Evening journal., 1901-05-02
Old City'S First Visit Of a
President
WAS A NOTABLE OCCASION
Trip Toward The Golden GATE to be
Resumed at 6 O'clock This
Evening

New Orleans. May 2.-The presiden-
tial party Travelled across the cotton belt
yesterday 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. thence east D
TO Jackson, the capital OF Mississippi,
and from there down into the land of
the magnolia and the orange to the old
romantic city near the mouth Of the
Mississippi. with its traditions of
French and Spanish rule. The out
pourings of the people to see the presi-
Dental train along the route yesterday
were larger, if anything. than on the
two previous days, and the demonstrR-
tions at Vicksburg and Jackson, the
two principal stops. were very striking.
The visit to Vicksburg was in some
respects the most interesting yet made.
Here a triumphal arch of cotton bales.
with the magic word expansion"
pointed out TO the president, as he
passed under it, the path of the new
south. Although it had not been in
tended to make any stops after leaving
Jackson, the train was halted at sew
. eral of the smaller towns where cotton
mills are located, to permit the presi-
4 dent TO see and speak to the opera
r tives. At some of the stations the
GRO IDS actually impeded the progress
of che train and the engineer was
Obliged to slow down to avoid killing
or running over enthusiastic people.
This is the first time New Orleans
he's ever had a visit from the chief
magistrate of the nation, and II was
royal reception that the old city ex-
s tended to President Mckinley. Mr.. Nc
Kinley himself has been here before.
He made a notable speech here the year
preceding his nomination for the presi-
dency, and ex-President Cleveland was
here upon one occasion during the in
terlm between his two terms, but never
before has a president while in office
visited the Crescent City.
The president and his party were
greeted by Governor Heard. Mayor
Capdevielle. Senators McEnery and
Foster, the entire Louisiana congress
sional delegation. the city council and
representatives of the various COM
mercial exchanges. While the mayor
was formally extending the hospitality
of the city to the president a fine mill
tary band was completely drowning his
words with New Orleans favorite air,
Louisiana Lou" The president and
his cabinet passed out of the station
between line Of smart looking mill
tiamen on one side and a smarter look
ing line of young cadets from the
Jesuit Military college on the other.
The boys ranged in age from 8 to IA,
but despite their youth they made a
hne appearance in their gray uniforms
as they presented arms to the presi-
Dental party.
Outside the governors staff, respler-
lent ~ gold lace and mounted on
llunging chargers, awaited the presi-
lential party The crowd around the
station was SO dense that it required
he heroic efforts of the police to keep
he path to the carriages clear. A big
military parade escorted the party to
he new st. Charles hotel. The city
vas liborally but not lavishly adorned
With the national colors. but the
rowds in the streets were tremendous.
Never. except in Mard Gras times,
we're they known 20 be so choked and
ahmed with surging humanity.
Mrs. Mckinley and the ladies of the
oarty dined quietly at the hotel and
ater received the ladies Of New Or
cans The president and his cabinet.
With the other gentlemen of the party.
gere given an elaborate banquet at the
lotel in the evening. About 300 of the
rominent men Of New Orleans were
resent. and the banquet was said to
ave exceeded in every respect any
hing of similar character attempted
ere in the history Of this city.
The presidential party drove about
he city this morning and in the after
con took a sail along the river front
he presidential special viii again re-
ume its journey towards the Golden
ate at o'clock this evening.