Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-06-29
THE PRESIDENT
Arrives at Oyster Bay Home
for the Summer.
Town Makes It a Holiday and Everyone
Welcomes Him.
Friendly Rivalry in Demonstrations
The Presidents Speech.


this beautiful Long Island town, Satur-
day. His reception was notable for it's
sincere and enthusiastic cordiality, and
it's vigor. The latter quality was due
to slight fractional difference among
the townspeople, the result being that
the President was accorded a double
reception.
The Oyster Bay Board of Trade,
headed by President J. Morgan Griffin,
had planned an elaborate demonstra-
ton and former Asscmblyman Maurice
Townsend had arranged another. Both
were carried out according to program,
but as both were directed to the same
end, the friendly rivalry between the
factions resulted only in adding to the
enthusiasm Of the reception.
President Roosevelt and his party
were met at Long Island City by
committee headed by ]. c. Travers.
president of the Oyster Bay town
board, and escorted home on a special
train, the President occupying the pri-
waite car of President Baldwin of the
Long Island Railroad.
Under summer skies the President
stepped from his car at 4.30 o'clock and
while the cannon crashed out it's sa-
lule anu TIE ClecItu, hc was rs
corted by the reception committee to
the Town hall. The march to the hall
was between lines of school children,
each waving a tiny American flag.
business houses and residences
throughout the town were decorated
with flags and bunting, and scores of
large American ensigns swung across
the principal streets.
Arrived at the hall, President Rooso-
welt unveiled the Civil war trophy gun
presented to the people of Oyster Bay
by the navy department. Then, stand
ing on a chair placed on the steps lead
ing to the hall, he delivered n brief ad-
dress to the crowd of his friends an,
neighbGrs massed in front OF the build
ing. The President said:
MY friends and ncighbors: | thank
you heartily, more heartily than can
express, for your coming out to greet
me. today. | wonder il some OF you re-
member, what I shall never forget, the
way that you come out to greet me,
nearly five years ago, when got HON"
from Santiago. (cheers) | thought
some of you would remember it.
"Sincc | last saw you l have been
across the continent. | have travelled
across the Alleghenies, across the Mis-
sissippi valley. by the side of the great
lakes. over the Rocky mountains to tho
shore of the Pacific. and the thing tnat
has struck me most in that journey OF
nearly $1,000 miles right across the con-
tinent. has been the essential unity OF
our people-that wherever an American
President goes here in the United States
n hn homo
those who feel as he does and who have
the same ideals to which he can appeal.
"And now l am coming back to you
whom know so well. The older among
Won 7 have known for some 50 years ana
over. and my children are now growing
I'm here lust as / grew up, and l hope
they will do better In keeping out OF
mischief. And naturally 1t pleases me
very greatly to have you show me tn"
feeling that you have shown this after
noon. and of which you nave given 'Hi-
denre so often before.
.\Vhen I get back here | am not the
President | am your old ncighbor and
friend and in welcoming all of you l
want to say l am particularly pleased
70 500 here the children. AS you know,
7 he,ieye in children and | am very glad
that the children Of Oyster Bay seem I"
no all right in quality and also in guam
tity.
Now, l shan't try to make any speech
~ Won and shall just say again, my
fr,,nds nv neighbours. those with whom
am knit by such close ties, | thank
YOU from my heart and am deeply
to,cbed Inv your greeting me. this after
noon.''
At the conclusion of the speech. the
PRESIDENT entered the hall and greeted
MIRO Roosevelt and his children, who
had been in waiting there for him. While
h, was holding an informal reception In
the hail. the school children were drawn
nm In front of the building, and. under
the leadership of the bands. sang the
oriyiral song of welcome to the President
Attracted by the singing. the President
,nneo,ed on the steps and, to the delight
of the children. requested them to repeat
the song. 1t was repeated with vim
the great crowd of the childrcns elders
Joining in the chorus. Mrs. Roosevelt
stood in the entrance to the hall during
the singing.
Earlier in the afternoon Mrs. Rooso
Welt had been escorted to the hall by thu
children, and II great procession of resi-
b, dents not only of Oyster Bay, but OF al
of this part of Long Island. She thel
reviewed the procession from the step
of the hall.
At the conclusion of the ceremonies a
the hall, the President and his famil
entered carriages and, still under TIL
escort of the committee drove to thei
home Mt Sycamore Hill.
The Presidents trip from Washingto
was without notable incident. except tina
his train was held up in the Jersey Cit
wards by the derailmenk of two or thre
cars of freight trSsln. This della
amounted only to a few minutes.
President Roosevelt passed a quit
Sunday with his family at his Saga
more Hill home. During the afternoo
some relatives and personal friend
called. The President and family at
tended Divine worship, this morning. 1
Christ church. At the conclusion of tt
services an opportunity was taken b
the members of the parish to pay the
respects to the Chief Executive.