Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-09-11
ROOSEVELT VISITS THE sunny SOUTH

the firemen's brotherhood was a re.
suit which naturally comes from the
application of the principle of com
mon sense to their work. He said
that organized labor had never made
an unreasonable request Of him and
that if it had he would have denied
1t. In speaking of the appointment
of Grand Master Sargent of the
brotherhood, to be commissioner gen
eral Of immigration, the president
said it was one of the most salts.
factory appointments to him and to
the public that he had ever made;
that Mr.. Sargent has hard body and
not soft head.
John +. McNamee, of Columbus, o.,
one of the grand officers and demo-
cratic member of the legislature,
moved that the degree of grand hon
orary membership be conferred upon
President Roosevelt. The motion was
referred to the committee on con-
stitution and bylaws, whose recon-
mendation was unanimous that the
motion be accepted. The report of
the committee was adopted by ris-
ing, unanimous vote and amid great
cheers. The president thanked the
convention for the compliment paid
him and Grand Master Sargent then
gave him a pass which admits him
20 all meetings Of the brotherhood.
At this point the brotherhood ad-
journed unth this morning and the
public was admitted to the audito-
rum to hear the presidents address.
President Roosevelt was intro
duced by Acting Grand Master Han.
nahan. His reception was most en-
thusiastic, the audience rising to it's
feet and cheering. When the presi-
dent addressed the convention as
my brothers" he was cheered again.
He said he was glad to be here and
Joined with the Others in extending
a cordial welcome to the visitors
from Canada and Mexico. He needed
no pressing, he said, to come to this
meeting. II always have, gentle
men, admired the railroad men Of
the country and I do not see how
anyone who believes in the funda-
mental principles of citizenship can
fail. to do so." He compared the
railroad men to- soldiers who are ac-
customed to taking risks, acting on
their own initiative and obeying or
ders, The president referred to the
good work accomplished by the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen.
81 believe emphatically," he said,
''in organized labor. The worth of
an organization depends upon its be-
ing handled with the courage, the
skill, the wisdom, the spirit of fair
dealing as between man and man and
the wise self-restraint which I am
glad to be able to say your brother
hood has shown"
Shook Hands with the Crowd.
Athens, Tenn, Sept. 9.-President
Roosevelt arrived here at 3:15 and
after brief stop the presidential
train continued on to Knoxville. He
was greeted here by large crowd.
At Riceville, where stop was
made for water, the president for
the first time since he started out on
his southern trip shook hands with
those about his car. 1t has been his
custom to refrain from handshaking,
but when a man in the crowd asked
him to shake hands the president
said: "Well, this is small crowd
and / will shake your hands," He
told the people. he had been over the
battlefield of Chickamauga and said
that If a man were half decent
American he could not help becoming
q better citizen from such trip.
Through the Streets In Rainstorm.
Knoxville, Tenn, Sept. 9.-Presi-
dent Roosevelt braved the elements
late Monday afternoon and in def
ance of hard rainstorm was driven
through streets lined with people to
stand on Main avenue, nearly
mile from the depot, where he spoke
to 10000 people, who stood in quiet
while a drenching rain poured down
upon them.
Spent the Night at BOT SPRING.
Hot Springs, N. c., Sept. 9.-The
special train bearing the presidential
party arrived at Hot Springs Monday
night. The night was spent here, the
train being scheduled to arrive in
Asheville at $3.50 a. IN.