Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-05-22
Wa5hlnatun Standard
OLYMPIA, WASH.
FRIDAY MORNING. NSY p. 1903.
Roosevelt Day.

While much Of the stir and excite
ment incident to the Presidential visit
is doubtless due to curiosity. there is
no disputing the fact that the control.
ling motive Of many days OF prepare
ton to do honor to the Chief Execu-
tive is based upon true patriotism.
The most remarkable feature of such
public functions is the utter abnega-
ton OF party feeling, and OF petty zeal.
ousies and personal rivalries noticeable
on many state occasions. All meet on
common plane, to do honor to the
high position, and incidentally TO the
individual in proportion to the man
ner in which he honors and dignifes it.
IL is unfortunate that in directing
such public displays it is impossible to
avoid conflicts OF opinion in formulat.
ing plans for the same object, but that
this feeling at rivalry and emulation is
aroused, shows how deeply the people
revere and honor the representative
head OF the nation.
The plans that have been taken for
the Presidents safety, from accident
or design, may seem so extraordinary
as to be almost a reflection upon the |
whole people, but when we consider
that three Presidents have been assas-
sinated within half century, and that
only few months ago President
Roosevelt was placed in deadly peril /
by his equipage being ran down by
street car, it may be we'll to adopt pre-. |
cautions for safety; but when these
secret service men make an ostenta.
tious display of their power by sound
ing the walls of his banquet chamber
for concealed booms, and look under
the bed Of his sleeping apartment and
peer into closets, for possible maraud-
ers and assassins, it does seem as if
they were posing much for effect and
to demonstrate their necessity as part
of the event which for the time fills
the public eye. One Of the first things
these secret service men did to inter-
fere with the little, but cordial, display
intended for honor of the President
here, was to veto the plan for inspec-
ton OF log-roll from Long Bridge.
That the structure might not be able
to stand under an extraordinary press
of the Presidential cortege and crowd
OF people, was apparent to the local
committee, and in order to eliminate
all possibility of danger, it was ar
ranged that only the distinguished
visitors should be permitted to pass
upon the thoroughfare during the few
minutes necessary to see the grandest
sight Mr.. Roosevelt would have wit
messed on his whole trip, and which
can only be seen in the State of
Washington and at Olympia. Then
it was innocently thought by the CON-
mittee that train OF our big timber
might be drawn up on the station
siding, for his inspection, but that too
was tabooed by thes careful gentlemen
in charge of the President, who prob
ably thought that the big logs might
harbor q Booth, Guitcau or q Czol-
gosz behind their ample dimensions.
Thus, like the Kansas man with the
top, We have been held at arms length.
While it is conceded. in view OF the
past, that ample precautions should
be taken, it is so true as to have
become an axiom that it is the
unexpected that happens. If the
murderous spirit impels the hand of
the assassin there are thousands of
ways for murderous attack that have
not, and probably never might be,
suggested, except by verification of
the malign ingenuity of the profess
sional anarchist. It may be that &C.
casionally one of those demons is de-
veloped, and that an exhibit of the
machinery of the Secret Service may
act as q restraint upon them, but from
past observation, the impression pre-.
walls that they are in no degree de-
TERED by personal results from such
undertakings.
The programme for to-day is simply
q reception at the Capitol, the Presi-
dent and suite being driven from the
depot in carriages. He will be intro.
duced to the people on the plaza by
Gov. Mcbride. On the stand will be
seated the Presidential party, Federal
State and City officials, the Recep-
ton committee and few representa-.
tive citizens, the number being limit
ed by the size of the platform. The
school children have been assigned the
grass plat north OF the platform, and
the war veterans the space south OF
the stand. The line OF march to the
depot will be west on Seventh to
Franklin, thence south to Thirteenth,
thence west to Main, north on Main
to Masonic Hall, thence north to
Seventh and westward on Seventh to
the depot.
A HITCH in the Panama canal treaty
has somewhat eaeed the money market
in the East, as it will delay the pay
ment of the $40 900 900 to the French
company and $4,000. 900 to the gov
eminent of Columbia, which amounts
are not payable until exchange OF rati-
fications, and it is quite certain that
the Co1on,hian C0n oreaa will not rnach