Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1903-05-09
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT
VISITS ELLIS COUNTY.

springs at $50 at night and the
whole journey. was a continuous
ovation to President Roosevelt.
Our town was elegantly decora-
ted and everybody turned out,
Roenfelt put seats on his eleva-
tor platform and had ladies occupy
them who had a good view of the
President.
As announced President Rose i
velt came here last Saturday and
was greeted by a crowd of about
$500 people The band came out
and played a few tunes, the Cath
oic school children marched down
IN a body and took a prominent
place near the stand. Our GAR.
came in body and formed a line
leading from the cars to the plat
form, with Pm. Downing and Jim
Banner at head Of the lines.
Promptly on time, 4:O5 the long
tram pulled IN with two big en-
gines, and as had been requested,
Yost's whistle sounded no welcome
and the Normal students gave no
college yell Qlke the greeting at
Manhattan and Salina) the crowd
stood dumb and gazed, the train
stepped, the President and his par
tY. escorted by mayor Saum, noun
ted the platform, senator Burton
introduced him in a few words,
Roosevelt made pleasant talk to
the old soldiers and children, the
people cheered. he took his train,
and away they went and it was
all over.
AS be took the train little Alice
Penney, held up by her papa, the
next postmaster, presented the
President with a beautiful boquet
of carnations, which he accepted
with appropriate smile & remark,
Mrs Yest shook his hand. he also
shook the hand of ye editor, who
happened to be talking to his Sec
retary, Mr., Barnes, at the car plat
form as the President 1e-enterod
his car. which was natural, as the
Free Press was the only paper IN
the county that honored the Presi
dent by printing his picture and
publishing description OF his hand
some train and his guests.
Our town was wild Monday as
the eastern papers came but the
Associated Press dispatches did
not have a word about Hays CITY.
But we got what we gave. One
reporter asked lis if we didn't have
a State Normal schoOl-if they
hadn't anv students-lf this was a
democratic town and didn't like
Roosevelt Our town gave him
a quiet, formal reception, instead
LOT a rip roaring one like other
towns, and we got a frost in
their reports,
At Ellis the tram stopped for ice
land to change engines, he held a
reception and invited the people
to walk thro. & inspect his train.
1t was a great day for Victoria
and the correspondents who accom-
Ipanied the tram gave them this flat
terlng notice in eastern papers:
i Everywhere were the flag and
school children and the flowers the
children brought The children
and theiE floral offerings we're in
q front at Manhattan, where the
, great Agricultural college of the
, tcountry Is; at Junction city where
the great military post of Ft Riley
=, lis; at Victoria, where the Rus
{ lsians have Just added a new gene
/ ration of Americans
II He talked plain and direct t.
the people Even the Russians III
tderstood and their children sans
the songs of the republic. Th'
lVlctorIa incident especially pleas
ed him. Elsewhere along the roaC
the people were gathered along th'
Iroad the people were gathered Oh
one side Of The track, but at Vic
toria. following the custom of thei
tIOEGI&IuSESs lu0 ulSu were Ou Ou
Iside and the women & childrel
on the other; but 1t was the chll
: dren who gave the flowers an
D sang the song of The Red
White and Blue"
" ''The next stop, five minutes q
e VICFORIA,
E where the Russians live, was th
e indldent of the day 1t is a dem
4 cratic community, but the welcor
was more hearty, if possible, tha
! any other stop on the line. Oh
s dren dressed in white, all celcbra
lng the coming of their President
I'D To these PLAN but earnest pc
IS pie he said: NV Fellow citizens,
is ''Let me thank gou with all m
is. heart for having come here to gre,
me- / have not enjoyed any me,
ing more than this. [ cOngratu
late you on what you have don
: here, In falms, IN business, on yoI
work and / congratulate YOU esps
y rally uFOs1 fha ohIldren uDon ii