MR. CRITTENDEN IS
NOW THE MAYOR.
TOOK OATH OF OFFICE AT HIGH
NOON YESTERDAY.
The Ceremonies Were Witnessed by a
Large Gathering of Men and
Women in Lower House
of the Council.
Two years of municipal rule under the Democratic party became operative at 12:15 o'clock yesterday afternoon, when Mayor-Elect Crittenden took the oath of office as administered by City Clerk Clough, and Mayor Beardslehy took formal leave of his two years' stewardship of the city's affairs.
The inaugural ceremony was held in the lower house of the council chamber. It was preceded at the noon hour by the firing of minute guns on the outside of the hall. The chambers were decorated with the national colors, palms, ferns, plants and blossoms. The desks of the aldermen, speakers' rostrum and reading clerk stand were particularly lavishly decorated. Many of the aldermen were recipients of special floral offerings from their admiring friends, the most noticeable set pieces being a pyramid bouquet at the station of Alderman Pendergast; an immense floral horse shoe on the desk of Alderman O'Hearn from the Second Ward Democratic Club; a vase of American Beauty roses on the desk of Alderman Woolf, and a tree trimmed with lemons which were calculated to describe what had been handed the individuals and interests that had so desperately fought Woolf in the Third ward; a four leaf floral shamrock, seven feet high, was the gift to Alderman Bulger from his Fourth ward admirers.
Led by Aldermen Bulger and Bunker, Mayor-Elect Crittenden and Mayor Beardsley were escorted into the chambers. Their appearance was the signal for an outburst of applause which continued for many minutes. Mayor Beardsley's valedictory was short. He said that he had tried to discharge the duties of mayor for two years to the best of his ability and judgement, an d impressed upon his successor that he was not the mayor of any one man, faction or party, but the mayor of the whole city and wished for him abundant success. Mr. Crittenden relied that he fully realized all that his predecessor had said, that he would try to be mayor for all the people and when in doubt would seek their advice.
"Possibly, Mr. Beardsley, during my term of office I may have to go to you for advice, and I feel sure you will be pleased to extend to me the courtesies you have heretofore granted me," replied Mr. Crittenden, who then delivered his inaugural address.
