The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-02
Takes Oath Of Office as
Chief Executive Of
Virginia.
JOINT ASSEMBLY
HEARS ADDRESS
Deals Conservatively With State
Issues in First Inaugural Pa
per, Declaring Good Roads
Best Economy - Great
Crowd in Hall During
Impressive Ceremony.

With his hands upon the words OF
the Psalmist, "As the mountains are
round about Jerusalem, SO the Lord is
forth even forever" Judge William
Hodges Mann, of Nottoway. yesterday
took the oath to faithfully discharge
the duties and responsibilities OF the
office of Governor OF Virginia. lie
Immediately began the delivery OF his
inaugural address.
The ceremony. simple. yet impress
sivc, took place In the hall OF the
House of Delegates. In this room,
which ordinarily seats 125 persons.
were placed more than 400 additional
chairs Every one OF these was oc-
cupied. many persons standing through
out the affair.
the Senate and House of Delegates
and their wives, the officials of the
state government, the Mayor of the
city of Richmond, judges of city, cir
cult and Federal courts; members OF
the Supreme Court of Appeals and of
tho State Corporation Commission. and
invited guests of the retiring and the
incoming Governor and of the Lieu
tenant Governor. Admission to the
gallery was public until 1t was we'll
filled, when no others were admitted.
Preceding the administration of the
oath to Judge Mann, the other state
officers whose votes were canvassed a
| few days ago by the General Assembly
were also qualified.
Bibles nnd Pens Presented.
The Bible upon which Judge Mann
| was sworn was furnished by himself.
and had a bookmark which designated
/ the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth
! Psalm. upon which his fingers rested
| as he subscribed to the solemn words
uttered by Judge James Keith The
/ Bible useS in the qualification of
/ Lieutenant-Goyern Ellyson was the
! same as that used by and presented
1 to him four years ago. when ne iirst
assumed his present office. He brought
! it with him.
4 Attorney General Samuel W. Will
| liams, Secretary of the Commonwealth
4 B. o. James and State Treasurer Asher
| w. Harman were sworn on Bibles fur
nished by John w. Williams, who
! acted as clerk of the Joint Assembly.
In each of these cases he presented
i tho Bible to the new officer. He also
( gave to each. including the Governor
and the Lieutenant Governor, the per
i with which the printed oaths were
subscribed after the administration
4 of the oral obligation
! No decorations were attempted b3
the Joint legislative committee. How
| ever, this body had great deal o.
| work to do and did it so we'll tha
there was no hitch anywhere, every
I, thing moving according to program
and with the precision of clockworii
The punctuality of all the participant
was one of the most commendabl
i features of the inauguration.
i Audience Gathers.
\ The Senate arrived in the hall a
.l11:s0. and ten minutes later the in
Il vited guests entered In every cas-
the visitors to the chamber were re
ceived by the joint Assembly stand
ing.
J. Doorkeeper Newhouse had the pleas
ure next of announcing the State off
cials and the Mayor of Richmond: the
the members of Federal, city and eli
j, cult courts: then the State Corporatio
/, Commission: then the Judges of tn
Supreme Court of Appeals OF Virgins
: and last. except the gubernatorii
party, Hon. j. Hoge Tyler. ex-Govel
L nor of Virginia. Mr. Tyler wa
: greeted with hearty applause He too
Continued on Fourth Page,)