Abilene weekly reflector., 1901-05-09
M'KINLEY IN TEXAS.
The President Passes Over the
Plains Of tho Lone Star State.
4 SPEECH TO COL0RED STUDENTS.


Austin, Tex, May 4.-Out of Dixie,
the presidential party yesterday
travelled into the heart Of the great
southwest. After leaving New Or
leans Thursday, beautiful Bayou
Teche, the home OF the Acadians, and
the waving rice fields of western
Louisiana were passed during the
night and the new oil fields Of Texas
whirled by Just at the peep of day
too early to be seen by the president.
When the party arose yesterday
morning the train was already fly
ing over the plains of Texas, which
stretched away to the horizon in
every direction, level as board.
Until 4:3O in the afternoon, when
Austin was reached, the train passed
in succession through the cotton
belt OF Texas, the rich agricultural
region beyond the Brazos river known
as the Black Prairie, much wooded
country and fine grazing land. The
president had his first glimpse OF
long-horned Texas cattle and pictur-
esque cowboys on range horses. The
presidents reception in the Lone Star
state was q continuation Of the ova-
tion he has received throughout the
south. Every honor was shown him
and his party and there was much en-
thusiasm. Gov. Sayers and other
prominent state officials met the
president at Houston, the first stop
ping place inside the state, and ac-
companied him as far as Austin, the
capital. There were some interesting
features at the reception at Austin
and a picturesque scene at Prairie
View, where the president addressed
the colored students of the state nor
NAL school on stand erected on the
open prairie at the side of the track.
He advised the colored people to
learn to do one thing well.
Minute stops were also made at
Hampstead, where the president
shook hands with number Of peo-
pie. At BRENNAN, the home Of Col.
Geddings, one of the presidents old
colleagues in the house of representa-
tives, and at Elgin, at each of which
places he spoke few words. At
every station along the route there
were cheering crowds.
The feature Of the day was the re-
ception accorded the party at Aus
tin, which, like New Orleans, had
never before had the honor Of enter
tanning chief magistrate Of the na-
ton. The city was profusely deco
rated and in the evening there was
brilliant illumination Of Congress
avenue. Austin never before held
such crowds Of people. They came
from every direction, some hundreds
of miles, and literally swamped the
hotel accommodation Of the city.
It was estimated that over 10000
visitors were here. AS the population
of Austin is only $4,000, the tax up
on it's facilities can be imagined.
A procession headed by fine mill
tary band and consisting of Is COM
panies of state militia and the Con-
federate Veterans and Grand Army
of the Republic organizations, march
ing side by side, escorted the party
to the east portico of the magnificent
capitol building, where the president
addressed a sea of enthusiastic peo-
pie.
There was a delightful reception
in the Sacham, where the bellies of
Austin, noted all over Texas for their
beauty. received the president and
Mrs. Mckinley. This function was
one Of the most charming yet expe-
rienced on the trip. There followed
drive through the city to the state
university, where the students, citi-
zens and school children greeted the
president.
Later Mr.. and Mrs. Mckinley, with
the ladies' Of the cabinet, dined in
formally at the governors mansion,
and at 10:30 o'clock last night left
for San Antonio, famous for its
Alamo and its Spanish missions,
where to-day was spent.