Omaha daily bee., 1898-06-22
Defeating THE BUILDING
Formal Exercises Connected with the Illinois
Day Celebration.
ELOQUENT WORDS OF PRAISE AND AMITy
Speakers Extol the Pride of n Great
Commonwealth md the
of n Great Exposition TO
"a Great Audience.

Some time previous 70 the time announced
for the commencement of the exercises In
the Auditorium the people gravitated to-
ward the Illinois building, and the wide
porches, the rotunda and the parlors were
soon crowded with people. AS fast as they
came they were supplied with badges OF
white. ribbon on which weie printed illinois
day, June 81, 1898, Transmississippi and
international Exposition, Omaha, Neb.
Many people who came from Illinois to take
up their home in Nebraska and neighboring
states took advantage of the opportunity to
renew old acquaintance with the visitors
and an hour was spent very pleasantly In
social intercourse. The members Of the
Illinois commission who had come early TO
the grounds, the visiting delegations from
the Chicago commercial organizations and
large numbers OF people from all sections
Of Illinois had gathered at the building
when the hour arrived for the exercises to
begin. The entire party passed in a
body to the Auditorium and on arrival
there found the big building fairly well
filed. The interior was hung with bunting
which lent an air of gaiety to the scene
and improved the acoustics of the building.
/, Palms and other foliage plants gave the
stage a pleasing appearance. The Apollo
Musical club of Chicago occupied seats at
tho back OF the PLATFORM.
At IL 30 O'Clock the official party made
its appearance at the northeast door and
marched down the main aisle to the stage,
preceded by the official flag of Illinois
borne by J. Mack Tanner, private secretary
OF the governor. Governor and Mrs. Tanner
led the way, followed by Governor Holcomb
President Clark e.. Carr of tho Illinois com
mission, Chairman W.. II. Harper of the
executive committee, the speakers of the
day, members of the Illinois commission anC
their wives, members of the Nebraska com
mission, members of the executive com
mittee of the exposition, members Of tn
Bureau of Entertainment, the official staff
OF Governor Tanner and of Governo
Holcomb, all in full uniform
The STATS of the governors and the Trans
mississippi troopers were seated in the cen
ter of the house Immediately in front Q
the platform.
Opening II Exercises.
When all were seated the Marine ban
made its way to the stage, amid a burst c
applause. 1t was just II o'clock when tn
band formally opened the exercises wit
Sousa's stirring march, The Stars an
Stripes Forever"
Chancellor MacLea Of the University
Nebraska invoked Divine blessing on tn
DTOCceulhBS, IeluInluB tudhhS loi Nv pioh
inence which had been bestowed on the sta
and people Of Illinois, and for the cords
relations which have been established b,
tween the people of the two sections. Bless
ings were invoked on the armv and nav
and Divine guidance invoked I'll national a
fairs.
Chairman Harper of the executive commi
tee of the Illinois commission was the fir
speaker, his address being devoted to
resume OF the work Of the commissio
The speaker extolled the standing of Hlino
in the business world and spoke Of Il
friendly feeling existing between the Peep
of Illinois and Nebraska on account of Il
fact that the former has furnished a lart
percentage of the citizens of the latter con
monwealth. The incidents in connection wi
the appropriation of $45, 900 by the legisl
ture and the appointment of the cor
mission provided for in the appropriate
act were reviewed, as were the details
relation to the choosing or plans for a sta
building and the erection of the same.
closing Chairman Harper congratulated t
exposition management and expressed t
hope that the exposition would result
permanent good to the entire section
country represented in the exposition.
Clark Il. Cnrr's Address.
At the close of his brief address Cha
man Harper introduced Colonel Clark
Carr, president Of the Illinois commissic
as the permanent chairman of the meetir
Colonel Carr took occasion to complime
Chairman Harper on the magnificent OF
come of his constant efforts in behalf
Illinois at the exposition, saying that WI
has been accomplished is largely the res
of these efforts. Colonel Carr then beg
his address, speaking as follows:
When Lasalle was. with his heroic f
lowers, exploring western wilds. soon af
leaving Lake Michigan he came to
headwaters of a river upon which
launched his canoes and foated down W
the current. The river broadened and dee
ened as he advanced. and he soon beca
convinced that 1t belonged to the great s.
TEN which drained all the vast region of
northwest. He made excursions upon eitl
side and found himself in the midst
vast meadows of waving grass which seen
illimitable. One day the party came VI
an Indian village and found II to be
home of a people who called themsel
Illini. He called the region the land of
Illini, and he called the river upon VIII
he was floating the river OF the Illini. WI
he asked the Significance OF this name,
found it to be men. full grown, compile
or as We would say, stalwart men. FIR