Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-06-10
OMAHA'S BIG SHOW OPENED.
PRESIDENT M,KINLEY STARTS the
WHEELS MOVING.
DELIvERSADDRESS BY TELEPHONE.
An Imposing Civic Parade Three Milss
Long Feature Of the p~y I'm
the Nebraska City.

Amid the music OF hundred bands,
the cheers Of hundred thousand peo-
pie, the blasts Of many whistles and
the waving Of innumerable flags, the
trans. NJ ississippi aud international ex-
position was dedicated at Omaha, Neb.,
Wednesday.
Everything contributed to the
smoothness Of the final preparations,
and nothing occurred to mar the occa-
sion.
The civic parade was three miles
long, consisting of the officers and
guests Of the exposition in carriages,
the semi-military organizations and all
the secret societies Of Nebraska and
adjacent states.
Rev. DR.. Samuels, Of st. Louis,
opened the exercises at the grounds
with an appeal to HE who doeth all
things we'll" to shower His blessings
on the enterprise and the people OF
the trans-Mississippi region especially.
President Wattles, Hon. j. l.. Weber,
Of Omaha, and Hon. John L. Baldwin,
of Council Bluffs, eulogized the oeca-
sion.
President Mckinley addressed the
assembled multitude by long-dis-
lance telephone and touched the cleo
trio button in the blue room Of the
white house at Washington. He spoke
as follows:
"Hon. George Wattles, president
Trans Mississippi and International
Exposition, Omaha, Neb.-The cor
diality of the invitation extended TO
me to be present at the opening Of
your exposition is deeply appreciated,
and I more deeply regret that public
duties prevent me from leaving the
capital at this time.
The events OF q memorable half cen
fury which the trans.Mississippi and
International exposition commemo-
rates are interviewer with the history
of the whole nation, and are of sur
passing Importance. The mighty west
affords most striking evidence of the
splendid achievements and possibili-
ties Of our people. 1t is q matchless
tribute to the energy and endurance
Of the pioneer, while in vast agricul-
tural development, its progress in
manufactures, its advancement in the
arts and sciences and in all depart
ments of endeavor has been estimable
contributions to the civilization and
wealth of the world. Nowhere have
the unconquerable determination, self
reliant strength and sturdy manhood
Of our citizenship been more forcibly
illustrated. In peace or war the men
and women of the west have ever been
in the vanguard.
II congratulate the management
upon its magnificent enterprise, and
assure all who participate in this I'M
dertaking of the deep interest which
the government has in its success.
WILLIAM MCKINLEY.
The ceremony at the Washington
end was brief, and was conducted with
little formality. The members Of the
Nebraska delegation in congress, ac-
companied by the ladies of their fami-
lies, assembled at the white house and
were presented to the president.
A clear wire to Omaha was secured
at 1:50 o'clock, and the president,
stepping to the instrument, pressed
the button which set in motion the ex-
position machinery about $500 miles
away. After thanking the president
for his courtesy, the party withdrew
and joined in the following congratu-
latory telegram to the president OF the
exposition;
"Nebrasks delegation assembled in
executive mansion extend their con-
gratulations upon the suspicious be-
ginning of so vast an enterprise as the
trans Mississippi and international ex-
position, and regret their inability to
be present and personally participate
in its achievements"