The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-01
Roosevelt and Cleveland Show HardihOOd in Watch
 ing Parade.
The President Has a Difficult Time in Getting His Midday Meal, Helping Himself With One
 Hand and His Escort
 With the Other.


 the Louisiana Purchase Exposition today were dedicated with all possible pomp and ceremony. In every way the exercises was success. But the weather was bad
 The wind blew fercely from the west, sending great clouds of dust whiriing into the faces of the troops as they marched past the President and at times so near ly blinded the President that it was well nigh impossible for him to see across the street in which the troops were marching Added to the discomfort of the wind and dust was temperature which sought for the marrow and generally reached it. The women who on the strength of the warm weather of yesterday came in sum- mer dresses to the reviewing stand. suf- fered keenly although the guard around the reviewing stand provided them with blankets.
 Both President Roosevelt and former President Cleveland remained In the re- viewing stand, exposed to the icy wind until the end of the parade, although their faces were blue and their limbs were stiffened by the cold. Conditions In the Liberal Arts Building, where the ded- tcation ceremonies proper were held. were little better. There was no wind but there were manifold drafts.
 Cold Worries Speakers.
 The effect of the cold was evident in all the speeches as the speakers, commenc- ing their speeches in clear tones wers without exception. given over to ca tarrhal infiictions as they finished.
 Despite this heavy handicap, however, the ceremonies were splendidiy hahdied and the program was carried out to the letter. The police work was excellent and the patrolling of avenues and pas saReways by the Ist Missouri Infantry was ably done and all possible consider alton was shown to the great crowd which numbered in round figures 1+5,000.
 The parade in the morning was some what longer in passing before the Presi- dent than had been expected and he was fifteen minutes behind the scheduled time when he was escorted by the committee into the liberal arts building. He was compelled to take his midday meal under unfortunate circumstances. During the luncheon which he ate at the conclusion of the parade he was showed helter-skelt- CT by half the people who had been in the grand stand. The food was placed on a rectangular counter and the President, like everybody else. helped himself"
 The crowd inside the tent was dense when the President, with secret service men and Adjutant General Corbin, acting as Interference" forced his way to the counter, He was so closely pressed that when he attempted to move his arm his elbow disturbed a cup of coffee held by General Corbin. With some difficulty the officers forced the crowd to allow the dis tinguished guest elbow room but they would allow him nothing more.
 Handed Sandwiches to Corbin.
 This manouvre forced the Adjutant Gen. eraI out of range of the sandwiches, but the President devoted one hand to pass ing food to his escort while the other was used to his own advantage. Owing to his advantageous position the Presi- dent soon felt called on to help out other friends and he was kept busy passing plates, a service which he performed with alacrity and cheerfulness The manner of the Presidents lunching was sufficient Nv unconventional to excite curiosity and probably 25 per cent of the people who congested the tent were present merely to witness the chief executive Of the nation eating at the democratic level of clerk in quick lunch restaurant.
 Some of the diplomatists and a number of the other distinguished visitors mount ed the reviewing stand to find that there were no chairs for them It developed that the chairs had been cheerfully ap- propriated by unofficial guests who had arrived early on the scene. With some difficulty other chairs were secured, but they were little used as the visitors found they could keep of the chill more eff Actively by standing.
 The important ceremonies in the Liberal Arts Building were handled with all pos- slbIe despetch. Early in the exercises word was brought to Senator Carter, President of the Day. that some portions of the hall were becoming dangerously pongested and he was asked to avoid delays as far as possible. He did so and from first to last the events on the pro- gram succeeded each other rapidly. Of all the speakers President Roosevelt alone was able to make his voice carry further than fifty feet from the stage By far the largest part of the assembly nould hear nothing and it was nearly freezing to death. Thousands of people m the rear part of the hall were con ptantly moving about and producing a muffled roar that would have baffled a eoghorn
 Cheers for the President.
 When the President rose to speak he was cheered to the echo. He bowed lgain and again, suggesting by his man. her that quiet be restored. Finally he incurred the broad railing in front of the rostrun where he could be seen from Bvery part of the hall and again motioned Tor silence There was everything but bilenee and President Francis suggested Ehat he proceed with his speech and quiet would follow. rANe President laughed Ind shook his1-=I Taking advantage n a Hull he ro / Now, my fellow titizens give me all the chance you can for need it.
 The chance was given and the President Segan his address. A burst of applause \ Ereeted his statement that the Dutch had l lone great things for the country in It's ! infancy and the President laughed in a lnanner which plainly said that means lny ancestors"
 f During the speeches of President