The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-01-13
The Democrat From OIathe
Sworn i'm at Noon Today.
ExuItant Democrats Enjoyed
the Spectacle.
THE INAUGURAL PARADE
Companies of Soldiers and
Bands of M6sic.
They Added to P0mp of the
Pageant.
THOUSANDS LINED STREETS
Officers-Elect Take Oath i'm
Representative Hall.
Past Kansas History Contrast
ed With Present.
THOUSANDS LINED STREETS
Officers-EIect Take Oath in
Representative Hall.
Past Kansas History Contrast
ed With Present.

Amid the cheers of hundreds of en-
thusiastic Democrats, the waving or
flags, the booming of cannon and the
patriotic strains of 1.-THE Star Spangled
Banner George H. Hodges, of OLA
the, was inaugurated at noon today as
the nineteenth governor of Kansas. 1t
was an impressive and dignified cere-
mony Added to the Importance of the
occasion was the fact that Hodges is
the first Democrat to take the
oath as governor of Kansas since the
day that John w. Leedy was inaugu-
rated in January, 1S97-just 16 years
ago.
For the first time in many years
so long ago in fact that the veteran
politicians have forgotten the date
there was an inaugural parade. Hun
dreds of men prominent in the politi-
cal affairs and the public life of Kan
sas rode in the carriages behind the
bands and the display of military pomp
and splendor. Along either side of
Kansas avenue from Fourth street to
Tenth avenue, hundreds of men, wo-
men and children forgot the chilly jan
uary breeze and cheered as the mem
bers of the new state administration
passed in review
AT the state house there-W anoth-
er big crowd. Again there was cheer
ing as George H. Hodges, the new
governor, and Walter Roscoe Stubbs,
the retiring chief executive of Kansas,
stepped from the same carriage and
walked side by side up the west steps
and through the corridors of the build
ing to Representative hall. Near the
door of the legislative chamber a little
girl threw a red rose in the path of
fIyn and Governor
smiled and gave his most courteous
bow. AT almost every step there was
some new evidence of the pent up en-
thusiasm of Kansas Democracy which |
had returned to it's own after almost |
two decades.
Democrats Had Waited for This Hour. |
There was nothing within the gift !
of the state and her most loyal and |
patriotic citizens which was left un-
done in the ceremonies of the day For
two months Kansas Democrats had |
waited for this hour. At last it had |
come. So why should the buried and |
almost lost enthusiasm be denied an
outlet at this time? And no one denied /
or questioned the right of the party
leaders to make the most of the event.
In fact in the demonstration which
marked the minute that Hodges as
cribed to his oath and solemnly vowed
to observe the commandments of the
constitution and the laws of the state,
the other events which carried before
the crowds eyes the oath to other
state officers was but a passing detail
which led to an event of which Demo-
Gratis had for 16 years dreamed only to
awake and see come true. Yet in
those oaths to other officials, the
crowd was not forgetfu1. 1t was a day
of gladness, so why should not the
ordinary courtesies be extended to the
other state officials? And it was For
each man as he walked to the speak
er's stand and renewed or for the
first time affirmed his solemn alle-
glance to that sacred oath, there was
a generous applause.
But it was purely a Democratic day
and a Democratic Inauguration. To
be sure Republicans and Progressives
and Democrats rode in the parade be-
hind the bands and the companies of
artillery, infantry and cavalry, and of
course the majority of men inaugu-
rated were in overwhelming Repub1i-