Evening star., 1951-04-01
In Jefferson's Time
When the Citizens of Washington Voted
And Celebrated Its First Inauguration
By John cIoaett Proctor

By John cl,
When Jefferson was inaugural
led. on March 4. 1901, he did not,
las has been said so often, ride up
to the Capitol. hitch his horse to
10 paling fence. go inside and take
Ithe oath Of Office, and ride to the
White House In truly democratic
fashion. Far from 1t.
Here Is what actually took
place: Nine months prior to COM
ling to Washington, Thomas Law
received q letter from q member
LOT Congress requesting his assist
lance toward securing accommoda-
lions In the embryo city for
Thomas Jefferson, the Vice Presi-
dent and nine members Of Con-
lgress, when that body should meet
here In the late autumn Of that
year.
Mr.. Law agreed to furnish a
house for this purpose. II those
making the request would find q
tenant for the property. Appar-
emily this was done, for when
Jefferson arrived In Washington
lin November. 1900. he took I'D his
quarters at Thomas Laws house,
lat the northwest corner of New
Jersey avenue and c street SOUTH
east. which, together with the ad-
Joining house to the north, had
been leased to Conrad and Nc
Mum, the corner house as a
boarding house and the adjoining
one to serve travellers and the
usual patrons Of a tavern.
Here Jefferson was comfortably
situated, his suite Of rooms con-
sisting Of a bedroom and parlor,
la luxury at that time, consider
ing the limited accommodations
then to be had in the city, al
though he ate at the table with
the other occupants of the house.
Here we find him residing on
March 4, 1901, when he was inau-
gurated for the first time as Pres
ident Of the United States and it
was from here that he was escorted
to the Capitol to take the oath
Of office.
Jefferson's Inaugurations
This was the first inauguration
to take place in the city and the
available military companies Wed
with each other in showing honor
to the third President.
The Washington Artillery ush-
cred in the ceremonies with a
salute from heavy guns. About
10 o'clock that organization was
Joined by the Alexandria company
Of rifiemen and together they
paraded in front Of the lodgings
|of the President-elect.
By II o'clock a large body of
nearby citizens was on hand, and,
accompanied by a number of sup
porters, he was escorted to the
Capitol, when he was given an
other salute. announcing his en-
trance into the building. He was
accompanied into the Senate
chamber by the heads of the
executive departments and the
marshal Of the District Of CO.
lumbia.
Eight Years in Office
After the ceremonies jefferson
returned to his lodgings, where he
remained until March 10, when
he went to the White House,
where he resided for the next
eight years.
His second Inauguration. which
took place March 4. 1905, is usu-
ally confused by the chroniclers
with the first. The Avenue on
this occasion was first used for an
inaugural procession. Scarcely
any facts are obtainable regard
ing his second induction into
Office. It is said this one was
even simpler than the first.
"He proceeded on horseback" 1t
was reported, ''from the Palace,
which is Of white stone and the
largest building here, and, attended
|by his secretary and groom. rode
Iup the long Avenue of Pennsylvania
to the Capitol. which is an unf1n-
ished rival in stone Of the Roman
building of that name, and.
dressed in black and silk stock
ings, delivered q speech"
Voting in Georgetown
The oath Of Office was then
administered and the President
began his return to the White
House attended by"-so it is
stated-"a large assemblage of
members Of the Legislature. citi-
zens and strangers Of distinction
and a procession was formed at
the Navy Yard, composed Of the
several mechanics engaged there,
which marched to military music.
with considerable taste
the various insignia Of their pro-
fession."
To those Of us who have never
been permitted to vote for Presi-