The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-03-04
congressional committee Of arrange.


oath just before noon In accordance
with custom and prior to its taking
by the president-elect- Every arrange
| ment for the senate chamber pro-
ceedings had been made so that they.
moved forward easily and with GER
tain ponderous grace.
| Marshall Sworn In.
The admission to the senate cham
ber' to witness the oath-taking of the
vice-president was by ticket, and it
is needless to say every seat was
occupied. On the floor Of the cham
ber were many former members of
the senate who, because of the fact
that they once held membership in
that body, were given the privileges
of the floor. After the hall was filled
and all the minor officials of govern
| ment and those privileged to witness
the ceremonies were seated, William
H. Taft and Woodrow Wilson, preced-
ed by the sergeant-at-arms and the
committee of arrangements, entered
the senate chamber. They were fol-
lowed Immediately by Vice-President-
elect Thomas r. Marshall, leaning
upon the arm of the president pro
tempore OF the senate who, after the
seating OF the incoming vice-president,
took his place as presiding officer Of
the senate and Of the days proceed
ings
The president and the president
elect sat in the first row OF seats di.
rectly in front and almost under the
desk of the presiding officer. In the
same row, but to their left, were the
vice-president4elect and two former
vice-presidents of the United States,
Levi p. Morton of New York and Ad-
lai A. Stevenson of Illinois.
When the distinguished company en-
tered the chamber the senate was
still under its old organization. The
oath of Office was Immediately admin
istered to Vice-President-elect Mar
shall, who thereupon became Vice
President Marshall. The prayer OF the
day was given by the chaplain of the
senate, Rev. Ulysses G. B. Pierce, pas
tor Of All Souls Unitarian church, of
which President Taft has been a mem
Der. After the prayer the vice-presi-
dent administered the oath of Office
to all the newly chosen senators, and
Herewith the senate of the United
States passed for the first time in
years into the control of the Demo
cratic party.
Procession to the Platform.
Immediately, after the senate cere.
| monies a procession was formed to
march to the platform of the east por.
tico of the capitol, where Woodrow
Wilson was to take the oath. The pro
cession included the president aud the
president-elect, members of the Su-
preme court, both houses of congress,
all of the foreign ambassadors, all of
the heads OF the executive depart
ments, many governors of states and
territories, Admiral Dewey of the navy
and several high officers of the sea
service, the chief OF staff of the army
and many distinguished persons from
civil life. They were followed by the
members of the press and by those
persons who had succeeded in secur-
! ing seats in the senate galleries
When President Taft and the presi-
dent-elect emerged from the capitol
on to the portico they saw in front
of them, reaching far back into the
! park to the east, an immense con-
course Of citizens. In the narrow line
between the onlookers and the plat
| form on which MI. Wilson was to take
the oath, were drawn up the cadets
/ of the two greatest government
| schools, West Point and Annapolis,
and fianking them were bodies of reg
ulars and of national guardsmen. The
whole scene was charged with color
and with life.
On reaching the platform the presi-
| dent and president-elect took the
seats reserved for them, seats which
were flanked by many rows of benches
rising tier on tier for the accommoda-
ton of the friends and families of the
officers Of the government and Of the
press.
Oath Administered to Wilson.
| The instant that Mr.. Taft and Mr..
Wilson came within sight of the crowd
there was great outburst of ap-
1plause, and the military bands struck
quickly into "The Star Spangled Ban
ner." Only a few bars OF the music
were played and then soldiers and ci-
| villains became silent to witness re-
spectfuIly the oath taking and to
listen to the address which followed.
/ The chief justice of the Supreme
| court delivered the oath to the presi-
dent-elect, who, uttering the words,
Il WILL" became president of the
United States. AS soon as this cere-
mony was completed Woodrow Wilson
delivered his inaugural address, his
first speech to his fellow countrymen
in the capacity of their chief execu-
! tive.
| At the conclusion of the speech the
bands played once more, and William
Howard Taft, now ex-president of the
United States. entered a carriage with
the new president and, reversing the
order of an hour before. sat on the
lleft hand side of the carriage, while
Mr.. Wilson took "the seat OF honor
on the right The crowds cheered as