The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-03-05

brary was a sea of humanity. 1t was
the biggest assemblage that had ever
come together to witness the taking
of an oath by an incoming president.
Greeted BY Cheers.
AS the president-elect and Mr.. Taft
stepped out from the capitol and
moved down the center aisle towards
the raised platform. a cheer went up.
AS the president and the president
elect mounted the platform on which
the oath was to be administered,
there was another round of cheers,
Mr. Taft took his hat off, but after
looking around and discovering that
everybody else was covered, he put 1t
back on. The members of the Su-
preme court quickly took their places
on the stand, and Chief Justice White
advanced to the raised platform,
where the president and president
elect with members of the congress
sional committee on arrangements
had taken their seats The foreign
representatives followed to their as
signed places on the stand. and then
the members of the senate and house
and guests filed out There was a
wait of fifteen minutes or more. after
President Taft and the president ELECT
Bryan and Clark Cheered.
AS Champ Clark came down the
aisle the crowd sent up loud cheer,
which fully equaled the one that had
been given To the president-eiect 1t
remained, however. for Mr.. Bryan to
receive the real demonstration. He
was cheered as he walked down the
aisle. and The ovation was taken up
when he mounted the platform and
took a seat to the right and a little
to the rear of the presidential Mr..
Bryan looked pleased at the reception,
but apparently did not want 1t to go
too far.
The raised platform on which Mr..
Wilson was to take the oath and de-
liver his address, was directly in the
center of the front of the stand, and
Was rallied off from the rest of the
structure. The plaza facing the pres
ident's stand for a considerable dis
lance had been cleared. The West
Point cadets were lined up on the
president-elects left, and the middies
from Annapolis on his right. stood in
even. well drawn ranks, wearing their
deep blue uniforms with their rifles
at order arms"
A group of army officers. compris-
ing Major General Woods staff, were
in the foreground. Between the fac
ing lines Oh t&QStS anu bGth OL tnSiH
to the right were the vice presidential
escort, the black horse troop OF the
Culver Military academy, and to the
left the Essex troop. of Newark. the
immediate escort of President Elect
Wilson
A few minutes later Mrs. Wilson
and her daughters had arrived on the
stand and had taken seats just to the
left of the raised platform. Mrs. Will
n ir1Fa fha
crowd. and moved among the seats
that had been reserved for the press
so that she could have e. better look
at the thousands who were straining
their eyes and ears to catch every fsa-
ture of the ceremonies.
Oath is Administered.
1t was just 1870 when President
Taft raised a warning hand to the
crowd. and the racket was stilled.
Then up rose the chief justice in his
sombre gown and skull cap, and
whispered something to President Will
son. The president elect was Inn
mediateiy on his feet. Clerk Maher.
of the Supreme court, advanced, hold
ing an open Bible in his hand. The
president-eiect laid his hands upon
the open book The chief justice did
likewise, and in a voice that few
could hear In the broad open space.
although 1t rang out clear and strong.
the chief justice recited the presi-
Dental oath:
II do solemniy swear that I will
faithfully execute the Office OF presi-
dent of the United States, and will
to the best of my ability preserve. pro-
tect and defend the constitution of the
United States"
AS he finished the new president re-
piled with fervor:
Il do"
At the same time he bent reverent-
ly and kissed the open book.
Woodrow Wilson. President.
Woodrow Wilson had become pres
ident of the United States, and the
big man sitting on his left a private
citizen AAHH~.1sr,iissa -tHFred=tewara
the crowd and began his inaugural
address. He held the manuscript in
his ungioved right and and read with
a voice that would have reached an
ordinary audience, but in this case
only an infinitesimal fraction of the
people could hear what he said.
Mr.. Wilson's inaugural address was
punctuated with cheers at several
points. His statement that justice
and only justice would be his motto,
drew the greatest demonstration of
the address.
His declaration also that this was
not a day OF triumph. but of dedica-
taSSfs was received WITH SfR&AHSa4SI9 by
those who could hear him.
Mr.. Wilson's final declaration that
God helping him. he would not fail
those who should stand by him In the
task that Is ahead. also brought a
round of applause.
1t was Just after this concluding
sentence that the crowd, however, be-
gan to shout for Bryan.
Wilson's Are Democratic.
During the delivery Of the inaugu-
raj address Mrs. Wilson and her
daughters were unable to see and hear
well from the seats which they occu-
pied at one side OF the platform.
Mrs. Wilson had one of the military
aides lift chair to the edge of the
raised platform, and standing on il
and grasping the rail of the plat
form. she listened intently to the en-
tire address, Her example was fol-
lowed by the three daughters
Mrs. Wilson during the entire pro-
ceedings showed the most democratic
spirit. On the outdoor stand she quesv
toned one of the capital policemen,
and had him point out to her many
of the features that she did mot know
about.
With the oath administered no
time was lost by the new president
and Mr.. Taft in stepping again into
the carriage and starting the return
fwtr ~, tNo Dynita IIr,,Sx. vs.