The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-01
NJ 'KINLEYS
FINGER
Presses the Button Which Sets
in Motion
The Wheels at the Nashville
Centennial Exposition.
THE BIG SHOW OPENS.
Thousands of Visitors Attend
the Exercises.
The City Beautifully Adorned
for the Occasion.

Nashville, Tenn, May 1.-The Zen
nessee Centennial exposition was open
ed at noon today with appropriate cere-
monies in the presence of many thous-
and people. The weather was bright
and cool and at an early hour the
streets were thronged with people as
sembled to witness the parade OF the
Essenye order and other societies. The
procession formed on the public square
and marched through the principal
streets to the exposition grounds. The
inclement weather which prevailed yes
terday and until early this morning in
terfered with the arrangements for
the parade in honor of the visiting su-
preme officers of the Ancient Essenye
order, yet it was a most creditable af-
fair and manifesto their approval of
the opening of the exposition.
The procession was headed by a de-
tachment of mounted police followed by
local divisions of the uniform rank
knights of Pythias, officers of the Ten
nessee Essyne order; the Legion band
of the First Tennessee battalion; com
pany IA of the First Tennessee regi-
ment Of Knoxville; Company a. of
the Ohio National Guard of Norman,
O., the sponsor of the Ancient EsSenye
order and maids of honor arrayed in
costumes of white. In a tallyhO, Sena-
tors and knights of the local senate
and supreme officers and visiting
knights. Governor Taylor and his staff
in open carriages went to the grounds
later. The public buildings and hun
dreds of business houses and private
residences along the line of march and
every other portion of the city are
handsomely adorned with the national
cOlOrS and other decorations and pre-
sent a very beautiful appearance.
Arriving a the exposition grounds
those in the procession Joined with the
thousands of other visitors inspecting
the splendid buildings and the very at
tractive grounds
Washington. May I'm compliance
with the request of the executive COM
mittee of the Nashville, Tenn, cen
tennial. the president opened the expo
sitiOn by wire from the White House
at lib o'clock today The arrange
ments We're very simple in detail The
circuit was made up by the Western
Union officials under the supervision of
Mr.. Montgomery. executive clerk in
charge of telegraph, and of Manager
Marean of the Western Union. The
wires were made direct to Nashville, by
way OF R1chmOnd, Y a, and ASheVllle,
n. c., repeaters being used at the form
er place. The circuit was a little over
700 miles in length.
Immediately upon the completion of
the circuit into the exposition grounds
the president was notified by Secretary
Porter and at once walked across the
hall to the telegraph room. where un-
der the guidance of Mr.. Montgomery
he stepped up to the desk, placed his
finger on the Morse key and slightly
depressed II, which action instantly
gave the signal to the Nashville end
and put in motion the wheels of the ex-
position The members of the Tennes-
see delegation in congress, Pension
Commissioner H. Clay Evans and sew
eral other prominent Tennesseeans
witnessed the ceremony. The following
kilograms in relation to the ceremony
passed between Secretary Porter and
J. w. Thomas, president of the expOsi-
ton:
Nashville, Tenn, April %.
His Excellency, VIM. Mckinley, Wash
ingtOn, D G.
The executive committee of the Ten
nessee centennial following the invita-
ton extended you through our special
committee sent to Washington now
formally request you to touch at l D.
M, Washington time, Saturday. May l.
the electrical signal which shall open
the Tennessee Centennial exposition.
(Signed) J. w. THOMAS
J. w. Thomas, Nashville, Tenn
The president is in receipt of your tel
egram of the 29th and directs me to say
that he VIII be pleased to comply with
your request and give the electric sig
nal which will open the Tennessee ex-
position at 1 p. m, May I.
J. A. PORTER.