The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-30
Roosevelt Arrives at St Louis
 and Makes Two Speeches
FOLLOWED BY CLEVELAND
Both Are Now Guests of David R. Francis at His Missouri Home. President Makes a Plea for
 Good Roads In U. s.

St. Louis, April 29.--President Roosevelt arrived In St. Louis this evening to par ticipate in the dedication ceremonies of the Louisiana Purchase exposition.
 It was thought that the President would leave his train at the union station and crowd awaited him. But President Roose- welt left the train at Forsythe Junction, three miles out The President was met at Forsythe Junction by members of the national commission of the worlds fair, reception committee. headed by Pres ident Francis and crowd of spectators For an hour before the Presidential train arrived troops of militia and squadrons of police were stationed at the point of disembarkation to prevent crush. Pres ident Roosevelt was accompanied by Gov ernor Cookery, who had joined the train at Keokuk Iowa As the President stepped off the rear end of hls car Presl- dent Francis seized President Roosevelts s hand and gave him an informal welcome to St Louis After a brief reception the President was escorted to a carriage Mayor Wells, Senator Carter and Secre- tary Loeb, with the President, drove directly to the good roads convention in Odeon hall.
 People Cheered Wildly.
 People were congregated along the streets and wildly cheered the President as he passed. He continually doffed his hat in acknowledgement.
 The President spoke of good roads in tones which showed as well as his words that he was thoroughly in sympathy with the object of the Good Roads asso- citation. Roads, he declared, told of the greatness of a nation. The influence of the nations which had not been road builders had been heeting Rome, the most powerful of old civilizations, left her im- press on literature and speech; she chang ed the boundaries of nations. But plainer than anything else left to remind us of the Roman civilization were the Roman roads. Merely from historical analogy" the President continued, this country which we believe will reach position of leadership never equalled, should so act that posterity will justly say when speak Ing of us, that nation built good roads, "
 The President declared that good roads probably were the greatest agency for regulating the flow from the country to the city of young men and young women
 "A long line of liquid morass is not pleasant" he said. Tt means in many instances practical isolation to the farmer When the girl of the boy can't take a turn on a bicycle even to neighbours house because of roads, 1t is a situation not likely to make farm life attractive" Driven to University. From Odeon hall the President was driven at sharp trot to St. Louis uni- versity. A few minutes were spent at the university. Then he and other guests repaired to the home of MT. Francis for dinner.
 Grover Cleveland arrived tonight over the Baltimore and Ohio Southwestern railway. A large reception committee waited more than thirty minutes for the former President In the meantime the train from Washington bearing the mem- bers of the diplomatic corps arrived thirty minutes before the committee looked for 1t. The diplomats were prompt ly taken in hand by the committee and escorted to the quarters assigned to them. portion of the committee re- mained to greet MT. Cleveland. whose train came in shortly after the diplo- mats.
 As MT. Cleveland alighted from the train he was warmly greeted by Presi- dent Francis, who had driven rapidly to the station after greeting President Roosevelt at Forsythe Junction. The members of the committee crowded around and MT. Cleveland was unable to proceed for several minutes. so thick was the throng about him. A passage was cleared and Mir. Cleveland entered carriage and was driven to the resi- dence of President Francis where MT. Roosevelt is also guest.
 Net Talking Politics.
 Vincennes, Ind, April 29 Former President Cleveland shook hands with 300 people here today. When asked about his alleged boom for the nomination for the Presidency he only smiled and said:
 q am not talking politics."