Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-05
Ceremony at that Time, However
Held Out in the Open.
CHIEF JUSTICE VIGOROUS THEN
Today it Would Have Been Hardship
to Take Him Into Storm.
FEW OF FACES SAME AS THEN
One Nebraskan. Then a Babe In Arms,
Now Miss Mnrthena Harrison, .
Much Observed Figure on
Both Occasions.
CFrom a tsaff Correspondent.) )

WASHINGTON. March 4.-(Special Tele-
gram-D-The Inauguration of President Taft
will be memorable as a precedent breaker
in more than one respect. The eXcep-
tionally bad weather the indoor inaugura-
ton ceremonies, the spectacular farewell
of the retiring president. the big crowds,
their impeturbable patience and dense dis
appointment. the brilliant ball, all go to
make a day that will be long remembered
by the participants.
l had witnessed one previous inaugura-
tion and naturally today's ceremonies ap-
peal to me chiefly by lkenesses and con-
trasts 1t was just twenty years ago that
came over from Baltimore, where l was
at college, to see President Harrison in
stalled in office. The weather then. like
today. was to be best described as
''beastly." Torrents Of rain, driven in
sheets by blasts of wind. made 1t almost
impossible to be out OF doors and 1 re-
member that the newspapers the next day
said the weather was the worst ever
known on the fourth OF March. Yet the
Taft fourth OF March has outdone that for
badness. notwithstanding the sky cleared
up occasionally enough to soften the soggy
snow under foot.
1t was the sensible thing to do to have
the president sworn in inside the senate
chamber, although twenty years ago Har-
rison braved as bad conditions to take
the oath on the historic portico. Today S
assemblage in the senate chamber i'm
pressed me by its contrast with 1859. OF all
the senators. not over a dozen were there
for Harrisons incoming. and only one
state. Maine, with its venerable Frye and
portly Hale, is represented by the same
two senators. Twenty years ago the scin-
tillating ingalls, welded the gavel and
gave way to Governor Morton. where today
the stately and courteous Fairbanks re-
ceived the ovation as he yielded the vice
presidential succession to Sherman.
Nebraskans Figured.
Twenty years ago General Henderson
was escorted by his colleague. Paddock.
to the front TO be sworn in for his second
term. while today Nebraska was repre-
sented by Burkett and Brown. who are
classed among the youthful newcomers.
] Twenty years ago Nebraska occupied a
prominent place in the presidential party
! through Mrs. Russell Harrison and her
parents. Governor and Mrs. Alvin Saund-
ers. and the babe in arms, Marthena
was overshadowed only by Baby Mckee.
Today Miss Marthena Harrison, accom-
panied by her mother and grandmother.
| were among the distinguished onlookers
Chief Justice Fuller administered the
oath TO President Taft, as he did to Pres
| ident Harrison and all the presidents be-
| tween them.
J Twenty years ago he was vigorous and
robust, with hair just tinging with gray,
having succeeded Morrison r. Waite,
whose funeral had witnessed in that
same senate chamber less than year
before Today the chief justice, snow
white and bent with feeble voice, and il
was more out of consideration for him
] that the outdoor ceremony was absn-
doned. 1t would. indeed have been hard
on him again to stand under an UNI
brella in the chill wind u repeat the oath
! as he had done for Harrissn.
Twenty years ago the brilliant Blaine
was there. the aged Hannibal Hambli1
was present as the only living vice pres
ident. General Tecumseh Sherman and
General schofield were the towering mil.
itary figures.
How About Parallel.
The newly arrived Coreans attracted al
the attention among the gold laced diplo-
mats and General Beaver served as grand
marshall OF the day, a rain bedragglec
parade.
Today Mr. Roosevelt trcd the path o.
Cleveland then. Shall he come bacI
again as Cleveland did?
Today the diminutive Knox. seemingl,
more diminutive beside the huge Taft
hold the eyes that looked at Blaine
Hughes. Hadley, and Root sized UP a.
coming men, General Bell heads the mill