The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-03-04


house to capitol like q mammoth rib
bon Of red, white and blue.
Along its stored way lay the route
Of an old-time inaugural parade, with
every state doing its bit. Forty bands
were marshaled to time the tramp Of
army regulars, politicians, and plain
citizens alike. Thirty three governors
had places in the line.
Follow Tradition
At the capitol-strangely chosen by
tradition, in place Of the white house,
for induction Of executive officials
into office-custom held to the usual
double ceremony.
The senate chamber provided just
elbow-room for the Inauguration OF
the vice president, while on the plaza
outside, crowds which stretched fol
blocks gathered to see the new presi-
dent raise his hand and take his
pledge of office.
The days chain of events spanned
in all, full half dozen history-mak-
ing hours.
First of all in the crowded sequence
Roosevelt himself had placed q short
prayer service. At st. Johns Epis-
copal church, just across Lafayette
Square from the executive mansion,
he called his cabinet and their
families to join at 1890 o'clock in
q brief interlude of worship and
meditation on the Threshold Of re-
sponsibility.
After the service the route lay d.
rectly to the porticoed north entrance
to the white house. It Is custom
for a president-elect to enter the
executive mansion for q short call as
the inaugural party assemblies in the
east room; but Roosevelt elected to
remain waiting in the automobile
while his predecessor and others Of
the days honored figures made ready
FOR the trip to the capitol.
Leaves White House 1t IL
To permit the retiring president
to be near at hand as congress ended
its session, precedent required that
the party leave the White House
promptly at IL a. m. with Hoover and
Roosevelt riding side by side at the
head OF the line Of seven motor cars.
The route lay over Pennsylvania Az
enue, already the mecca Of thousands.
At the capitol. too. crowds had been
assembling since morning, overrun-
ming the wide expanse Of implanted
wooden benches erected on the plaza,
end seeking vainly to push into SEN
ate galleries, closed to all without
special credentials. On the senate
floor extra chairs stood tight together
for the visiting dignitaries.
Inauguration Of the new vice presi-
dent was in order Immediately the old
congress had expired at noon. and the
ceremonies were Of the briefest. No
inaugural address had been prepared
by Garner: the few sentences Of his
greeting to the senate he chose to de-
liver without manuscript or notes.
To q far more impressive setting
Roosevelt then was called for his own
induction into office. High over the
steep slope Of the north steps Of the
capitol, facing the plaza. q special
inaugural stand lifted its platform Is
feet above the pavement, its eight
white pillars supporting q square,
boxed roof draped with garlands, and
its balustrade decorated with the
great seal Of the United States.
This was the rostrum to which the
nation had summoned its new leader
to repeat after Chief Justice Hughes
The words Of the presidential oath,
and deliver the inaugural pronounce
ment OF policy for which millions
were waiting.
After that high moment, the day
belonged to the crowds themselves,
with the chief actors either passing
into the wings or themselves becoming
spectators.