Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-06-15
TENNESSEES DAY.
Centennial of Her Admission as
State Fifty Celebrated.
PRESIDENT is THE GUEST OF HONOR.
"A Hearty Greeting to the Chief Mag
fstrate and Mrs. McKinley-Text
:" of the Felicitous Address of
the President.


celebration of the admission of Ten
nessee into the union. AS early us five
o'clock in the morning crowd had as
semble and an artillery salute was
fred. The presidential party, on it's
arrival, was driven speedily to the Max
well house and there We're provided
with accommodations and breakfast.
AS soon ms breakfast was over the
presidential party were ushered into
carriages from the Church street en-
trance of the Maxwell house and the
line was soon formed, the press and
many gorgeously attired members of
Gov. Bushnell's staff occupying three
huge tallyho coaches. In the first car
riage were President Mckinley, Mrs.
Van Leer Kirkman, president of the
woman's board, and Maj. j. w. Thomas,
president of the Centennial company.
In other carriages were the secretaries
and visiting distinguished guests and
the ladies Of the party, each accom-
panied by II prominent local gentleman
or lady.
The Escort.
The main procession formed on Broad
street, very handsome thoroughfare,
the upper end of which is lined with
handsome residences and beautiful
trees, the grounds of the Vanderbilt
university being especially notable. AS
guard of honor to the president a
mounted detachment of Observation-Disclosures
commanded by Capt. George F. Hager,
ranged themselves Immediately in
front of his carriage. They wore the
.old-time gray but the buckles of their
belts bore the insignia UNITED States"
In the rear of the line of the carriages
marched the battalion of the Sixth in
tfantry under the command of Col.
Miner, sent from Fort Thomas, and
headed by their fine band. State troops
and particularly good-loeking body
of Cincinnati police under the command
of their chief made up the uniformed
part of the parade. The streets were
lined with admiring thousands and as
this is prominently an educational GEN.
ter, a large portion of the crowds were
made up of students of both sexes and
of both races.
At the Grounds.
into the main entrance of the exposi-
ton grounds a battery of artillery
doomed forth the national salute of rs
guns. 1t was within the grounds and
led by the centennial chimes which
rang forth from the top of the Admins
Efration building that the enthusiasm
reached its climax. The enthusiasm
was shared by the visitors to the full
and to them was the added incentive of
the beauty of the buildings and the
grounds which burst upon them for the
first time.
In the Auditorium.
! Above the boom of the national salute
and the hum of thousands of voices
in the great auditorium rose the strains
of Dixie" from wandering band on
the outside.
Exactly Mt noon President Mckinley
walked down the main aisle, on his
arm the stately Mrs. Van Leer Kirk
man, president Of the woman's board
The president was greeted with hearty
cheers, and SO were Secretaries Sher
man, Alger, Gary, Wilson and the other
distinguished guests and their accom-.
panying ladies. Mrs. Mckinley, much
to the regret of everyone, did not fee
equal to the heat and stress and re.
manned in her room at the hotel.
Mrs. Mckinley Cheered.
During the speech of Gov. Bushnell
who spoke just before President Nc
Kinley, there occurred pleasing ane
remarkable demonstration. Vocifer
Gus cheers from the rear of the audi
.torium announced the approach of {
distinguished parsonage, and the roal
became deafening as Mrs. Mckinley
was recognized. She came slowly
down the center aisle, accompanied by
her aunt, Mrs. Saxton, and Mrs. l.. E
Akin, of Nashville, and smiled pleasant
ly as the president hurried to the plat
form steps and gave her his arm, con
Quoted her to seat by his side, ane
Immediately in front of Secretary Por
ter and wife.
/ The vast audience cheered until i
seemed tired out, but commenced AGAR
with renewed vigor when large buncl
of fragrant roses was handed TO Mrs
Mckinley, who bowed her acknowledg
ments. When the applause that fol
lowed Gov. Bushnell's peroration hat
subsidized, President Thomas introduced
the great figure of the occasion ant
Mr.. McKinley's face lit up as the audi
Ance rose en- masse and shouted GU
cheer after cheer.
The Presidents Speech.
The president spoke in part as fol
lo@ss
"Oficefs of the Tennessee Centennia
Exposition. Ladies and Gentlemen: Amer
1can nationality. compared with that Q
Europe and the east. is still very young
and yet already we are beginning to hav
age enough for centennial anniversarie
In states other than the original i
Such occasions are always interesting
and when celebrated In practical wa
are useful and instructive. Combinin
retrospect and review. they recall whs
has been done by state and nation an
point out what yet remains for both
accomplish In order to fulfill their highes
destiny.
"This celebration is Of general interes
to the whole country and OF special sis
nificance to people of the south and ives
It marks the end of the first century c
the state of Tennessee and the close c
the first year of its second century. On
hundred and one years ago this state wa
admitted into the union as the sixteent
member in the great family of America
Gommonwealths. 1t was welcome az
dition to the national households CON
munity young. strong and sturdy, wit
m honored and heroic ancestry. with Ton
Anticipations not only OF Its founders b.
Ifaith In its success on the part OF far-se
1ng and sagacious statesmen In all par
OF the country.
Praise for Tennesseeans.
1'Tennesseeans have ever been voluntee
mot drafted, patriots. In 1s46 when "a
soldiers were called for. 10000 loyal Tel
hesseeans offered their services; and am
the trials and terrors of the great civ
War under conditions of peculiar distrel