The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1921-03-04
Ceremonies Entirely Lacking In os.
tentatlon when Harding Takes
Oath OF office on East
Capital steps
WILSON TOO ILL TO
STAY FOR CEREMONY
Has 10 be Assisted into Car at White
House; sigma Bills and Leaves
Immediately for Hs
New Home
by L. {. MARTIN

Harding today took the oath OF OF.
flee as the Goth President OF Tho
United States.
Presidentelect and Mrs. Harding
met the Joint inaugural committee
at their hotel shortly before 1880
this morning and lott for the White
House.
The Harding party arrived at tho
White House In few minutes and
found President and Mrs. Wilson
ready for the ride to he capitol II
took President Wilson several min.
utes TO get TO the machine and he
had TO be helped into II by secret
service men.
President Wilson sat with an Inn
movable expression beside Senator
Harding as the' party proceeded TO
the capitol. Opposite them in the
open automobile sat Uncle Joe Can
non with his derby hat clapped
firmly on his head.
Arriving at the capitol all except
President Wilson left their cars, and
at the east front OF the senate wing
and went up the steps into the
building.
President-elect Harding went at
once to the Presidents room and
Vice-president.elcc Coolidge to
vice.Presidentf Marshnll's office.
Mrs. Harding and other members OF
the party went to the senate gallery.
President Wilson, unable TO climb
the stairs was driven to the side en-
trance and was taken up to the presl-
dents room in the elevator.
President Wilson, on advice of
his physician did not stay for the in
auguration of Mr.. Harding. He left,
after signing the bills which were
waiting for him and went NJ once
to the new home Of the Wilson's.
Calvin Coolidge was inauguratod
in the senate, shortly after 1890.
At 1:15, Mr. Harding entered the in.
augural stand with Mrs Harding,
The oath of office was administered
at 1913 by Chief Justice White.
With the ceremonies entirely lack
ing pegantry or ostentatlon, Hard
ing took the oath of Office on the
east steps of the CAPITOL, surrounded
by great throng, all Of whom were
standing No seats we're provided this
year for any Of the guests.
The new President shared the
curiosity and applause Of the crowd
with the retiring President, Woodrow
Wilson. Wilson was at least as
much in the public eye and thought
today as HARDING for the visitors
were eager to see the man whose
Illness had shut him in SO long.
Following the induction into office
Of Vice-President Coolidge in the
senate chamber the distinguished
foreign diplomats, high officers Of
the United States Army and Navy,
members of the Cabinet, the Justices
Of the. Supreme Court, and the mem
bers of House and Senate proceeded
to places assigned them on the East
Portico and steps of the Capitol
building.
In former years the Senate aud
House with their guests have oecll-
pied choice seats in great stand
capable Of seating 10000, built at
the foot of the steps, and to the
right and left of the Presidential ros-
trum. This year in Difference to
Harding's wish for simplicity, tho
stand was not built. A smaller stand
big enough to hold the. President
elect and the retiring President.
Chief of Justice White Of the SUI
Ipreme Court, the Bible bearer and
the members of the joint congress
sional committee on arrangements,
was erected. Above, held up by d
structural steel skeleton was an am
plifier designed to make Harding's
speech audible to The outermosf
fringes of the crowd. This is the
first time this electrical device has
been used in an inaugural The
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