The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-05-03
ACROSS THE COTTON BELT

New Orleans, May 1.-The presiden-
tial party travelled across the cot
ton belt today, from Memphis almost
to the Gulf of Mexico. Down the low
lying, rich Yazoo valley, fertile as
that of the Nile, it went to Vicksburg,
teeming with it's memories of 80 years
ago, thence to Jackson, the capitol of
Mississippi, and from there down into
the land OF the Magnolia and orange
to the old romantic city near the
mouth of the Mississippi with it's tradi-
lions of French and Spanish rule.
The outpourings of people to see
the presidential train along the route
today were larger, if anything, than
on the two previous days and the
demonstrations at Vicksburg and
Jackson, the two principle stops,
were very striking The visit to Vicks-
burg was in some respects the most
interesting yet made. Here a triumph
al arch of cotton bales with the magic
word Expansion" was pointed out
to the president as he passed under
it
Although it had not been intended
to make any stops after leaving Jack
son, the train was halted at several of
the smaller towns where cotton mills
are located to permit the president to
see and speak to the operatives At
some OF the stations the crowds ac-
tually impeded the progress of the
train and the engineer was obliged to
slow down to avoid danger OF running
over enthusiastic people
When the sun was sinking the train
crossed the bayous with their moss
covered cypress and live oak and
sklrting Lake Ponchartrain, steamed
n New Orleans This is the first
time New Orleans has ever had a
visit from the chief magistrate of the
nation and it was a royal reception
which the old city gave President Nc,
klnley today Mr.. Mckinley himself
mas been here before He made a not
able speech here, preceding his nomi-
nation for the presidency, and EXPIRES
ldent Cleveland was here upon one
occasion during the interim between
MS two terms, but never befor has a
president, while in office, visited the
Crescent City.
The air was full of the blare of
bands. booming of cannon and screams
OF whistles from the harbor craft as
the train drew into the station. Here
the president. and his party were
greeted by Governor hearu, Mayor
CapdeVle, Senators McEnery and Fos-
ter, the entire Louisiana delegation
to congress, the city council and rem
r~esentatives of the various exchanges.
While the mayor was formally ex-
tending the hospitality of the city to
the president a fine military band was
completely drowning his words with
New Orleans favorite air, Louisiana
Lou. The president and his cabinet
passed out of the station between a
line OF smart looking militiamen on
SIDE and a smarter looking set of
cadets from the Jesuit college here
on the other.
The boys ranged in age from 8 to IA.
Du despite their youth they made a
hne appearance in their gray uniforms
as they presented arms to the nresi.
dental party. Outside the governors
stan, resplendant in gold lace and
mounted on plunging chargers, await
a crowd around the station was
SO dense that it required heroic ef.
iorts OF the police to keep the path
to the carriages clear. A big military
parade, consisting of the Louisiana
cavalry troop, Washington artillery
and all militia from this section ~
the escorted the party along