The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-05-01
Raw Wind Blew Dust in Eyes
/ Of Speakers Causing
Much Discomfort
ROOSEVELT HAS TO FIGHT
HIS WAY TOLUNCH COUNT TER
Crowd Was In Such an uproar That
His Words Could Not Be Heard and
Frequently Applause Came at
the Wrong Time.

st. Louis, April so.-The buildings Of
the Louisiana Purchase exposition today
were dedicated with all possible pomp and
ceremony In every way the exercises
were a success, but the weather was bad.
The wind blew fiercely from the west,
! sending great clouds of dust whirling into
he faces Of the troops as they marched
st the President and at times SO nearly
nded the President that 1t was well
III impossible for him 10 see across the
seet in which the troops were marching.
lded to the discomfort Of the wind there
as a temperature which sought for the
EInarrow and generally sreached it. The
women who, on the strength of the warm
weather of yesterday, came in summer
iresses to the reviewing stand, suffered
Seenly. although the commanding guard
lround the reviewing stand provided them
with blankets. President Roosevelt and
rmer Presidert Cleveland remained in
le reviewing stand, exposed to the ~
wind until the end OF the parade although
their faces were blue ana theh limbs were
stiffened by the cold AUhditions in the
Liberal Arts building, where the dedication
ceremonies proper werd held, were little
better. There was mo- wind, but there
were manifold drafts
Speakers Has Husky Voices.
The effect of ttle cold was evident in
all the speeches. as the speakers, COM
mencing their speeches In clear tones.
were without exception given over to
catarrhal indctions as they finished
Despite ysllis heavy handicap. however,
and the programme was carried out to
the letser.
The police work was excellent and the
\ iatroring or avenues and passageways by
First Missouri infantry was ably
one and all possible consideration was
SHOWN TO the great crowd, which num-
pered, In round figures, $4,000.
The parade in the morning was some-
. Wnat longer In passing before the Presi-
dent than had been expected, but for all
that, ne was only fifteen minutes behind
the scheduled time when he was escorted
by the committee into the Liberal Arts
building. In order to arrive even as early
as that he was compelled to take his
MONDAY meal under somewhat uncom-
Portable circumstances.
Had Rough and Tumble Lunch.
During the luncheon which he ate at
he conclusion OF the parade he was
hoved helter skelter by half the people
VINO had been In the grandstand The
YIood was placed on a rectangular counter
land the President. like everybody else
"helped himself"
The crowd inside the tent was dense
when the President, with sercet service
men and Adjutant General Corbin acting
as interference" forced his way to the
counter. He was so closely pressed that
wnen ne vent to move his arm his elbow
disturbed a cup of coffee held by Gen.
eral Corbia With some difficulty the
lficers fofced the crowd to allow the
tinguished guest elbow room, but they
allow him nothing more. This ma
forced the adjutant general out of
pI the sandwiches, but the Presi-
voted one hand to passing food
fcort While the other was devoted
Tn advantage. Owing to his ad-
Fous position the President soon
D1lled on to help out other friends.
he was kept busy passing plates-a
ice which he performed with alacrity
eheerfulness.
manner OF tse Presidents lunching
sufnciently unconventional to excite
sity and; probably 25 per cent of the
e who congestel the tent were pres
ierely to witness the chief executive
ne nation eatina at the democratic
or a clerk In quick lunch restau-
rant Some OF the uplomatists and a
number of the other distinguished visi-
tors mounted the reviewing stand to find
that there were no chairs for them. II
developed that the chairs had been cheer
fully appropriated by Unofficial guests.
who had arrived early on he scene With
some difficulty other chairs were secured
but they were little used Is the visitors
found they could keep off tne chill more
effectively by standing
Programme Worked Smoothly.
The important ceremonies inthe Liberal
Arts building were handled With all pos
sible dispatch. Early in the\ exercises
word was brought to Senator Gamer, pres
/ ident Of the day, that some poitions of
the hall were becoming dangerously con-
gested, and he was asked to avid de-
lays as far as possible. He did No and
L from first TO last the events on thu pro-
gramme succeeded each other rapidl-. OF
all the speakers President Roosevelt Aione
was able to make his voice carry further :
than ffty feet from the stage. BY far
the largest part of the assembly could
hear nothing and II was nearly frozen TO
6sath.
NJ The thousands in the rear part of the
hall were constantly 'lhdsine about and
presented a muftgI(Bokr tlsf would have
baffied a foghorH NJ
When the Pf<AJssnt rose Ito speak he
vas shes5sa ~ echo e bowed again
x<uU<.of the rostrum
II1I Pom every part
1lr1|t 'ned for silence.
- Iut silence and
4 ted that he pro-
an quiet would fol-
&abghed and shook
ntage of a luli he
NJ citizens. give me
d for / need it,"
3 and the President
burst of applause
Mt that the Dutch
, for the country In
Ie President laughed/
plainly said thl
D."
of Sunshine.
hes OF President Fra
arter there were bri(
bin and the CROW