The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-03
Secretary of State Hughes Pushes To City From Coun- try Home To Plan For h. duction of Vice President COOLIDGE ADMINISTERED OATH OUTSIDE CAPITAL Constitution Permits Any Federal Judge To Adminis- ter 0ath-NeW President Is Visiting In Vermont
BULLETIN

WASHINGTON, Aug. 3.-(By Asso- ciated Press )-Calvin Coolidge took the oath as President of the United States at Plymouth, Nt., at PAY a.. m. today.
 The new President was sworn in by his father, who is a notary public, and at whose home he was visiting The text of the pledge as prescribed by the constitution was telephoned to him by the White House.
 BULLETIN
 dent Coolidge issued the following statement early today;
 Reports have reached me which l fear are correct that President Harding is gone. The world has lost a great and good man. l mourn his loss He was my chief and my friend.
 Ut will be my purpose to carry out the policies which he had begun for the service of the American people and for meeting their responsibih- ties whenever they may arise. For this purpose l shall seek the CO., operation of all those who have been associated with the President during his term of office. Those whc' have given their efforts to assist him l wish to remain in office that they may assist me-"
 WASHINGTON. Aug. 3.-(By Asso- ciated Press0 0-News of the death of President Harding fell with almost paralszing effect on the national capital.
 Never fully awakened to the seri- ousness of his illness, officials of the govern ment had been encouraged by the improvement of the past few days and feeling of confidence that he would soon recover was almost universal.
 All of those in high official posi- tion however, had arranged for tele- phone notification in case of re- lapse, and within a half hour after word of the Presidents death came, most of them had learned of it. In every case the news was received with expressions of painful shock.
 As the news began to reach those in the street there were scenes of sorrow sulh as had not been wit messed here in many years. Never before had Washington been so un- prepared to hear of the death of chief eXecutiN e, and the circle of MT Harding's friends was one extending down to some of the lowliest of the residents of the capital, for during his two and I half years in the White House he had made 9 place in many hearts by his human qualities and his attitude of constant helpfulness to- ward everyone,
 O Q
 No Thought or Formasi;ies.
 In the confusion of the moment there was little thought of the for mAlties by which Vice President Coolidge was to be elevated to the presidency The custom in the past is for the cabinet to hold a meeting under the chairmanship of the Secre- tary of State and to formally notify the Vice President of the new re- sponslbilites GeNolNins automatically upon him under the constitution. Plans for any such action were talk ever, under the oVerpoWering pail of the sudden death of MT Harding.
 Secretary Hughes and Postmaster General New are the only cabinet of ficials in Washington. Both of them together with the other officials high in the administration, were almost prostrated by the news. Most mem bers of Congress also are away from the capital, but those remaining Joined in the general expressions of sorrow and regret.
 As soon as Secretary Hughes heard of the death Of the President he drove from his summer home near Washington to the state department, and it was indicated that a state mcnt probably would be issued re- garding the steps to be taken to formally induct MT. Coolidge into of flee,
 It was the understanding at the White House that the new President
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