The Palatka news and advertiser., 1917-01-05
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
WITNESS INAUGURATION
Ceremonies at Tallahassee
Automobile Parade a
Feature.


Johnson Cats on a platform erect
ed Oh the steps leading to the east
entrance of the State capitol at Tai
lahassee at noon on Tuesday.
The day opened dark and gloomy,
with threatening clouds obscuring the
sun and sky, but just before the GER
emony the clouds rolled by flooding
the whole scene with brilliant sun
shine, regarded by many as an omen
filled with auspiciousness for the in
coming Cats administration.
The ceremonies of the day began
with a grand parade of decorated au-
tomobiles containing state officials
and prominent visitors. State off
GERS entered autos at the capital, then
went to the Governors mansion,
for Gov. Trammell and the Gov
elect, Hon. Sidney ]. Cats, whose
cars headed the procession. Music
was furnished by band from Moul-
trie, Ga, and another from the State
Insane Asylum at Chattahoochee.
Following the official cars, were
decorated cars representing various
counties in the state. Some of these
county cars were indeed beautifully
decorated, carrying typical banners.
Possibly, the most expensive and dis
tinctive car was the Palm Beach
county automobile. Mr.. T. J. Camp
bell, of Palm Beach, who had this in
hand, said the decorations cost them
5000. 1t was covered with palms,
cocoanuts, tropical flowers and foli-
age and on the front carried large
painting of Governor Cats. This
painting is to be framed and present
ed to the governor.
Other cars attracting special atten-
ton were Duval, Jackson, Santa Ro-
sa, Gadsden and Marion. Duval had
two cars in the procession loaded with
citizens of that county, among whom
were George M. Powell and Frank L.
Dancy, and other prominent Jackson
vile men. All wore on their hats
large badges carrying the name Duval
county.
The van of the procession drew up
at the west entrance to the capitol
at 11:43 o'clock, where the governor
and governor elect and state officials
unloaded, and came up the concrete
walk by the Confederate monument,
and entered the capitol, walking
through the lobby, and upon the plat
form erected at the steps on the east
entrance, where the ceremonies were
to take place.
Gov. Trammell and Gov-Elect Cats
entered side by side, followed by the
governors staff. Then came the sec
retary of state and other state Off
cials, followed by members Of COVER
nors' families, all of whom had seats
on the platform.
Stretching far toward the front
and banking the capitol steps and
windows, were the 5000 visitors, who
had come from all parts of the state.
and Tallahassee's citizenship, to pay |
honor to the occasion.
Gov. Trammell made an address
reviewing his four years admins
tration which held the interest of the
big crowd to the end In conclusion
he said:
at is now my great pleasure to
to you our new governor
the Hon. Sidney J. Cats. who, as
soon as he has taken the oath of Of
flee, will address you"
Gov. Cats Address.
The oath of office was admins
tered to Mr.. Cats by Hon. Jefferson
B. Browne, who only an hour or two
earlier in the day, had, by lot, been
chosen Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court for the next six years.
Gov. Cats then read his address as
follows:
Citizens of Florida:
This is the supreme hour of your
;riumph, to have gained this victory
,ver all the forces of opposition so
and strong as were those
hat stood arrayed against you; and
o have withStood them and conquer +,
ID them, places this hour of your sue
ess with the historic ones, when the
,eople of England raised Cromwell to
'eer. or when the citizens of France
ISOLATED the feudal system in the ,
e lection of the Catholic Hierarchy,
nd kingcraft of that age, by the I
'rench Revolution, or when the colo :
les of America stood by Thomas JEFF ..
erson as he gave to the world the :
upremest bill of mans rights, the :
of independence.
Your triumph is no less in this good ,
our in beautiful Florida, for you have : ,
-itstood the onslaughts of the county : :
nd state political rings, the vast cor 3
orations, and the railroads, the fierce =
pposition of the daily and weekly 9
ress, and organization of the negro /;
oters of the state against you, the .
of the state partisan to
our needs, and the power of the Ro- :
ian Catholic Hierarchy against you. !
ct over all these the common people :
{ Florida, the everyday masses of =
ne cracker people, have triumphed, I
nd the day of your apotheosis has ;
rrived, and you can say, as said the {
ncient Hebrew devotee, "Lift up ,
our gates, and be We lifted up, ye
verlasting doors, and let the Lord of ,
lory in. Who is this Lord of Glory? I
he Lord God of Hosts, He is the !
ing of Glory"
In my days of fervid youthful i'm :
/ have often wondered what !
,uld be the crowning achievement of
human ambition, and have pictured