The Indianapolis journal., 1902-09-16
All Classes of People Welcomed by
the President, Who Was Well
Guarded Against Possible Harm.
FIVE SENATORS SUMMONED
WILL CONFER WITH THE CHIEF EX-
ECUTIvE THIS MORNING.
Senators Hanna, Allison. A1drfch
Spooner and o. III. Platt ON the
Way to Oyster Bay.

OYSTER BAY Sept. 15.-President
Roosevelt to-day received his friends and
neighbors of Nassau county and between
six and seven thousand people shook his
hand. The reception was held at his
country home on Sycamore Hill. and from
O'Clock until nearly he was busy shak-
ing hands and renewing old acquaintances.
He met people to-day whom he had not
seen for thirty years and shook hands with
men who had known him when he was a
child. The President thoroughly enjoyed
the affair and was as fresh when 1t was
over as when he began. He expressed his
feelings to a woman in the crowd who
asked him If he was getting tired.
mot a bit'' he replied 1T takes more
crowd to tire me-"
The weather could not have been more
delightful. The decorators did ntheir work
thoroughly and when the sun rose this
morning it shone upon village resplend-
ent with color. Most all the buildings and
many of the private houses were adorned
with flags and bunting. The most effective
decoration was along the road leading from
the center of the town to the road that
winds UP Sycamore Hill. Here at a dis
tance of every hundred feet were hung
large American flags, which formed a
canopy of stars and stripes under which
the people rode on their way to Sycamore
hill.
The event, which passed or so success
fully, was in the hands Of general COM
mittee, of which Frank c. Travis was
chairman. The crowds began to arrive
early from points on Long Island and by
noon the village streets were crowded.
Delegations came in from many Of the
places near here and several special trains
added their quota to the crowd. At /
o'clock the members Of the committees,
headed by a band, started for Sycamore
hill, and they were followed by vehicles of
all descriptions filled with Long islanders.
many of whom had come a considerable
distance to greet the President.
The precaution to guard the President
against any possible harm were of the
most thorough character. In addition to
Sheriff Johnson's three hundred special
deputies, who had been sworn in for duty
to-day, a large number of secret service
men and policemen from New York in
plain clothes were on the porch and about
the grounds. No one was allowed to go
past the President with a camera or a
stick of any description. Cameras. valises,
canes, umbrellas, and, in many cases. over
coats and women's wraps were taken from
their owners and piled up under a tree near
the porch
1t was 2:45 o'clock when the reception
porch and shook hands with all. After
passing him the visitors passed off the
porch, along road leading to the side of
the house where lemonade was served and
hv mt of no
On the porch with the President were
Mrs. Roosevelt, Mrs. William Roosevelt,
Roosevelt, Mrs. E. Reed Merritt. Frank E.
Travis. Assistant Secretary Loeb. Father
Powers and Rev. Henry Homer Washburn.
All sorts of people in all conditions of
life filed by the President. White and
black, poor and well-to-do women with
babies In their arms and several with dogs,
small boys and little girls. all got pleas
ant smile and shake of the hand. Many
were in line who had known the President
most of their life and their delight in re-
newing an old acquaintance was apparent,
but none gave the President more pleasure
than the greeting of two old family serv-
ants, Maggie and Bridget Mitchell who
had been servants in his fathers family.
They came from New York. where they
show him photograph Of his father and
one of himself when he was four years
old. The President was delighted to see
the pictures and the old servants and pre-
sented the sisters to Mrs. Roosevelt
During the reception a number of bands
stationed on the lawn in front of the porch,
discoursed music. "Garryowen," ''There
Will Be Hot Time in the Old Town To-
night and p merica" seemed to be the
favorites, for they were repeated a number
of times. The Hcksville battery at the
foot of the hill. also did it's share to make
the affair a success and fired continuous
salute. A pleasing incident occurred to-
ward the close of the reception. The New
York policemen wanted their picture taken
with the President. When the request was
made of the President. he complied at once
This is one time L really want a picture
taken,' he said. II know these men and
/ admire them. am proud to have my
picture taken with them"
Before the reception closed the bands
which came from Brooklyn and villages on
Long island, filed past the President. He
shook each by the hand and thanked him
for the music