The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-03-04
CROWDS SURGE STREETS
ANKLE-DEEP In SLUSH
Roosevelt and Taft Go To-
gether From the White
House to the Capitol---A
Notable Speech Made by
the Incoming Executive.

Washington, d. O., March 4.--William
Howard Taft of Ohio to-day became the
twenty-seventh president of the United
States, and Theodore Roosevelt Of New
York, who had held the Office for seven
and half years, at the same instant
was transformed into private citizen.
Half an hour before Mr.. sTaft repeated
the solemn oath of Office, James School
craft Sherman Of New York was sworn
in as vice-president, succeeding Charles
Warren Fairbanks Of Indiana, who had
presided over the Senate chamber, in
which the ceremony took place, for one
term OF four years.
Immediately following the ceremony,
President Taft proceeded TO the White
House to review the military and civic
parade, while ex-President Roosevelt
went to.the Union station, where he took
train for his old home at Oyster Bay TO
prepare for his African hunting trip,
Immediately after the president had
taken the oath Of office, administered by
the chief justice of the United States,
the governments official participation in
the proceedings ceased, and the inaugural
committee, which has general charge Of
the entire quadrennial entertainment,
again took command. Contrary to popu-
lar belief, tie inauguration of the presi-
dent Is not a national affair" at all.
Except for the swearing in of the presi-
dent and vice president, it is as much
private business concern as a street-ear
line or q department store. The chair
man Of the national committee, of which
ever party happens to be in control, APP
points the chairman of the inaugural
committee. usually selecting well
known business man of the capital.
The latter thereupon names his sub
committees, who in turn hustle around,
collect the money from the business
firms and individuals of the city, and
"whoop things up" The sale Of tickets
for the inaugural ball, at SIS per, Of
tickets for the stands and for various
concessions, always more than equals the
amount of the subscriptions, and it Is
poor Inauguration that does not return
all the subscription money to the busi
ness men and give them a neat profit in
the way of enormously increased trade.
The amount raised this year has not yet
been announced, but at last accounts it
was over $95 700, and was still climbing.
Four years ago the inaugural committee
collected something overs Sd5,000, all of
which was returned to the subscribers.
This years Chairman was Edward j.
Stellwagen, president Of the Union Trust
company and as his aides in the work
he selected General John MI Wilson,
u. S. A., retired; John JOY Adson, banker
and real estate operator, and Charles j.
Bell, president of the American Security
o.,1 nta af NH bnH
acted as chairman himself at one of the
last three inaugurations.
The heavy snowstorms interfered con-
siderably with the program of the day
though the clouds broke finally, indi-
eating a clearing. Regardless of the
streets vast multitude Of people surg
ed into the slush and mud which was
ankle deep.
President Roosevelt and President
elect Taft started from the White House
for the Capitol at 1880 o'clock and
reached there at 1O.45. At 1915 the
sun had broken through the clouds
though a light snow was still falling.
Despite Of the very bad weather condi
tons the ceremonies were carried out
although the parade was curtailed,
there being many less in line than there
would have been under better conditions
President Taft's address was as fol.
lows:
Taft took the oath of Office at 1855
p m.
Taft's Address.
My Fellow Citizens;--Anyone who
takes the oath / have just taken must
feel heavy weight OF responsibility. If
not, he has no conception Of the powers
and duties Of the Office upon which he is |
about to enter, or he is lacking in a
proper sense Of the obligation which the
oath imposes.
The Office of an inaugural address is
to give a summary outline of the main
policies of the new administration so far
as they can be anticipated. ! have had I
the honor to be one OF the advisers of my l
distinguished predecessor and as such to
hold up his hands in the reforms be has
initiated. / should be untrue to myself, I
to my promises and to the declarations I
Of the party platform upon which | was I
elected to Office if | did not make the I
maintenance and enforcement Of those 4
reforms a most important feature Of my
administration. They were directed to
the suppression Of the lawlessness and I
abuses Of power Of the great combina-
tons Of capital invested in railroads and
In induFtrial enterprises carrying on in /
terstate commerce The steps which my
Predecessor teek and the LEGISLATION pass-