The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-28
And School Children Waved Tiny
Flags and Sung an Original
Song of Welcome.
PRESIDENT MUCH PLEASED
VOICED HIS FEELINGS IN A BRIEF
SPEECH OF THANKS,
And Indirectly Said He Was Glad to
See Oyster Bay Was Not Harvard
feed I'm Matter of Children.

OYSTER BAY, L. l., June 27.-President
Roosevet's Homecoming for the summer
was made the occasion of a fete here. His
reception was notable for its enthusiastic
cordiality and likewise for its vigor. The
latter quality was due to a slight factional
difference among the townspeople. the re-
suit being that the President was accorded
a double reception. The Oyster Bay Board
of Trade. headed by President ]. Morgan
Griffin, had planned an elaborate demon
stration. and Maurice Townsend had ar
ranged another. Both were carried out ac-
cording 10 programme. but as both were
directed to the same end. the friendly riv-
airy between the factions resulted only in
adding to the enthusiasm of the recep-
tion-
President Roosevelt and his party were
met at Long Island City by committee
headed by ]. c. Travers. president OF the
Oyster Bay Town Board, and escorted
home On a special train. the President oc-
cupyirg the private car Of President Bald
win, OF the Long Island Railroad.
Under smiling skies the President stepped
from lis car at 4:9O o'clock and while the
cannon crashed out its salute and the peo-
pie cheered he was escorted by the recep-
march to the hall was between lines Of
school children. each waving tiny Amer
ican flag Business houses and residences
throughout the town were handsomely
decorated with flags and bunting and scores
OF large American snsigns swung across
the principal streets.
THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH.
Arrived at the hall, President Roosevelt
unveiled the civil war trophy gun present.
ed to the people of Oyster Bay by the Navy
Department. Then, standing on a chair
placed on the steps leading to the hall. he
delivered brief address to the crowd Of
his friends anc neighbors massed in front
OF the building. The President said:
my friends and neighbors, / thank you
heartily, more heartily than L can express,
for your coming out to greet me to-day.
wonder IL some Of you remember, what /
out to greet me. nearly five years ago. when
j got home from Santiago. [Cheers.l ]
thought some OF you would remember IL.
Since 1 last saw you l have been across
shore OF the Atlantic ocean. across the Mis-
eissippi valley, by the side of the great
lakes. over the Rocky mountains, TO the
shore Of the Pacific, and the thing that has
struck me most in that journey OF nearly
thirty thousand miles, right across the con-
tlnent. has been the essential unity of our
dent goes. here in the United States. he
feels himself TO be at home among those
who feel as he does and who have the
same ideals to which he can appeal
And now l am coming back to you whom
know well. The older among you have
known for some thirty years and over, and
my children are now growing up here just
as grew up. and 1 hope they will do bet
ter in keeping out or mischief And natural
ly 1t pleases me very greatly to have you
show me the feeling that you have shown
this afternoon, and of which you have given
evidence so often before. When come back
here / am not the President l am your old
neghbor and friend. and in welcoming all
of you want to say that 1 am particularly
pleased to see there the children. AS you
know. I believe in children. and / am very
glad that the children of Oyster Bay seem
TO be all right in quality and also in guam
tity.
''I shall just say again. my friends. my
neighbors, those with whom L am knit by
euch close ties. thank you from my heart
and I am deeply touched by your greeting
this afternoon.
GREETED HIS WIFE.
At the conclusion of the speech the Pres
adent entered the hall and greeted Mrs
Roosevelt and his children. who had been in
waiting there for him. While he was hold
ing an informal reception In the hall the
school children were drawn up in front of
the building and. under the leadership of
the bands. sang the original song of well
come TO the President. Attracted by the
singing. the President appeared on the steps
and to the delight of the children requested
them TO repeat the song. 1t was repeated
with a vim, the great crowd of the chill
drens elders joining i'm the chorus.
Mrs. Roosevelt stood In the entrance to
the hall during the singing. Earlier in the
afternoon Mrs. Roosevelt had been escorted
TO the hall by the children and great
procession of residents, not only of Oyster
Bay. but of all of this part of Long island.
She then reviewed the procession from the
step OF the hall.
At tue conclusion of the ceremonies at the
hal. the President and his family entered
carriages and, still under the escort OF the
committees. drove to their home at Saga
more Hill.
The Presidents trip from Washington
was without notable incident except that
his train was held up in the Jersey City
yards by the derailment of two or three
cars OF freight train This delay
amounted only to few minutes.