The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1903-05-07

President Roosevelt and EX-Presi
dent Cleveland Principal O2es.
CONFUSION so GREAT
REMARKS HARD TO HEAR
Liberal Arts Building, Where Exer
cises Were Held, Was Veri'
table Sea of Faces and
Sight Seldom Seen.

St. Louis, May 1.-The buildings o
the Louisiana Purchase exposition OF
Thursday were dedicated with all pos
sible pomp and ceremony. In ever,
way the exercises were a success, bu
the weather was bad. The wind blew
fiercely from the west. sending grea,
clouds of dust whirling into the faces
OF the troops as they marched past t1f
ed the president it was well nigh I'm
possible for him to see across the street
in which the troops were marching
Added to the discomfort OF the wind
and dust was a temperature which
sought for the marrow, and generally
reached it. The women who, on the
strength of the warm weather OF We'd
! nesday, came in summer dresses to
the reviewing stand, suffered keenly
| although the officers commanding the
guard around the reviewing stand pro
! yided them with blankets. Both Pres.
| ident Roosevelt and former President
| Cleveland remained in the reviewing
| stand exposed to the icy wind until
the end of the parade, although their
faces were blue and their limbs were
stiffened by the cold. Conditions in
| the Liberal Arts building where the ded.
| ication ceremonies were held, were lit
tie better.
| Of all the speakers. President Roose.
welt alone was able to make his voice
carry further than fifty feet from the
| stage. By far the largest part of the
| assembly could hear nothing, and 1t
was nearly freezing to death, Thou
sands of people in the rear part OF
the hall were constantly moving about
and producing a muffied roar that
would have bafied fog horn.
When the president rose to speak he
was cheered to the echo. He bowed
again and again, suggesting by his
manner that quiet was restored. Final
ly he mounted the broad railing in
front of the rostrum where he could
be seen from every part of the hall,
and again motioned for silence. There
was everything but silence and Presi-
dent Francis suggested that he proceed
with his speech and quiet would fol.
low. The president laughed and shook
his head. Taking advantage of a luli,
he called, Now, my fellow-citizens,
give me all the chance you can, for H.
need it,
The chance was given, and the pres.
ident began his address. A burst of
applause greeted his statement that
the Dutch had done great things Tor
the country in its infancy, and the
president laughed in a manner which
plainly said: THAT means my ances-
tors
Another outburst of applause. which
was long continued after he had
spoken about fifteen minutes. caused
him to laugh and remark to Presi-
dent Francis, Nov, think I'm done"
and when the applause died away he
went on with his speech. -.
Following the presidents address
the chorus rendered Unfold, Ye Por-
tails.
Senator Carter then introduced .ex-
President Grover Cleveland, who
spoke. |
After leaving the hall the president
was entertained at dinner in the ad- |
ministration building, from the win
dows of which he watched the fire.
works until 10 o'clock, when he en-
tered his train ~
At 2::25 the assembly was called to /
order by President Francis. The noise
was SO great that his voice could not |
be heard twenty feet from the rostrum
Cardinal Gibbons delivered the invoca-
ton
Following the Invocation of the car
dinal, United States Senator Thomas
II. Carter of the national committee.
who acted as president of the day, was
introduced, and spoke. '..51
After the rendition of THE Heavens
Proelaiming, by the chorus of 200U
voices, David r. Francis, president of
the fair association, delivered an ad-
dress, presenting the buildings of the
fair.
At the conclusion Of President Fran
els address terrific cheers broke forth
to greet President Roosevelt, who de-
hVered the dedication address.
The exercises were closed by a ben
ediction delivered by Bishop Potter
Of New York r ~,
Thousands of people occupied an
Immense stand near the Adninistra:-
ton building during the evening tst )
witness the display of fireworks. Thei
display was delayed until the appear
anee of the president, when great
battery of fifteen-i1ch aerial moons
were exploded in a saulte, which was
almost deafening The spectacle closed
with the printing in letters of fire of
the words: Farewell until 1904"
Rice Company