Mr Hoover Takes Office

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 66, 5 March 1929, Page 5

Mr Hoover Takes Office

Accorded Vociferous Welcome

All Classes Join in Great Ovation

[United Press Assn.—By Cable—Copyright.] [Australian and New Zealand Press Association.]

(Received 5, 10.50 a.m.) Washington, March 4. Facing thousands of his fellow citizens who came to do him honour, Mr. Herbert Hoover was sworn in as President of the United States by Chief Justice Taft, who, until that moment, was himself the only living ex-President of the United States. President Hoover swore to uphold the constitution, whilst standing under the shadow of the Capitol dome and, although rain commenced to fall about an hour before he took the oath, the ovation he received from the thousands of massed citizens more than compensated for Nature’s sullen welcome.

The city presented the appearance of a giant national carnival, such as the capital has probably never before seen. There were cowboys, Indians, Confederate veterans hobbling along on canes, large numbers of business men, delegations of women’s dubs, college bands, farmers, and State Governors with gay escorts. The number is estimuced at beyond 200,000.

Thousands thronged the route from White House to the Capitol and vociferously cheered Mr. Calvin Coolidge, President Hoover and Mes-

dames Coolidge and Hoover. The assemblage in the inaugural stands included the retiring President and his Cabinet, nearly all the members of the new Hoover Cabinet, members of the old Congress, which expired at noon, and of the new Congress, which will soon be called, members of the diplomatic corps, and others. The gathering marched to a special stand from the Senate chamber's, where Mr. Curtis had previously received the vice-President’s oath of office. AUSTRALIAN BOYS LOOK ON. An Australian party of boys, carrying British, Australian and American flags and eight presentation flags from the American States that they have already visited, were given a vantagge point on an improvised platform on parapets of the Capitol building, within a few feet of the presidential dais. INAUGURAL SPEECH. [Australian Press Assn.—United Service.) (Received 5. 9.5 a.m.) Washington, March 4. President Hoover, in his inauguration speech, declared that further agricultural relief and limited changes in the tariff, cannot, in justice to farmers, labourers and manufacturers be postponed, adding that he would request that a special session of Congress should be called to consider these questions. [See page 6 for earlier message.]