Perth Amboy evening news., 1903-06-04
Gem OF THE WEST.
resident Roosevelt Welcom-
ed to Illinois.
DEDICATION OF MEMORIAL HALL.
Fifty Thousand People In Lincoln
Park Listen to His Excellency
and Ten Thousand Greet
Him at Joliet.

FREEPORT, ILL.,, June 4.-President
Roosevelt and party reached here from
Dubuque and Immediately afterward
were driven to the site of the Lincoln
Douglas debate in 1858, where a monu.
ment commemorating the event was
unveiled in the presence of many thou.
sands from Freeport and vicinity.
The feature of the visit of President
Roosevelt to Rockford was the dedica.
ton of Memorial hall, 100000 struc-
ture consecrated to the soldiers and
sailors of Winnebago county.
Fifty thousand people greeted Presi-
dent Roosevelt at Aurora, Ill. He was
where luncheon was served. Then he
was escorted to Lincoln park, where he
made short speech to $1,000 people.
The day was general holiday there,
and all business was suspended. After
a stay of two hours he left for Joliet
Ten thousand people Joined in well
come to President Roosevelt to Joliet.
When his train first came in sight
whistles of the great steel and iron
mills were opened wide, and thou
sands of employees gathered at the
gates to join in the greeting. The pres
ident and his party entered carriages
with the city officials, and the parade
was made through the principal streets.
Thousands of school children lined the
walks. The route was profusely deco
rated with flags. At the Central school
a stop was made, and a brief speech
was addressed to an audience of more
than 5000 people.
The president discussed labor ques-
tions and gave his ideas on the modern
industrial system. When the president
finished his address he entered his car
riage, and the horses were driven on a
gallop to the train.
At the depot the old soldiers were
lined up as guard of honor. The presi-
dent delayed long enough to make a
speech to the veterans. He said they
were always entitled to place of hon
or in American affairs. In the crowd
was a number of Spanish-American
war veterans, and the president had a
special word for these. Amid the plau-
dts of the great throng the presidents
train pulled out.
President Roosevelt put in about the
busiest day of his trip from speech
making standpoint. He made his first
speech at Freeport and spoke nine
times during the day Eight of his
speeches were made in the open air
and several of them in rain storms. The
hardest rain encountered was at Pom
tiac, where he dedicated a soldiers and
sailors monument. The downpour was
50 heavy when his train arrived that it
seemed inadvisable for him to venture
out.
81 will leave it to you, Mr. Mayor"
he said to that official. "If you say go
we will CO."
The mayor decided that the president
should go, and, wearing a rain coat, he
braved the elements.
The most interesting feature of the
day occurred at Dwight. The mayor of
this place is Democrat. In introduc-
ing the president he said:
II consider you, Mr.. President, the
ideal American citizen. / am in favor
Of the course you have pursued and
will support you for reelection"
The president, responding to the in
PRODUCTION, said:
II am pleased by the kind words the
mayor has said to me. Perhaps prize
them especially, Mr.. Mayor, coming
from one who is not of my party, but
the whole thing is, my friends, if we
are all good Americans. That is enough
platform for all of us to stand on.
prize more than can say such words
as have been uttered by the mayor,
and, assure you shall do my best to
try to deserve them.''
The president also assisted in the
opening of new hotel at Dwight. A
wire was run from the hotel to the
rear platform Of his car, and by press
ing button he started the machinery
In the building.