The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-09-26
SPANISH VAR VETERANS ovA
TON TO PRESIDENT.
HAS NO APOLOGY TO OFFER
Proud Of What Nation Has Done Dur
ing Past Four Years-Proud Of
Its Soldiers.

gray uniform of the Spanish war vet
Grams, whose third annual reunion is
being made memorable and historical
by the presence of President Roose-
welt, is seen at every turn in Detroit
today. Additional delegates and vet
Grams are arriving on every train and
many thousands Of people have come
from nearby cities and towns. The
day dawned warm and pleasant.
President Roosevelt rose at a quar-
ter to 8 o'clock this morning, after a
refreshing nights sleep, which was
disturbed only once. About 2 o'clock
enthusiastic delegates arrived from
Saginaw and Bay City. Headed by a
band, they marched to the Hotel Ca
dillac and serenaded the president,
who did not arise, however.
The delegates began gathering in
the Light Guard armory, the conven-
ton hall, soon after 9 O'Clock. When
Acting Commander-in-chief Urel call
ed the delegates to order the floor of
the armory was crowded with uni
formed soldiery-looking men. The gal
leries we're packed with men and wo-
men who had come to hear President
RoOsevelt's speech to the veterans.
The armory was decorated beautiful
~. ASbackground of maple trees form
ed a canopy over the platform from
which the speaker addressed the as
semblage. Hung from the center of
the green canopy was a large flag
draped picture of President Roose-
welt. The front of the platform was
entirely hidden by great masses of
golden red.
President Roosevelt was given a
tremendous ovation when he stepped
out of the Cadillac and into his car
rage to begin the drive to the armory.
Washington and Michigan avenues
were damned with people. who made
the air ring with their cheers as the
president drove briskly away from the
hotel. A squad of mounted police
rode before his carriage and a squad
of officers en- bicycles collected about
it. 1t. was a continuous ovation that
greeted the president on his drive,
that. took about five minutes. A stir
about the door announced to those in
side that the president had arrived.
AS he walked down the main aisle to
the speakers stand a great shout
went up. Again and again the veter-
ans cheered the president, and he
bowed his thanks repeatedly. Nor
were the people in the gallaries be-
hind in their applause. 1t was many
minutes before quiet was restored.
General Urell, acting commander
in-chief, introduced Mayor Maybury,
who %eloquently welcomed the Spanish
War Veterans to the city. When he
mentioned President Rooseyelt's name
it brought every soldier to his feet
and a tremendous cheer Went up.
When he concluded General Urell
stepped forward and said, as he turn
ed to President Roosevelt: 81 have
nothing to say, Mr.. Roosevelt
Every man on the floor was on his
feet cheering and waving his hat as
the president arose from his chair.
Cheer after cheer rent the air while
President Roosevelt smilingly bowed
his thanks to his former comrades.
The, president expressed his pleasure
at having the chance of being greeted
by his comrades and greeting them
in return. The men who served in
the Spanish-American war, he said,
if they did their duty well, were COM
rades and brothers from nov until the
end of their days. (Applause.) He
said he did not need any urging to
accept the invitation to attend the
meeting of the Spanish War Veterans.
The president spoke on the late
war and said that the only complaint
heard was that there was not enough
wal to go around. The president
said the spirit exhibited by the men in
this war was the same spirit that
made the memorable meeting OF Lee
and Grant at Appomattox possible.
One of the first lessons all had to
learn was that there was enough hard
work that preceded any chance for
heroism.
The amount of hard work a nan
did had a great deal to do with his
attaining heroism. II a mar has not
the stuff to endure hardship on the
march. the president said, he has not
the stuff in him to attain heroism.
The president said the spirit he
wanted to see in a man was that spirit
which makes him do his duty. great
or small. He liked particularly the
way in which our young men went to
the ranks to do their duty as they,
saw If. It is a very good thing for an