The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-05-01
A BIG SUNFLOWER
One Of Silk Is Presented to
President Roosevelt
Just as He Crosses the Kansas
Line.
THE DAY AT K. C.
Biggest Crowd Ever Assembled
in Convention Hall.
Harvard Men Lead the Cheering
With College Yell.

Kansas City. Mo. May 1.-President
Roosevelt spent five hours in Kansss
City. No. today, and later was the
guest Of Kansas City. Kas.. Just across
the state line for two hours, leaving fcA
the vest at o'clock in the afternoon
In the two cities the president was
driven over a route fifteen miles long.
reviewed nearly 10000 school children,
made two speeches. one at Convention
hail before the greatest crowd that that
noted structure has ever held, and par
took Of luncheon at the Baltimore as
the guest Of the Commercial club Of
Kansas City. Mo. In the party here
was Elihu Root. secretary of war, who
had joined the party at St. Louis at the
express wish Of the president.
The reception given President Roose +
welt was intensely enthusiastic and it Is
estimated that 100000 persons. several
thousand coming to town from sur
rounding places, greeted him. The
schools were closed, business generally
was suspended, the mayor having pro
claimed it holiday. and many resi-
dences and business houses were deco
rated. Never before has there been such
a general desire on the part of the ctti-
zens 10 show their esteem for a dis
tinguished visitor
The presidential party arrived in the
city from st. Louis at $40 in the morn
ing and were met by a reception com
mittee at Fifteenth street and Askew
avenue in the southeastern portion OF
the city, two miles from the business
cener.
the reception at the train was brier
and informal. Five members of the
committee. J. F. Richards and (. NJ
Clendenning, president and secretary
respectively of the Commercial club: H.
w Evans, chairman Of the reception
committee, Mayor J. A. Reed and Col
William b Nelson. alone entering the
private car OF the president to greer
Kim.
There was a great crowd on hand
and it cheered from the moment the
train hove in sight until the presidents
carriage moved away for drive a few
minutes later at the head of long
line of carriages. A detachment OF
mounted police, together with the Third
regiment, Missouri National Guard,
which had just returned from ST
Louis, acted as an escort. The routs
starting from the train took in FIVE
miles Of Kansas City's boulevard sys-
tenn Passing first through the Paseo.
driveway mile in length and almost
a block wide, the president was greeted
by over 20 600 school children, white and
black, from private and public schools
who stood seven deep on the grass plot
b-tffCC@A Tic Two QIlN6WdYS ana formed
me that extended for three blocks.
When President Roosevelt appeared
each of the children waved tiny
American flag, cheering the while and
finally as the president passed the
thousands or voices broke forth sing
ing America In the bright sunlight,
the thousands of happy faced children
backed by rows of residences, decorated
and covered with spectators, proved one
of the most pleasing scenes of the dav
A
boulevards. the party stopped and view
ed the landscape from Scarritt's Point
which oVerlooIs the Missouri river 200
feet above that stream. Then the party
was driven through the business sec
ton to Convention hall where the prin-
cipal exercises of the day were held.
The great hall was reached at a few
minutes after IL. There the two sec
tons of the reception committee were
consolidated. The decorations of the
hall were profuse. Great flags were
strung from the center 10 the sides of
the stage, back of which and raised to
a height of 25 feet was an immense
golden eagle. The boxes and the sides
of thed balcony were draped with red,
white and blue bunting and from the
roof Orders numerous banners of huge
size were suspended. Every available
foot of space in the hall which has a
seating capacity of $4,000 was occupied.
AS President Roosevelt emerged onto
the stage the band started: THE Star
Spangled Banner and the current was
turned into two great electric flags that
formed part of the ceiling decorations.
Instantly the crowd broke into ire
mendous cheering while 60 Harvard
graduates with vigor gave their college
cry, ending with the word Roosevelt"
The graduates were seated in a body
in the balcony and were led in the
cheering by three men. who attended
Harvard at the time the president was
a student there.
Portions of the hall were set apart
for federal and confederate soldiers of
whom there were 500; body of the
Daughters of the Revolution. and the
officers of the Third regiment.
On the platform. besides the presi-
dents party were the members of the
ernor A M. DOckery. Congressman
William Cowherd. United States Sena-
tors J. r. Burton. Chester I. Long of
Kansas, Congressman J. D. Bowersock
of Kansas, Lieutenant Roland Fortescue
of Fl. Leavenworth, Kan. Mayor James
A. Reed of Kansas City, No, Mayor
elect T. 3. Gilbert of Kansas City, Kan.
President Roosevelt was introduced
by Mayor Reed. A great demonstration
took place as he arose to speak. The
I president spoke for Is minutes.
He spoke a word of greeting to his
audience and then greeted specially the
men who wore the blue and those who
wore the gray.
10 IOl usually say d1iS lilti4S dbOut
our being reunited country. he
said, because it is not necessary. OF
course we are a reunited country and
in every northern audience, wherever /
see a group Of men wearing the button
of the Grand Army of the Republic,
am certain to find a group of men
ready to cheer every allusion to the
gallantry of the men who wore the
gray" (Applause-)
Taking the lessons taught by the sol
diers of the civil war the president dis
cussed the question of good citizenship.
IN our complex relation of employed
and employer he said:
''Of one class with another class, of
one section with another section. we
can work out really successful result
only if those interested will get to-
gether and make an honest effort each
to understand his neighbours point and
an honest effort while working for his