Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-30
Guard for the President.
Brilliant Pageant Reviewed by the
President This Morning,

ST. LOUIS, April 3O.-The great military
parade, which was designed to be distinct.
lively the show spectacle of the dedication
ceremonies was held this morning, and 1t
proved to be all that its promoters could
wish, and all that the regular army Of
ficers who controlled it could hope for
There have been many military parades
that revealed more men in line-there may
have been some that were as gorgeous to
look upon. but 1t is doubtful If there ever
have been any that were more carefully
handled or more superbly managed than
the one of this morning. A heavy rain.
which fell at o'clock in the morning, dis
posed of the heavy dust and save the one
feature of high wind, all things were IA
yorable to the success of the parade.
The sight of the marching thousands
from the point occupied by President
Rooseyelt's reviewing stand was one to be
long remembered. For half mile to the
left, for an equal distance to the right, the
winding column was in complete view. The
swinging ranks rising and falling in per-
feet time were moving rapidly on. while
the flashing Steel the glittering buckles and
buttons, the tossing plumes, waving BAN
ners and martial music made a picture of
the bloom and beauty of battle. the splen-
dor Of war that could not be surpassed.
Pesident Was All Attention.
The President watched the march with
eager attention. Every well-set rank, and
nearly all were SO; every accurate forma-
ton, and very few were not accurate. elic-
tied his hearty commentator. From end
to end of the line of march the cheers of
the immense crowd were as cordial as
President Roosevelt's approval. The parade
In all features was most beautiful and
impressive inaugural Of the ceremonies
Although AdJt. Gen. Henry c. Corbin was
the grand marshal. the chief figure of the
parade. the active work of organizing the
columns and managing the parade was
done by Brig. Gen. John A. Johnston, U. s.
A., and Lieut.. Col. E. A. Goodwin. 9th U. S.
Cavalry Gen. Corbin's chief of staff.
regulars and 800 of m the Nationa ae euara
New York being represented by 1000 off,
GERS and men; Illinois. 1000: Iowa, $50; Mis-
souri, 1900; Oklahoma, 200; Ohio. 1000
The formation throughout was in column
of platoons Of all arms at half distance
the infantry marching sixteen files and the
cavalry twelve troopers. front. The reg
ular army division was ordered by Gen.
Corbin to be In position on the main drive
of Forest Park at S:15 am. The division
OF National Guards was to form in rear of
the regulars fifteen minutes later All were
ready to move long before the time an
pointed.
Formation Of the Parade.
While the regulars and national guard
were wheeling into line at Grand and Bell
avenues with the precision born of long
acquaintance with the tactics the sixty
four aids of the grand marshal were form
Ing with careful attention to questions of
chronology and geography. 1t was the in
tention that the aids should be arranged In
each platoon from right to left and from
the head to the rear of the column. in the
order in which their states ratified the Con-
stitution or were admitted into the Union
or were organized as territories
Lieut.. Stuart Heintzelman. 9th United
States Cavalry. was the composite instruc-
tor in cavalry tactics. chronology and
geography and 1t is safe to say that
there was no more difficult task than his.
Among the sixty-four aids there were
fifteen generals. thirty colonies. eight lieu
tenant colonies, six majors, two captains,
two first heutenants, one second !ieuten-
ant. and in all that array of martial posi-
bilities there were not five who had any
claim to stand above the foot Of the chro-
nology class. No sooner did the formation
commence than the trouble started. The
generals from new western states yielded in
precedence to lieutenants from older COM
monwealths sorely against their will.
One ancient commander who drew mill
tary blank in the shape of a left-hand place
in rear rank, where President Roosevelt
never could see him, ventured a protest
saying he would like to ride with those
fellows up there" waving his hand toward
a rank of military interiors and chronoIosi-
cal superiors.
Born in the Union.
when did you come into the Union ?''
asked the lieutenant.
II was born in it," was the emphatic re-
ply.
The lieutenant consulted his authorities
and announced:
You are in your proper place now, gen.
eral" eO-'
Il may be in my place. but I'm not where
I belong" declared the general, with a
wrathful eye on his military interiors, who
were preceding him in the line
Ten-thirty am. was the hour set for the
start Of the parade, and at 1890 O'Clock II
started Prompt to the minute Gen. Corbtn
gave the word. 100 aerial bombs few into
the clouds and their explosion was the
signai that set the column in motion.
ment of the local police under Chief or
Police Matthew Kelley, and behind them a
long string of carriages-12S, to be exact
containing the distinguished guests. In the
nrst carriage were President Roosevelt and
ex-President Cleveland and President David
X. Francis Of the worlds fair Behind
them came the members of the cabinet the
diplomats and other visitors who have at
tanned celebrity.
The line of march was west on Lfndell
boulevard from its intersection with Grand
avenue. along the main drive of Forest
Park to the entrance to the exposition
grounds, where the column haItad a "a 49, =