The Washington herald., 1909-03-05
OFFICE

Continued from Page One.
streets along the Inc Of the procession.
and hundreds Of others were put 10 work
on the big stand in front OF the Capitol
which. almost buried in snow. would have
been unteuable for the thousands OF spec
tators that had been expected
Firemen 10 Their Best.
Il was necessary above all things 20
get the snow cleared off quickly. and so
the fire department was called out, and
the streams were turned on the thousands
upon thousands OF seats that had been
built. until ali the snow and ice was
washed away and the pine boards showed
again. But even such heroic remedy
as this was Ineffective. for up 10 noon
the snow stin fell. and the singing north
west wind blew IL onto the seats and the
pine boards. and the snow clung again
ana again. until IL seemed that the night
Of the fremen against the elements
would be hopeless
Il was hopeless. The wind blew with
such bitter keenness that for a long time
the streets were practically deserted II
seemed impossible that any one could hope
20 take the seats reserved az expensive
prices on the open stands around the
Treasury Building and elsewhere. and
so the Presidential party. leaving the
White House a little after 10 o'clock es-
corted by Troop A Of The OHIO National
Guard. marched 20 the Capitol IN the
presence Of a mighty small proportion %
spectators.
The wind was still blowing ferCely- The
powdered Snow beat keenly into tie faces
OF those who ventured forth Under foot
II was s5dden and wet and threatened
pneumonia. and few were 20 be blamed
that they did not venture forth 70 see
the pageant.
Few at Capitol.
Al the Capitol itself. where usually
F thousands gather far in advance 10 greet
4 the Presidential party when it arrives
there was practically nobody What ef-
forts that were made toward clearing
away the snow and ice had been directed
solely toward those temporary stands
+ erected in front Of the Capitol. and little
. c. no attention had been paid 70 TIE
streets and the plazas.
The consequence was that such SPEC
tators as did arrive had 10 stand Amos
ankle deep in slush. and by the time tha
. Troop A. Of the Ohio National Guard
arrived covered with snow. and remind
ing one Of nothing so much as Of Int
F. pictures OF the Russian retreat from
q Moscow. there was ONLY beGsarlv hand
. faI OF people IN front o. the stand where
. u lad been designed that President Tai
should make his inaugural address. Will,
. back on the other side OF the plaza ther,
+ were scarce 2cg6 cold and shivernc
+ spectators
IN spite Of this. there were still some
ticket holders in these temporary stands
who fought with the hremen. stiU plying
their busy hose against the falling snow
for tie s. ats 10 which they were entitled
and these perhaps would have held OnJt
them for some time If IL had not beeI
that messengers issued from the Capito
armed with mesaphones. through whicl
they shouted tne news that all outsid-
ceremonies had been called or; that th'
inaugIral address would not be made u
the open air. that all ceremonies would
take place IN the Senate chamber.
Naturally. there was disappointment
and TaUch OF IT, This sudden change o.
plan. uecessitated 10y the weather. abso
iUtely upset the programmes of those who
had arranged 10 witness and hear Presi
dent Taft's inaugural address 10 the peo
pie II was TOO late 10 make new ar
. rangements- bur stTi there were hun
dreis and hundreds Of people who force,
their way into tAe Capitol ana sought, il
vain, 20 gain admission TO the ceremOnie.
that marked the unmaking OF one Presi
f dent IN the creation OF another.
Have Packed House.
f The result was. OF course. that the las
4 act in the closing of The Sixteth Congress:
was played 10 a packed house Ever,
. gallery vas crowded 10 its limit. anJ
though the closing hours Of the Scnat'
saw a part Of the floor Of the Senat,
+ floor Unoccupied. the advent Of the mem
. beTs Of TIE House, headed by Speake'
/ Cannon. more than filled every seat ano
/ occupied every available inch Of standing
I space on the floor
4 Il was a brilliant and wonderful sigh
1 in the Executive gallery. The most no
ticcsble fact. Of course, was the absenc
4 Of the members OF the Roosevelt family
and this was hard 10 understand unit
/ one realized that Mr.. Theodore Roosevelt
was TO leave Washington Immediately af
. ter the ceremony. and that his family va
even then waiting for him AT the train
. But there was marked interest "a tn
family Of the incoming President Il
the front row sat Charles p. Taft
brother Of the President 10 whom 81
much Is due, according 20 popular report
Tor the Presidents election: and next {,
him sat Mrs William Howard Taft. il
+ a becoming dress OF pale NATIVE. lookin;
quite self-contained and happy. Besid
her sat Robert Taft, the eldest son o
tie President; and then there was Heiei
Taft. clothed in her mothers favorit
. color Of light blue. Next 10 her wa
Charlie, in a Norfolk jacket, Iookin:
unutterabiy happy
On Good Behavior.
Il was evident that Charlie was on hi
/ sood behavior. and when the Rev. Ed
ward Everett Hale, chaplain Of the Sen
ate. offered a prayer. there was no on
in the whole Senate chamber who bovve,
1 his head quite so abjectly and lowiv a
! did this lad Beside him sat Mrs. Charlie
{ =. Taft
The most brilliant sight. Of course. with
/ in the Senate chamber was the dipIo
matte corps. It was seated in that ollaf
/ tcr-circle Of seats 10 the right Of the Vic
J Presidents desk. and brilliant IN goh