The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1903-05-29
ROOSEVELT At TEKOA
Welcomed by Over Four ThOus-
and Admiring People.
The President Addressed the Citi-
zens or Whitman County for
Oyer Twenty Minutes.

President Theodore Roosevelt has
visited Whitman county. On Tuesday
ne stopped at Tekoa and spoke for 2C
minutes before one of the most enthu
slastlc audiences which has greeted hin
slnce he entered the confines OF the great
state OF Washington. The presidents
train arrived from Wallace, Idaho, al
I2:4O O'Clock and the chief executive
stepped Immediately from his car to the
grandstand which had been erected on
the depot platform, where he was greeted
by A. W. Perley, chairman of the com
mlttee on arrangements, who at once
introduced the president to the people OF
whitman county. In front of the
speakers platform were grouped the
members OF the G. A. r. and the school
children. Back of these and extending
lar up the street were people crowded as
close as they could stand. From the
tops OF surrounding buildings, from win
dows and the tops of cars standing on
the sidetracks people were to be seen
eagerly waiting for the appearance OF
the president.
Alter the first enthusiastic outburst
OF applause and admiration at the sight
OF the nations chief, the vast concourse
OF people stood as one person silently
and thoughtfully drinking in eyery
utterance which fell from the lips of the
great man, From President RoOsevelt's
first gesture to the time he closed his
address, the citizens of the Palouse coun-
try stood as though spellbound. His
splendid voice reached to the utmost
confines OF the great assemblage and
there we're none who did not hear him
speak.
One thing which impresses the presi-
dent upon the people is the fact that his
every movement, his every word and his
every look is the very picture of honesty.
sincerity and noble manhood. A person
can hardly listen to President Roose-
velt without forming a good opinion of
the man. In appearance he is quite
ordinary, although be is of splendid
physique and his strong face radiates
with kindness and sympathy. So inter
ested did the president become that he
talked up the time allotted to him before
he had fairly started. Secretary Loeb
said: Mr.. President, your time is up. :"
The chief executive only motioned easily
with his hand and went on talking and
tor fifteen minutes after his time had ex-
pired he spoke to the people and they
appreciated him.
With almost perfect weather the
president seemed to feel at his best. Oc-
casiOnally the sun would peep out from
behind the light mantle of clouds cover
ING the sky and the great man Theodore
Roosevelt. would feel the inviporatinp
rays. There was d wonderful sense Of
sympathetic feeling going out to the
president from every one in the magnfi
cent crowd OF 1000 people as they stood
listening to his words of wisdom. His
plain truths met with limitIess favor,
and when he had finished bis address the
people we're his friends, even stronger
than they we're before.
After President Roosevelt had greeted
the people he spoke tOuchingly of the
life of the early pioneers. He said that
he was glad to speak to the people of a
county named after the famous path
finder and paid glowing tribute to the
memory of Marcus Whitman. With re-
markable force he preached his doctrines
and seemingly with wonderful effect. He
talked directly to his hearers and made
himself understood, as he clenched his
hands and hurled his words forth slowly
and deliberately. The doctrines he
enunciated are the ones he has preached
ever since starting on his tour, but they
are none the less interesting, and he
breaches them with as much earnestness
as ever. After speaking of his pleasure
at meeting the people and talking to
them, and paying a tribute to the
memory of Whitman and the early
pioneers, he said: