Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-09-25
CHIEFS
Big DAY
Pres. Roosevelt Creates
Much Enthusiasm
at Detroit
Delivers Two Notable Adj |
dresses and Views
Parade
Meets Soldier Comrades
and Argues for
Reciprocity

Detroit, Sept. 23.-President Roose-
welt put in a. very busy day yesterday
and after addressing a large gathering
of Spanish-American and other vet
Grams during the day and speaking at
a banquet in the evening took his train
for indianapolis. He also reviewed
a great parade in the afternoon. The
review of the parade began just before
O'Clock and it was long after dark
before it concluded. 1t was the great
est demonstration, except the parade
at the Grand Army National Encamp-
ment, ever seen here. The president
was given a great popular demonstra-
ton. Among the organizations in line
was a regiment of Essex fusiliers
from Windsor, Ont. 1t was the first
time president of the United States
has reviewed a regiment of British
soldiers. The president was enter
tanned at bnllinant banquet last
evening, at which nearly 500 promi-
nent men attended, while the galleries
We're thronged to their utmost capac-
lty. When the president rose to
speak he was given an ovation.
In opening his speech the president
paid high compliment to the vet
Grams of the Grand Army in comparing
their deeds with those of the Spanish
American veterans. Incidentally he
mentioned that at Santiago he fought
side by side with the soldiers of Mich
lgan. He also called attention to the
TACT that Michigan enjoyed the dis
tlnction, though an inland state. of
manning war vessel during the late
war He spoke in warm praise of the
Valor of the Michigan naval militia.
me president discussed at length the
issues and duties resulung from the
war with Spain, saying that in Porto
RICO duty was merely administrative,
and while in the philippines it was
more serious, we had now. at the ex-
plratlon OF three years, established
peace in the archipelago and in two
years more would give the people
there the largest measure of self-gov-
eminent accorded any oriental country
III the possession of an alien power.
The president gave special attention
10 CUBA. After reciting the pledge to
give Cuba her independence and it's
fuI1llment and what was done under
American control of the island, he
presented the subject of reciprocity
and said:
We urge reciprocity because it is
Tor our interests to control the Cuban
market because we are bound TO
pace CuDans on peculiar standing
economically when they consent in
our interests as well as their own to
assume peculiar status information.
ally and because it is fitting for a
great and generous republic to stretch
out helping hand toward her feebIer
sister Just starting to tread the path
oi independence. Cuba, though indie
pendent, stands in peculiar position
towards us and should receive in SINH
lar fashion a measure of benefit from
and partial inclusion wlLnin our svs-
tenn. Questions that ordinarily CON
Germ us as of prime weight in tariff
matters, do not come in here as of
primary Importance. We cannot
choose what articles are which Cuba
shall export. We must accent tbem
as they are and We must remember
mat III dealing wl,n this island, espe~
clally now that We are about to build
an lsthmian canal. and our interests
IN the West Indian waters have be-
come SO great. we must shape our
polcy with far-sighted regulation for
the future and for the interest and
honof Tor the nation as a whole. 90
not beneYe that parUlcle of harm will
come 10 any American interest from
the adoption of a reasonable measure
of reciprocity with Cuba am cor
tain that the adoption of such a meas
ure viii be in the interest of our neo.
pie as whole. Above all while fully
ACKNOWLEDGING the observation-disclosures
and the moral sincerity of those of NV
associates with whom on this no;n+ ,
dlffer, yet feel most STRONGLY that bv
every consideration of generous and
far-slghted public policy we are bonnd
TO prove to Cuba that our friendship
with her is OF the continuing character
ana that we intend to aid her in he,
slrusSle Tor the material welI-heine
Whlch must underlie a healthy nation
al development"
The president concluded with .
glowing tribute to the bravery of tht
sons OF Michigan and the middle west
and declared that he is preaching tn,
gospei OF hope, and spurned the teach
lngs OF despair and distrust.
Stout of heart we see across III,