Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-06-04
GEM OF THE WEST.
President Roosevelt Welcom-
 cd to Illinois.
DEDICATION OF MEMORIAL HALL.
Fifty Thousand People In Lincoln Park Listen to His Excellency and Ten Thousand Greet
 Him at Joliet.

Him at Joliet.
 FREEPORT, Ill.,, June 4.-President Roosevelt and party reached here from Dubuque and immediately afterward were driven to the site of the Lincoln. Douglas debate in 1858, where a monu. ment commemorating the event was unveiled in the presence of many thou. sands from Freeport and vicinity.
 The feature of the visit of President Roosevelt to Rockford was the dedica. tion of Memorial hall, $60,OOO struc- ture consecrated to the soldiers and sailors of Winnebago county.
 Fifty thousand people greeted Presi- dent Roosevelt at Aurora, III. He was first driven to Senator Hopkins home, where luncheon was served. Then he was escorted to Lincoln park, where he made a short speech to 15,O00 people. The day was a general holiday there, and all business was suspended. After a stay of two hours he left for Joliet.
 Ten thousand people joined in vel come to President Roosevelt to Joliet. When his train first came in sight whistles of the great steel and iron mills were opened wide, and thou sands of employees gathered at the gates to join in the greeting. The pres ident and his party entered carriages with the city officials, and the parade was made through the principal streets. Thousands of school children lined the walks. The route was profusely deco rated with flags. At the Central school stop was made, and a brief speech was addressed to an audience of more than 5000 people.
 The president discussed labor ques- tions and gave his ideas on the modern industrial system. When the president finished his address he entered his car riage, and the horses were driven on gallop to the train.
 At the depot the old soldiers were lined up as guard of honor. The presi- dent delayed long enough to make speech to the veterans. He said they were always entitled to place of hon. or in American affairs. Tn the crowd was a number of Spanish-American war veterans, and the president had a special word for these. Amid the plau- dits of the great throng the presidents train pulled out.
 President Roosevelt put in about the busiest day of his trip from a speech making standpoint He made his first speech at Freeport and spoke nine times during the day. Eight of his speeches were made in the open air and several of them in rain storms. The hardest rain encountered was at Pon- tiac, where he dedicated a soldiers and sailors monument. The downpour was so heavy when his train arrived that it seemed inadvisable for him to venture out.
 "I will leave it to you, MT. Mayor he said to that official. If you say go we will go."
 The mayor decided that the president should go, and, wearing a rain coat, he braved the elements.
 The most interesting feature of the day occurred at Dwight. The mayor of this place is a Democrat. In introduc- ing the president he said:
 "I consider you, MT. President, the ideal American citizen. I am in favor of the course you have pursued and will support you for reelection
 The president, responding to the in- troductfon, said:
 "I am pleased by the kind words the mayor has said to me. Perhaps prize them especially, MT. Mayor, coming from one who is not of my party. but the whole thing is, my friends, if we are all good Americans. That is enough platform for all of us to stand on. prize more than can say such words as have been uttered by the mayor, and, assure you, I shall do my best to try to deserve them"
 The president also assisted in the opening of a new hotel at Dwight A wire was run from the hotel to the rear platform of his car, and by press ing a button he started the machinery in the building.