Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-05-29
THE PASSING EVENT.
THE VISIT OF THE PRESIDENTTO
OLYMPIA.

The Reception Takes Place According to Pro-
sramme-A Joint Affair of State and City
Escorted From Depot to Capitol - Ten
Thousand People Assembled on the Park to
Do Him honor-After a Brief Reception. He
Spoke About Forty Minutcs-Wrapt Atten-
ton of the People.
The Presidential reception last Fri
day passed off without the slightest
jar as to precedence or ripple of dis
content as to arrangement of the
many details for making it complete
success. The weather, to begin with,
was ideal, the people radiant with
smiles and overhowing with good hu-
NOR, everybody profuse in hospitality
to guests and considerate of neighbor,
and in fact the conditions approached
more nearly the conception of the
righteous OF that promised era of peace
promised in the second coming of the
Saviour when harmony, and peace,
and contentment, and brotherly love
shall supplant all selfishness and strife,
and the world be indeed akin.
1t is not di fficult to find a cause for
these exceptional pleasing conditions.
It is true We had jolly guest in the
President, man whose smile has be-
come proverbial, and he talked of
nothing that any true American could
Lexcept to; his retinue were all gentle.
men who seemed intent upon present.
ing a fitting background to the GEN.
trail figure; then there was just enough
formality about the whole proceeding
to interest and instruct the people that
while we have popular government,
in which each is political equal Of
the other, there was back OF it that
element of power, the mailed hand
clothed in velvet, which ensures the
stability OF the government and the
rights Of the citizen. As has been in.
timated, the good weather after sue
cession Of showers during the week,
one OF which on Presidential day
would have undoubtedly dampened
the ardor OF the public, doubtless had
much to do with the pleasing result,
but we will probably be pardoned for
saying that much depended upon the
strenuous labors OF the Citizens Com
mittee, and especially upon Chairman
Richardson, who devoted his whole
time and persistent energy to directing
the many details. Then Mr.. Price, OF
the decorating committee, deserves
praise for persistence and good taste in
arrangement of the street embellish-
ments, and Mr.. Garrison of the State
house decorations is surely entitled to
commeudation for the artistic work on
the facade Of the Capitol and the happy
arrangement OF colors on the Speakers
stand.
After brief reception in the Exec
utive suite, in which public officers
and the Reception Committee were
presented to the President, he was
escorted to the front of the platform,
amid loud cheers OF the people assem-
bled on the plaza. Gov. Mcbride then
introduced the distinguished guest in
these words:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
| Olympia is highly honored to day
by having as her guest the chief mag.
istrate OF the nation. In presenting
to you the President 1 shall be ex-
ceedingly brief, for fully share with
you your eagerness to hear from him.
OF course, as the nations head, We de-
light to honor him; but aside from his
great Office he has, as q man, won our
highest respect and admiration. His
is the gospel of broad Americanism
'l-of a sturdy, self.reliant, incorrupti.
BILE citizenship-of devotion to duty
for duty's sake. His is the creed of
high endeavor; of fidelity to the peo-
pie; of the sacred performance of
every promise made in public as we'll
as in private life. His words, exempli.
fed as they are by his deeds, may
bring but scant comfort to the venal,
or the time-serving, or to those who
I would place themselves above the law !;
but they have struck q responsive
chord in the hearts of the great Amer
icau people, coming to them as an in
vigorating breeze.
Mr.. President, it affords me great
pleasure to bid you, in behalf of the
people of the State, a cordial welcome
to Washington. The sincerity of the
peoples welcome, the depth OF their
affection, and their grateful apprecia-
ton OF your visit will be attested by
the glad acclaim with which you will
everywhere be greeted while within
the borders OF the State, rather than
by any words can give utterance to.
Ladies and gentlemen, his excel.
lency, the President"
When the tumult had subsided after
the introduction, President Roose velt
repeated his invariable captivation OF
the crowd as soon as he had begun
to speak. The people knew him as
we'll as though he had been among
them always. Good citizenship was
his theme here as elsewhere, and he
preached the doctrine of the upright
life. President Roosevelt said:
Mr.. Governor, Mr.. Mayor, and you,