Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1921-03-10
HARDING TAKES
OATH Of OFFICE
Simple Ceremonies Mark the In
auguraton of the New
Chief Executive.
VISITORS FILL The CAPITAL
Coed Weather Makes Outdoor Fes-
lures PossbIe-Many Governors Of
States and Other Notables on
Hand 10 Honor the Event.

Washington. March ii Bright
weather, with cold, clustering March
wind, marked the opening of Inaugural
tion day.
The inaugural ceremonies were the
shortest In history. and but few lnaug-
urals have been more simple.
Before standing crowd of thou
sands which completely filled the
broad plaza and cddied for blocks
around the capitol itself, the new
President accepted the supreme gift
Of the republic in a short inaugural
address-an address in which he did
not attempt To outline in other than
general terms the program of inter
national and domestic problems TO be
followed by his administration.
Day Clear and Cold.
Inauguration day dawned clear and
cold. The temperature was not far
from freezing. and there was a stiff
breeze whipping the flags that deco
rated Pennsylvania avenue and the
government buildings
In other days crowds moved rest
lessly up and down the street all night
long ana dawn found many OF them
camping sleepily in points of vantage
along historic Pennsylvania avenue to
view the great cavalcade Of digni-
taries. This morning a machine gun
could have swept the length and
breadth of the avenue with but few
casualties.
No Pomp or Ceremony.
There was something codly and dis
tinctly businesslike about today's in
augural. Gone were the pomp ana
panoply and display ef other years
with their eXtrayagant decorations
crashing bands, marching military
and hOrse-drawn carriages of state
proudly bearing silk-hatted and frock
coated dignitaries in great parade.
In their stead came today the swift
motor car, little music and an appar-
ent desire to get things over with IN
the shortest possible time and settle
down TO the momentous labors that
confront the new administration.
Today's events began TO march with
swift efficiency shortly after 10
O'CLOCK. when half a dozen automobiles
drew smartly up before the Willard
hotel. They formed the entire parade
OF the Harding inaugural. Only the
first four cars were really i'm IL. The
others being occupied by secret service
men and reporters. Here all the
members Of the inaugural party were
picked up with the exception of the
President and Mrs. Wilson.
Committee Meets Harding.
Shortly after II o'clock half-dozen
motors drew up in front of the UnRcd
States capitol threading their way
through the throngs which had gath.
cred there. and the members of the
congressional committee appointed to
conduct the Inauguration clambered IN
and whirled downtown.
Headed by Senator Knox Of Penn
sylvania, the congressional committee
went 10 the hotel room where Mr.
Harding had spent the morning at
work. The committee with due for
mallty announced that they had ar
rived to conduct the President-elect
TO the capitol TO be inaugurated. aud
the former Senator, with absolute lack
OF formality. addressed them famil-
iarly, folded Il small manuscript into
his pocket and joined the committee.
A great crowd assembled before the
hotel cheered rs the new executive
made his way TO powerful motor
and was whired away to- his future
home-the White House.
AS the cars drew up before the
White House gates, the police on duty
there saluted their new boss" and he
waved his hand at them.
Greets President Wilson.
At the White House doors the CON
gressional committee was met by the
chief usher and shown into the east
room, where President Wilson was
seated After an exchange of greet
ings the outgoing President rose, and
while attendants wrapped him care
fully in n cape, made his way TO the
car where his successor awaited him.
President Wilson and President
elect Harding then drove together
down Pennsylvania avenuc. through a
lane which police and secret service
men had swept clear Both the re-
firing and the incoming Presidents
acknowledged the wild applause Of
the throngs
Arrive at Capitol.
Arriving at the capitol the party
made their way TO the senate floor
President Wilson went TO the Presi-
dents room, just OF the senate cham
Der. where he seated himself at a desk
and began the signature of bills
passed In the closing minutes Of con-
gress.
A few minutes before fhe hands OF
the senate clock turned TO twelve the
President-elect ana the Yice-President-
elect went into the senate chamber.
There Mr.. Harding was greeted by his
old friends and some of his old politi-
cal enemies. and he was apparently at
complete ease, for he felt at home
there-lt was the scene Of his first big
public service.
Vice President Takes Oath.
Vice President Marshall called for
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