The Washington herald., 1909-02-14

Location of Building Hiding White House Selected
by Tossing Cane to the Groand

one Is tempted to wonder did his salary
( begin before Gen. Washington's, or did
1 he serve his country for ten DAYS gratis? ?
The title. President OF the United States.
/ vas finally adopted and the Inaugural
( ton OF the first gentleman 20 that Of
+ fice took place on the thirtieth OF April.
/ l7s9. Hence the great popularity OF that
date among the advocates Of a change
from the present time OF Inauguration.
Took Oath on March 3.
Speaking OF inaugurstions. and there IS
plenty OF discussion Of that interesting
subject with new one so near at hand.
Rutherford B. Hayes was inaugurated
or the third Of March privately, Just be-
I fore midnight in the last Room OF the
White House. The campaign that
/ brought him 70 the fore had been Bit
( terry contested. and Tilden had been
openly advised 10 defy the decision Of
I Congress, which gave the count TO Hayes.
and take the oath Of office in New York.
I The fourth fell or Sunday that year. and
none knew what would happen before
I Monday morning.
{ President Grant, being veteran Of
many campaigns. believed in the wis
/ dom Of getting your blow in first
therefore, dinner invitations for thirty
we're issued for March at the Execu-
{ tive Mansion. including Hayes. the Chief
Justice Of the United States. and the
Secretary Of State. Hayes was then
sounded as to his willingness 20 take
the oath on Sunday. and declared his
scruples, but he was willing TO 20
through the ceremony in advance. Just
before midnight on March ;. The oath
-H.-H-
the presence Of 4 few witnesses. and
when with pomp and ceremony the pub
lie Inauguration was held March 5 Few
Of the On-lOOkers knew that il was le-
galiy unnecessary, as R. B. Hayes was
then two days President
Not Present at Inauguration.
II Washington City was endowed with
two Presidents that night when Hayes
took the oath before Grants term had
expired. # was only making Up for the
hours when-way back In the beginning
Of events in Washington-there was no
President in town.
This irregularity also had birth in par
u strife, for the race between John Ad-
ans and Thomas jefferson was as bit
ter as the opponents were strong; and
few such giants mentally and morally
has the country known. Well, as we all
know, Jefferson won. and Adams could
not remain TO see his victory ratified
So early on the morning of March the
President and the Speaker Of the House
left town and were well on the road to
Massachusetts when jefferson went
through the simple ceremony at the Cap
itOL Many have been the comments as
70 Why, as an eyewitness declared. JEFF
fersOn rode, unsccompanied by guard or
servant 70 the Capitol. but In view of the
Gesertion Of these two gentlemen. and
as his taste for simplicity had been de-
veloped by long residence In France dur
ing the reign OF liberty. equality, and fra
ternity. It IS not surprising that his in
dGction into Office was Of the simplest
character.
FOrEets Cabinet Members.
That Johnson practically took the oath
Of Office in bed the night Lincoln died
is common knowledge, but many have
forgotten that the scenes of this drama
was the old Kirkwood House. now the
Raleigh, on the foundations Of which
the old part OF the present hotel stands.
II Johnson's effort at speech making had
not improved since his first attempt when
he was called on 20 take the ooath of OF
fee as Vice President, few regrets were
felt by his friends that he was spared
the more public ordeal One charitable
reporter on the memorable occasion of
JohnsOn's first exhibition. when he told
the persons gathered to witness the sec
ond inauguration Of Lincoln. that '.he
was a plebeian and ne thanked God for
IT, not wishing 10 report the speech. |
declared that owing to the conversation |
OF the ladies in the galleries the short /
speech Of AEr- Johnson was inaudible; oh.