The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-03-09

his carriage and was driven slowly to
the White House at the head of the
procession formed in honor of the in
augural ceremonies.
Luncheon Deferred for Parade.
In years past the presidential party
always has entered the White House
for luncheon prior to the review of
the parade from the stand in front Of
the executive mansion. This invaria-
bly, In the past caused such a delay
that 1T was decided this year to do
away with the luncheon feature.
President Wilson with Mrs. Wilson,
the Vice President and Mrs. Marshall,
and two members Of his cabinet went
Immediately to the little ineIosed struc-
ture, much like a sentry box, which
had been built In the middle of the
great grandstand in front of the White
r Juse and from which the chief x
cutive viewed the paraders.
1t was the gravity of the situation
in connection with our foreign affairs
which gave to the inaugural ceremo-
MES their serious tone and patriotic
features. The parade of the day was
largely military in its nature, although
there were in the procession many
bodies which in a sense might be said
to represent the spirit of industrial
preparedness of the United States for
any eventuality which might ome
Makeup of the Procession.
At the forefront of the parade as 1t
left the capitol were, of course, the
president and the vice president of the
United States with their guards of
honor. Major General Hugh L. Scott.
q. S. army, was the grand marshal of
the occasion. George r. Linkins was
the marshal of the civic organizations
which took part in the marching cere-
monies.
Immediately preceding the carriages
of the presidential and vice presiden-
tial parties and of Col. Robert N. Har-
per, inaugural chairman, was the fa-
nous United States Marine band. The
president had as his guard Of honor
the squadron of the Second United
States cavalry.
The Vice President and Mrs. Mar
shall were escorted by the Black Horse
troop of the Culver Military academy,
Indiana, the state of which the vice
president and his wife are natives
The West Point cadets and the An
napolis cadets took part in the process
sion. In addition to these young sol
der and sailoS organizations there was
as large a representation Of the forces
of the United States as properly could
be spared from post and garrison duty.
In addition there were troops from
Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey,
Maryland, Virginia, and some other
states of the Union representing the
National Guard.
A patriotic and picturesque feature
of the ceremonies attending the inau-
guration was supplied by the rapidly
thinning ranks of the Grand Army of
the Republic. In years past the sol
diers of the war between the states
have made the entire length of the line
of march, but this year the distance
which they tramped was shortened.
They added to the picture of the pa
rade as they moved by the presidential
reviewing stand with their old flags
above them.
At night Washington was aglow
with fireworks and with the combined
effects of gas and electric light illumi-
nations. In addition searchlights
showed the heavens here and there.
and one great shaft of light illumi-
mated the apex of the Washington
monument while another lighted up
and brought into bold relief the dome
of the capitol.