The Portland Daily Press

TAKES THE OATH.
Mr. Roosevelt Sworn Into Office,
The Ceremony A Most Impressive One.
New President Announces Policy.
He Will Make No Changes In The Cabinet.
Buffalo, N. Y., September 14. -President Roosevelt reached Buffalo at 1.40 p.m., unaccompanied by any one except Private Secretary William Loeb, Jr. An immense crowd which had been awaiting his arrival for hours was gathered about the station eager to catch a first sight of the President. The train, however, did not enter the station proper, but the President landed at the terrace.
When he left the train an escort of the Fourth Signal Corps formed about him and conducted him to an automobile, which his friend, Mr. Ansley Wilcox, had in waiting. The demonstration which greeted his appearance was in keeping with the solemnity of the occasion. Those who saw him did not raise a cheer, but attested their respect by lifting their hats.
As soon as he entered the vehicle it was rapidly run to the residence of Mr. Wilcox on Delaware avenue, accompanied by 20 mounted policemen.
President Roosevelt declined to make any statement whatever for publication. "I was so shocked," said he, "by the terrible news brought to me last night and by the calamity which it entailed upon the country as well as by personal sorrow which I feel that I have had no time to think of plans for the future conduct of the office which has been so suddenly and sadly thrust upon me."
President Roosevelt reached the Milburn house at 2.55 with a mounted policeman on either side of the carriage. Mr. Wilcox was with him and Col. Bingham opened the door of the carriage. Two big American flags on either side of the main entrance were draped with black and the new President of the United States entered the house in which his predecessor lay between these patriotic badges of mourning.
President Roosevelt called at the Milburn house to pay a visit of condolence to Mrs. McKinley. He returned to the Wilcox house at 3.15, and it was there that the oath was administered.
The place selected was the library of Mr. Wilcox's house, a rather small room, but picturesque, the heavy oak trimmings and the massive book cases giving it somewhat the appearance of a legal den.
A pretty bay window with stained glass and heavy hangings formed a background and against this the President took his position. Surrounding him were the five members of the cabinet, Secretaries Root, Hitchcock, Long and Wilson, and Postmaster General Smith. Near by were Senator Chauncey M. Depew, Judge of the Court of Appeals Haight, John Scatchard, Mr. and Mrs. Ansley Wilcox, Miss Wilcox, George P. Sawyer, Drs. Mann, Park and Stockton, Mr. and Mrs. Carlton Sprague, Mr. and Mrs. John G. Milburn, Secretary to the President Wm. Loeb, Jr., Secretary to the deceased President, George B. Cortelyou, Dr. and Mrs. Chas. Casey. R. C. Scatchard, J. D. Sawyer, Wm. Jefferson, telegraph operator of the U. S. Senate, and Judge of the United States District court, John R. Hazel.
Judge Hazel stood near the President, back to the window and the latter showed his almost extreme nervousness by plucking at the lapel of his long frock coat and tapping the hard wood floor with his heels. He stepped over once to Secretary Root and for about five minutes they conversed very earnestly. The question at issue was whether the President should first sign an oath of office and swear in or whether he should swear in first and sign the document in the case after.
At precisely 3.32 o'clock Secretary Root ceased his conversation with the President and stepping back while an absolute hush fell upon every one in the room, said in an almost inaudible voice: "Mr. Vice President, I--" Then his voice broke and for fully two minutes the tears ran down his face and his lips quivered so that he could not continue his utterances. There were sympathetic tears from those about him and two great drops ran down either cheek of the successor of Wm. McKinley. Mr. Root's chin was on his breast. Suddenly throwing back his head as if with an effort he continued in a broken voice: "I have been requested on behalf of the cabinet of the late President, at least those who are present in Buffalo, all except two, to request that for reasons of weight affecting the affairs of government, you should proceed to take the constitutional oath of office of the President of the United States."
Judge Hazel had stepped to the rear of the President and Mr. Roosevelt, coming closer to Secretary Root, said in a voice that wavered, but finally became deep and strong while as if to control his nervousness he held firmly the lapel of his coat with his right hand: "I shall take the oath at once in accordance with your request, and in this hour of deep and terrible national be-