Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-01
OPENED WITH POMP
Trans mississippi Exposition Started
Up at Noon.
PRESIDENT TOUCHED The BUTTON
Sent a Message in Advance Con-
graduating Mr.. WattIess
GREAT CROWD SENT

OMAHA, Neb., June 1.-Amid the music
OF hundred bands. the cheers of 100000
People, the blasts of many whistles and the
waving of innumerable flags. the trans
Mississippi and International exposition was
formally opened today. Everything con-
tributed to the smoothness of the final
hours of preparation. and nothing occurred
to mar the occasion.
: At $50 I'm. the great civic parade start
ed on Its march from the center of the city
to the grounds. The National Marine Band
led the splendid pageant. and hundred
musical organizations from the various
states of the middle west contributed to the
occasion. The parade was three miles lorg.
consisting of the officers and guests Of the
exposition in carriages, the semi-military
organizations and all the secret societies Of
this and adjacent states. Early the special
trains had begun to unload their crowds
until the railroad men estimated that at
least 100 600 people had arrived. These min
gled with the citizens of Omaha and formed
one solid phalanx along the route of tn.
parade for ten miles.
Opened With Prayer.
Rev. DR.. Samuels Of st. Louis opened the
exercises at the grounds with prayer.
President G. w. Wattles, John l.. Web
ster of Omaha and John N. Baldwin Of
Council Bluffs delivered addresses suitable
to the occasion. President Mckinley adj
dressed the assembled multitude by long
distance telephone, touched the magic but
ton and the exposition was open.
The weather could not lave been more
propitfous and not a particle of dust was in
evidence. This afternoon the Marin, Band
will give a concert at the grounds, and to-
night a pyrotechnic display Of the most
elaborate scale will enliven the occasion.
At 100 o'clock today President Mckinley
opened the Mississippi and interna-
tional exposition at Omaha by touching a
Luton In the telegraph room at the White
House.
This is the fifth enterprise Of the kind
the President has opened since his indLc-
ton in Office, the others being the Nasn-
Vile exposition, electrical exposition at
Clevela nd, golden jubilee at San Francisco
and electrical exposition in New York.
Tie original intention was that before
touching the button President Mckinley
would make short address by long-dis-
lance telephone. Instead of this the Presi-
dent sent the following by telegraph:
June l. 1898.
Hon. Gurdon w. Wattles. President Trans
Mississippi and International EXPOSE
tion, Omaha. Nebraska.
The cordially of the invitation extended
to me to be present at the opening of your
great exposition Is deeply appreciated, and
l more deeply regret that public duties pre-
vent me from leaving the capital at this
time.
The events of the memorable half GEN.
fury which the trans-Mississippi and in
ternational exposition commentaries are
interviewer with the history of the whole
ration and are of surprising importance.
The mighty west affords most striking evil
dences of the splendid achievements and
possibilities of our people. 1t is a match
less tribute to the energy and enduran .e
or the pioneer, while its vast agricultural
development, its progress in manufactures,
Its advancement in the arts and sciences
and in all departments Of education and
eDdeavor. have been inestimable cont-i-
buttons to the civilization and wealth of
the world,
Nowhere have the uncomfortable deter
mination, 5elf-reliant strength and sturdy
manhood of our American citizenship been
mere forcibly illustrated. In peace or war
the men and women of the west have ever
been in the vanguard.
Il congraIulat the management upon its
magnificent enterprise and assure all Mho
participate in this undertaking of the deep
interest which the government has in its
success. WILLIAM MCKINLEY"
This message was read by Gov. Holcono
to the audience at the exposition grounds
Those present to witness the ceremony at
the White House were the members of the
Nebraska delegation In Congress Mrs Suth-
GRAND and daughters and Mrs. Greene and
daughters. Representatives johnson and
Fleming OF the ways and means committee
or the House were also present. that COM
mittee having been invited together with
President Hobart and Speaker Reed
President Wattles of the exposition was
forwarded message of congratulation
from the Nebraska delegation.