Evening star., 1917-03-04
JACKSON HADF|RST
INAUGURAL PARADE
From Few Hundred Marchers
PROFESSIONS Have Grown to
Many Thousands.
FEATURES OF PAST EVENTS

The parade has been a big feature
of every presidential Inauguration
since that OF Andrew jackson. Start
ing with but a few hundred marchers
in line the professions have grown
until the number of persons partici-
pating now is counted in tens of thou
sands.
Prior to the inauguration of Presi-
dent Jackson no attempt was made to
make a parade a feature. The Presi-
dent-elect was accompanied to the
Capitol by an escort of honor seldom
| exceeding three of four troops of cav
airy, or their equivalent, and, having
taken the oath Of Office and delivered
his inaugural address. was escorted in
like manner to the White House.
Jackson's Inauguration was the first
time that a great" crowd came to this
city to witness the event, and It was
the first time that a large number OF
marchers were in the parade from the
Capitol. following the exercises. The
first political club to come to this city
to participate in an inaugural parade
is said to have been the Empire Club
of New York, which was present when
President Polk was inaugurated. II
any political clubs came before 1S45
the records now obtainable do not SO
indicate.
Fired Big Cannon.
The Empire Club brought a big
brass cannon along with it and at in
| tervals during the parade it was load
ed with a blank charge and fired.
Spectators along the line of march
lodged to prevent being hit by the
wadding in the weapon. A feature of
this parade of interest to Washing
tonians was the participation of the
entire student body and faculty OF
Georgetown University, then known as
Georgetown College.
A feature of the parade at the inau-
| guration of President Van Buren,.
March 4. 1887, was float on which
there was a printing press i'm opera
ton. Programs of the parade were
printed en- route. Since then many
floats OF like nature have been in in
augural parades.
| The first Inauguration of President
Lincoln on March 4, 1861, was unique
by reason of the preparations made to
quell any disturbance that might be
made. Prior to the Inauguration ru-
mors were current that the day would
| be marked by bloodshed. and those
| having charge of arrangements took
| precautions accordingly.
| The military organizations in the
| parade carried ball cartridges with
| them and their rifles were loaded.
A company Of infantry was stationed
at the market place ready to respond to
b street Magruders and Fry's batteries
| of artillery were stationed. The guns
| were loaded with grape, and the gun
ners and drivers remained at their
posts during the entire day. Sharp
shooters were stationed on roofs along
| the route of the parade.
Girls on Big Float.
A great car arranged with a pyramid
of seats and surmounted with staff
bearing a great eagle was a feature of
this parade. 1t was provided by the
republican organization, and on it rode
many young girls dressed in white.
A working model of the Monitor was
a feature of the parade at the second
Inauguration of President Lincoln.
Survivors of the war of 1912 rode in
great omnibus and were accorded
great honors.
At the Inauguration of President Blu
| chanan, in 1857, a real ship was car
red up the Avenue on wheels, many
horses being used to draw 1t. The
boat was taken from the river at the
| navy yard on skids. During the parade
it was manned by sailors and number
of young women also rode on il. Floats
representing the ship Constitution
have featured in many inaugural pa
rades.
Gen william Tecumseh Sherman
was the grand marshal of the parade
at the Inauguration of President Gar
field The marchers passed under
arches which were erected at every
street intersection along Pennsylvania
avenue A grand arch was built at the
corner of 18th street
The crowd that attended the inaugu-
ration of President Cleveland in lSs5
was the greatest that ever had been
present on such an occasion up to that
time Cleveland was the first demo-
cratic President to be elected since be-
fore the civil war and this fact brought
thousands of people here. the majority
of them being Office seekers.
Participation of cowboys from va
rious sections of the west was a dis
tinct feature of the parade at the frst
Inauguration of President Roosevelt.
Mrs Taft was the first wife of Presi-
dent to ride in an inaugural parade.