Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1925-03-07
COOLIDGE AND
DAWES TAKE
OATH OF OFFICE
Taft Administers Oath : Dawes
Makes Sensational Address
Attacks Senate
CEREMONIES ATTENDED
BY MUCH SIMPLICITY

Calvin Coolidge was inauguarated
the thirtieth president of the United
States of America, and the oath con-
stituting him the Chief Executive was
taken just as the clocks of the Capitol
were striking the hour of P. M.
Practically no applause greeted the
President as he left the White House
about II o'clock and proceeded with
Mr.. Dawes to the Capitol plaza the
signal for great outburst of enthu-
siasm. The multitude had risen at
the sound of the bugle and remain ed
standing while the Marine Band play
ed "Hail to the Chief"
Deep silence followed as Mr.. Cool
idge faced Chief Justice Taft, somber
in black robes and skull cap. The
hand of the President was upon the
Bible Of his boyhood, opened at the
Gospel of st. John, as he reached
back to the first Scripture lesson of
his life for inspiration.
Then over the heads of the multi
tude the voice of Chief Justice Taft
sounded strongly and clearly as he
administered the oath which was be-
ing carried by radio to the ears of
millions of listening Americans across
the wide continent: ~
I do solemnly swear that I will
faithfully execute the office of
President of the United States,
and will, to the best of my abili-
ty, preserve, protect and defend
the Constitution of the United
States.
The President bowed his head and
kissed the Bible. In the same hush
he turned to look across the sea Of
faces, his own face turned to the east
like the statue of Freedom atop the
great dome towering above and be-
hind him. By the solemn formula he
was transformed from President by
accident of the death of his predeces-
sor to President of the United States
by right of his own election. He broke
the silence with his next words:
"My countrymen."
1t was just upon the stroke of 1
o'clock that he took the oath. In the
hour preceding, the great gilded clocks
within the Capitol had licked off the
ending of one governmental cycle and
the beginning Of another; had sound
ed the last minutes of the administra-
ton for which Warren G. Harding
was inaugurated four years ago.
A sense of sadness possessed many
thousands of persons who witnessed
the ceremony when they contemplate
ed the loss to American public life
wrought by the death since the last
Inauguration. Warren G. Harding,
who assumed the Presidency then, is
dead. Woodrow Wilson, who rode to
the Capitol with his successor, is dead.
Mrs. Harding is dead and General
Sawyer, Harding's bosom friend, is
dead.
The original Harding Cabinet has
ben shattered. Henry C. Wallace,
Secretary of Agriculture, is dead
Harry M. Daugherty, the Harding
campaign manager, is in involuntary
retirement, as is Edwin DENLY, Secre-
tary of the Navy. And today Charles
E. Hughes, easily the towering figure
of the Harding regime, returned to
private life.
Brigadier General Dawes was sworn
by Senator Albert B. Cummins, OF
Iowa, the retiring President pro tenn
pore of the Senate, who gave the CAV
ell into the hands of the new presiding
officer. Up to that moment the cere-
n1ony incident to such a ceremony had
gone forward according to traditional
custom. But the routine ended with
the assumption Of authority by the
Aew Vice-President.
~fhe moment he turned with flour
ishing gestures, which ratified his
manuscript, to shoot sentences OF his
inaugural speech at a bewildereo
Senate sat like a body shell shocked
unusual was occurring. His voice was
j, the one with which he might have
+ barked commands at troops. His
speech riddled the rules of procedure
of the Senate, asserted that Senators
in their mutual consideration for each
heart, had forgotten consideration Of
the American people, and with brist-
ling emphasis demanded reform. The
Senat sat like body shell shocked
Continued on page Al