Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-04-30
THE PRESIDENT
And Only Surviving Ex-Presi-
dent Are St. Louis Guests.
Pres. Roosevelt and EXPIRES. Cleve-
land Arrived There, Last Night.
Both VIII Attend Opening of Louis
lana Purchase Exposition.

st. Louis, April 29.-President Roose-
Welt arrived, this afternoon, to partici-
pate in the dedication ceremonies of the
Worlds Fair 1t was expected gener-
ally chat he would leave his train at
Union station, and dense throng had
congreyated there. But to avoid Just
such an asscmblage, arrangements
were made to have him leave the train
at Folsythe Junction, three miles from
the centc: Of the city. His train ar
rived at the junction at APO O'Clock,
where he was met and escorted to the
God Roads convention in Odeon hall for
Il brief address.
For an hour before his train arrived
troops of militia and squadrons of po-
lice were stationed about the point of
Decentralization to prevent crush. AS
the Presidential train arrived Presi-
dent Roosevelt, accompanied by Gov.
Dockery of Missouri, who had joined
the train at KeOkuk, stepped off the
rear end.
President Francis of thte Louisiana
Purchase Exposition, seized the hand
of the President and gave him an infor-
NAL welcome to st. Louis. Mayor
Wells, President Carter of the national
commission and other members of that
body, the reception committee of the
Worlds Fair and military officers
shook hands with the President, and
after this brief and informal reception
he was escorted to the carriage in
waiting.
The military companies and a platoon
of III
away, and as soon as the line of car
riages appeared a slower march was
taken up to cover the three miles to
Odeon hall. People We're congregated
along the streets and wildly cheered as
the President passed. He continually
DOTTED his hat in acknowledgment The
hall was packed with crowd which
had been waiting patiently for hours.
The President spoke of good roads in
terms, which showed, as we'll as his
words, that he was thoroughly in sym
pathy with the object of the organiza-
ton.
Reads" he declared, tell the great
ness Of I, nation. The influence of the
nations which have not been road
builders has been evanescent. Rome,
the most powerful of the older civiliza-
tions, left her impression on literature
and speech: she changed the bounda-
ries of nations but palmer than any
thing else left to remind US of the Ro..
man civilization, are the Roman roads,
At this point the Presidents speech
was interrupted by the cheering, wav-
ing. of handkcrchiefs and hats.
Merely from historical analogy" the
President continued. this country,
which, we believe, will reach a position
of leadership never equalled, should so
act that posterity will justly say when
speaking Of us: THAT nation built good
roads,"
The President declared that good
roads probably We're 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" the President continued. 1T
means in many Instances practical isola-
ton to the farmer When the girl or the
boy cannot take turn on a bike even
to neighbours because of the roads well,
it is a situation not likely to make farm
life attractive"
oA'oii
driven to st. Louis University A few
minutes were spent there, after which the
President and other guests repaired to the
home of President Francis for dinner.
President Cleveland arrived over the
Baltimore u Ohio Southwestern at $50
o'clock and a large reception committee
was waiting for him.
The train from Washington bearing the
members of the diplomatic corps, which
was not expected until 5.15 o'clock, came
in 80 minutes before the reception commit
tee had looked for it. The diplomats were
promptly taken in hand by the committee
and escorted to the quarters assigned
them
A portion of the committee remained to
greet Mr. Cleveland. whose train came in
shortly after the diplomats had driven
away in their carriages. As he alighted
from the train he was warmly greeted by
President Francis. who had driven to the