Atlanta Georgian., 1913-03-04

house the long line of marchers. The
parade took about four hours to pass
the presidential stand.
For a time ex-President Taft stood
beside his successor, but he soon left,
in order to catch the train for Augusta,
Ga, where he will spend a few weeks
resting before taking up his new duties
at Yale university.
Hail to the Chief"
The first band to pass before the re-
viewing stand played Hail to the
Chief" but in order that monotony
might be avoided other bands rendered
other airs when passing in review
Throughout the entire afternoon the
new president was kept bowling and
acknowledging the salutes of the
marChers.
1t has been two decades since a Dem
ocrat the late Grover Cleveland, ap-
peared in the same role that Woodrow
Wilson assumed today, and it was not
strange. therefore, that the enthusiasm
of these partisans which has had no
occasion for expression during this long
period should have burst forth in spon-
taneous manifestations of happiness.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
Democrats were the chief actors in the
ceremonies of today, however, neither
the public feeling nor the proceedings
were characterized by partisanship
The president of the whole country
rather than the president of a party
was being inaugurated. and such was
the spirit of the occasion that Demo-
Gratis and Republicans Joined to extend
greetings and good wishes to the new
executive
Today's Inauguration, like many
others which have preceded it, was
characterized by two features. one off
cial the other unofficial one formal
and the other rather informal and
chiefly spectacular in its nature.
The formal ceremony was performed
as a governmental function, while the
informal celebration was purely an ar
rangement made by the citizens of the
nations capital in commemoration OF
an important event in American his
tory
Custom Rules Ceremonies.
The constitution prescribes only that
the man chosen to be president shall,
before assuming Office, take the oath
which it sets forth That is all 1t
does not require even that it shall be
administered by the chief justice of the
supreme court or even a member of the
supreme bench.
Custom and tradition alone are re
sponsible for the elaborate functions
pageant, the marching thousands of
troops and civilians, the crowds and
the cheers and the general festivities
which marked todays events.
Aside from the fact that the usual in
augural ball-the social fete of presi-
dential succession-was eliminated
from the program at the especial re-
quest of President Wilson, everything
else in connection with the inaugura-
ton was carried out in accordance with
etiquette which time and practice have
developed.
The program as carried out today
was as follows
At 9:42 O'Clock this morning the con-
gressional committees on arrangements
waited upon the president elect and es-
corted him to the white house, where
President Taft was ready to accompany
him on the ride down historic Penn
sylvania avenue to the capitol build
ing The streets were densely thronged
with people who cheered Justify as the
official carriage moved rapidly along
the thoroughfare. President Taft sat
upon the right side Of the carriage
and President-elect Wilson upon the
left. A mounted guard of Essex coun-
ty. New Jersey, troopers acted as es-
cort of honor
Committee Meets Marshall
In the meantime another committee
had waited upon Vice President elect
Thomas r. Marshall at the Shoreham
hotel, where he is to make his home for
the next four years, and escorted him TO
the capitol
For two hours before the actual in
augurauon ceremonies began the sem