Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-05-01
Attends Opening Of the Ex-
position at St. Louis.
The Speech of Dedication Delivered
byPresident Roosevelt.
Address by EXPIRES. CIeveIand-SpIen
did Military Parade.

pose, today, with all possible pomp and
ceremony. In every way, save one, the
exercises were a success, and this one
circumstance was the weather. 1t
would be difficult to imagine a more
disagreeable day. The wind blew
freely from the west, sending great
clouds of dust whirling into the faces
of the troops as they marched past
the President, and at times SO nearly
binding the President that it was well
nigh impossible for him to see across
the street upon which the troopers were
marching.
Added to the discofort of the wind
and dust was a temperature which
sought for the marrow and generally
reached it. The ladies, who, on the
strength of the warm weather of yes
terday, came in summer dresses to the
reviewing stand, suffered keenly, and
but for the thoughtfulness of officers
commanding the guard, thrown about
the reviewing stand, who provided
them with blankets, many of them
would have been compelled to leave the
place. Both President Roosevelt and
Ex President Cleveland remained in
reviewing stand exposed to the icy
wind until the end of the parade
although their faces were blue and
their limbs stiffened by the cold. Con-
ditions in the Liberal Arts building,
where the dedication ceremonies proper
were held, were little better.
Despite this heavy handicap, how
ever, the ceremonies proper were
splenddly handled and the program
was carried out to the letter. The po
lice work was excellent and the pa
trolling of avenues and passageways
by the 1st Missouri Infantry was ably
done and all possible consideration
shown to the great crowd, which num-
bered about $4,000.
The parade, which took place in the
morning, was somewhat longer in pass
ing the President than had been ex-
pected, but he was 10 minutes behind
the scheduled time when he was es-
corted by the committee into the Liber-
al Arts building. In order to arrive
even as early as that he was compelled
to take his MONDAY meal under some
what uncomfortable circumstances.
During the lunch, which he took at
the end of the parade, he was showed
heller SHELTER by half the people who
| lldU DtcIl III lilc ldllu SldHu. LIZ.
food was placed on q rectangular coun-
ter and the President, like everybody
else, helped himself" The crowd in
side the tent was dense when the Presi-
dent with secret service men and Adj
iutant General Corbin, acting as Gin
reference" forced his way to the
counter. Owing to his advantageous
position the President soon felt called
upon to help cut other friends, and
he was kept busy passing plates, which
service he performed with alacrity and
CheerfulnesS.
The manner of the Presidents lunch
ing was sufficiently unconvential to ex-
cite curiosity and probably one-quar-
ter of the people who filled the tent
were present merely to witness the
Chief Executive of the nation eating
at the democratic level of clerk in Il
quick lunch restaurant
Some of the diplomats and a num-
Der of other distinguished visitors
mounted the receiving stand to find
that there were no chairs for them. 1t
developed that the chairs had been
cheerfully appropriated by unofficial
guests who had arrived early on the
scene.
The important ceremonies in the Lib
eral Arts building were handled with
all possible dispatch. Early in the ex-
ercises, word was brought to Former
Senator Carter, the president of the
day. that some portions of the hall were
becoming dangerously congested and
he was asked to avoid delays as far as
possible. He did so and from first to
last the events on the program sue
ceeded each other rapidly. Of all the
speakers, President Roosevelt alone
was able to make his voice carry fur
thcr than So feet from the stage. By
far the largest part of the assembly
could hear nothing and thousands of
people in the rear part of the hall were
constantly moving about, producing Il
mltfled roar that would have baffled
fog horn.
When the President rose to speak he
was cheered to the echo. He bowed
again and again, suggesting by his
manner that quiet be restored. Finally
he mounted the broad railing in front
of the rostrum where he could be seen
from every part of the hall and again
motioned for silence. There was every
thing but silence and President Franz
els suggested that he proceed with his
speech and quiet would follow. Presi-
dent Roosevelt laughed and shook his
head. Taking advantage of a lull, he
called:
Now you, my fellow citizens, give
me all the chance you can, for 1 need
it,"
The chance was given and the Presi
dent began his address.
SO many people were standing on
their chairs and those behind them pro-
duced SO much outcry in consequence,
that at one time the President was
compelled to halt in his remarks tol
say:
Won't you sit down? If you do, the
people behind you will see better" and,
as they granted his request, he added:
THANK you.'
Another outburst of applause which |
was long continued after he had spoken
about Is minutes, caused him to laugh
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