Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-28
Inaugural Precedents

A dispatch printed in these columns on Feb
ruary H. to the effect that for the first time in the
nations history the wife of its chief executive VIII
be by his side when he takes the oath OF office at
the inaugural ceremonies of March 5, has set the
tongues of the Oldest inhabitants in motion. The
discussion which has followed has proved that
the article, although based on the statement OF
historian recognized as an authority on govern
mental affairs, was slightly in error and has re-
vealed many interesting facts not generally
known.
Congressman William S. Greene Of Fall River,
Mass, is authority for the statement that score
of years ago Mrs. William Mckinley stood close
to the president when he subscribed to the oath
Years after the assassination OF President Mckin-
ley Mrs Mckinley told the Massachusetts, con-
gresham that she had always had a premonition
that nothing would happen to her husband If he
was constantly in her sight. For that reason she
was near him throughout the inaugural ceremo.
MES and for that reason also she accompanied
him whenever he appeared at public functions
The first time that she was away from him when
in public was the day that he was shot at the
Buffalo exposition.
The article has brought to the surface, too,
facts concerning time-honored custom OF re-
firing president accompanying his successor from
the White House to the capitol, where the cere-
monies are held. Upon leaving the White House
in an open carriage drawn by four horses, the
retiring chief executive has always sat the right
of the incoming official Generally, after the new
president has taken the oath, the retiring pres-
dent has returned to the White House with the
new official, but returning has sat on the lett
rather than on the right of the newly-sworn
executive. This custom was not followed by
Colonel Roosevelt when President Taft was in
augurated in 1909 and when Mrs. Taft caused an
almost endless discussion by riding with her
husband up Pennsylvania avenue from the White
House to the capitol. The colonel, instead of
riding back to the White House with President
Taft after the ceremonies, went directly from the
capitol to the Union station, escorted by several
thousand frock-coated and silk-hatted New
Workers.
Evidences are multiplying daily that there will
be large attendance of visitors, probably in ex-
cess of 100000, to witness the Inauguration of
President Wilson less than two weeks hence.
Colonel Robert N. Harper chairman of the in
| augural committee, is receiving communications
from all sections of the country to the general
effect that the people will respond with spon-
taneity to the call of patriotism and will come
to Washington as a personal assurance to the
executive that the nation is behind him in whatever
steps he may have to take in the critical interna-
tional situation. Governors of states, mayors of
cities and hundreds of patriotic societies and or
CARNATIONS, to say nothing of the scores of po-
ltical clubs, have announced their intention of
participating in the demonstration. Railroad Off
Gals say that orders they have received indicate
| that they will have to handle one of the largest
| number of visitors that has ever come to an in
auguration.
A memory dear to the Irish heart will be asso-
ciated indirectly with the inaugural ceremonies
| when on March E, statue of Robert Emmett, the
Irish patriot, will be formally presented to the
| government by the Emmett statue committee. The
| presentation will be attended by prominent lead
ers of the race who will assemble here from many
parts of the country. The statue represents En-
met in the dress OF his time, standing with Shout
ders back and face upturned, as if pleading for
the cause for which he died. The face was mod
| eled from the original death mask made by DR..
Petrie by the light of lantern in Dublin grave
| yard few hours after Emmett had been hanged
| and beheaded, 1t will be placed in the National
| museum for permanent exhibition