Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1903-04-30
A SIGN OF GREATNESS
President Speaks on Good
Roads" at the St. Louis
Convention.
READY FOR OPENING OF FAIR.
-
Immense Throog Line Streets and
wildly Cheer Roosevelt on Msreh to
Hall-Ex-sresident Cleveland Ar
rives and Is Warmly Welcomed.
READY FOR OPENING OF FAIR.

rIVeS ana Us Warmly WSlSOtiSd.
St Louis. April SO.-President
Roosevelt has arrived to participate
in the dedication ceremonies of the
Louisiana Purchase exposition.
It was expected generally that he
would leave his train at Union sta
ton, and a dense throng had congre-
gated there. But to avoid just such
an assemblage arrangements were
made to have him leave the train at
Forsythe junction, three miles from
the center of the city His train ar
rived at Forsythe junction at 4:20
o'clock. where he was met and escort
ed to the Good Roads convention In
Odeon hall for a brief address. Mem
bers of the national commission of
the worlds fair. reception commit.
tee, headed by President Francis, AMI
crowd of spectators were present to
welcome the president For an hour
before his train arrived troops of mill
tary and squadrons of police were sta
toned about the point of disembarka
ton to prevent a crush.
AS the presidential train arrived
President Roosevelt accompanied by
Governor Dockery, of Missouri, VINO
had Joined the train at Keokuk. Ia,
stepped off the rear end.
President Francis, of the Louisiana
Purchase exposition, seized the han1
Of the president and gave him an in
formal welcome to St Louis. Mayor
Wells, President Carter, of the ma
tional commission, and other mem
bers of that body. the reception com
mittee of the worlds fair and military
officers shook hands with the presi-
dent. and after this brief and informal
reception he was escorted to the car
riage in waiting. Mayor Wells, Unit
ed States Senator Carter and Secre-
tary Loeb accompanied the president
in the carriage, which was at once
driven off to the Good Roads conven-
tion.
Enthusiastic Woman Disappointed.
Just as the carriage started a mid
dle-aged woman rushed through the
line of officers. wildly waving her
handkerchief and vociferously cheer
ing the president She attempted to
reach in and seize his hand. but the
quickening pace of the horses pre-
vented, and although she ran after
the vehicle, still cheering and waving
her handkerchief for the distance of
half block. she was finally distanced
and lost in the crowd
The military companies and a
platoon of police had been waiting
two blocks away, and as soon as the
line of carriages appeared slower
march was taken up to cover the three
miles to Odeon hall People were
congregated along the streets and
wildly cheering as the presiden.
passed. He continually DOTTED his hat
in acknowledgment. The hall was
packed with a crowd which had been
waiting patiently for hours. The pres.
ident spoke of good roads in tones
which showed as well as his words
that he was thoroughly in sympathy
with the object of the associations.
opeech OF PRESIDENT.
Roads" he declared. "tell the
greatness OF a nation. The influence
Of. the nations which have not been
road builders has been evanescent
Rome, the most powerful of the oldcr
civilizations, left her impress on lit
erature and speech she changed the
boundaries of nations, but palmer
than anything else left to remind us
of the Roman civilization are the Ro-
man roads"
AT this point in the presidents
speech the crowd rose and cheered,
waving handkerchiefs and hats.
Merely from historical analogy y
the president continued, this country.
which, we believe will reach posi-.
ton of leadership never euualled, this
country | say should so act that pos
terity WI Justly say when speaking
of u.s. That nation built good roads.
The president declared that COOL
roads probably were the greatest
agency for regulating the flow from
the country to the city of young men
and young women.
"A long line of liquid morass is not
pleasant" the president continued
IT means in many instances practi.
cal isolation 10 the farmer. When the
girl or the boy can't take turn on a
bike, even to neighbours, because
of the roads, well, it is a situation not
likely to make farm life attractive
In conclusion the president spoke
OF the benefits to the country dis.
aricts-of the trolley line, the tele-
phone and the rural free delivery
and closed with the assertion that
good roads would prove the greatest
benefit of all
From Odeon Hall the President was
driven at a sharp trot to st. Louis
university, A few minutes were spent
here, after which the president and
other guests repaired to the home of
President Francis for dinner.
Ex-President Cleveland arrived 25
minutes late, and a large reception
committee was waiting for him.
Wilson Returns to Washington.
Washington. April 30.--Secretary