little by 4 time-worn edition that lays
on the desk Of the clerk Of the court ant
has been used in swearing in member:
OF the court as well as attorneys ad
mitted to practice before the bar OF
the court. his Bible has been in thu
court a number Of years and is the on'
that was used in swearing in Mr. Tar
when he was admitted to practice.