Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1903-05-07
CORNERSTONE Laid.
Roosevelt Makes an Address at Site
Of Y. M. C. A. Building.
MORTAR PLACED BY SILVER TROWEL
The President Entertained ut Dinner By
Gov. Bailey-An Address Delivered Aft
erwards Mt Auditorium-Thou
Unable to Get Into the Building.


Topeka, Kan, May 2.--President
Roosevelt made two addresses In
Topeka last night-one at the laying
of the corners tone Of the new Rail-
road Y. M. G. A. building and the
other at the Auditorium before the
international convention Of the Y. M.
C. A. Both addresses were heard by
immense crowds Of people and were
received with the greatest enthusi-
asm. After laying the corner stone
for the Y. M. C. A, building the presi-
dent was conducted to the residence
of Gov. Bailey, where he was enter
tanned at dinner. His last address
was given at $3.50 o'clock. The
crowd was very large, but so excel
lent were the police regulations that
there was little or no confusion.
President Roosevelt's train arrived
in Topeka an hour late. Over 1900
people assembled at the site of the
new Y. M. c. A. building to welcome
him.
At 6:65 the booming Of cannon an
nounced the arrival of the presi-
dents train north of the river. Soon
the train was switched from the
Union Pacific to the Santa Fe tracks
and run down to the new building.
Escorted by local cavalry company
and o squad Of mounted police the
president was conducted to q plat
form. He made a short address and
then laid the cornerstone.
General Manager Nudge, Of the
Santa Fe, presided at the exercises.
He presented the president with q
silver trowel, which had been con-
tributed by the road, and with this
the president placed the mortar in
position.
The opening prayer was made by
Rev. H. H. Gregg, of st. Louis.
In his address President Roosevelt
expressed his pleasure at being in
"the geographical center Of the
United States" He congratulated
the delegates to the Y. M. G. A. con-
yention that they had come to Kan
sas for their great meeting, and said
he hoped their meeting would be the
most profitable ever held. The presi-
dent characterized the Railroad Y. M.
C. A. as one Of the most potent agen-
cies for good in the country, in that
II tended to make better men Of the
railroad employees, upon whom so
much depended. =
The ceremonies occupied 20 min
utes. Then the president and his
party were escorted to their car
riages and driven rapidly to the Cope
land hotel. Fourteen carriages were
in the procession. Company A, OF the
Kansas national guards, acted as
guards. A number of the party
stopped at the Copeland, where they
were entertained at dinner by the
Y. M. G. A. The president was taken
to the residence of Gov. Bailey,
where he was entertained at dinner.
As the party passed the state house
number of old soldiers who were
drawn up on the east entrance of
the building saluted the president.
He returned the salute with dignity.
This was arranged by Department
Commander LOOMS.
After dinner at the governors resi-
dence the party proceeded to the
Auditorium, where the president de-
livered an address to the delegates
Of the Y. M. G. A. convention. The
large building was jammed with peo-
pie and there were thousands who
were not privileged to enter.