The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-30
AT WASHINGTON.
Ceremony Of Opening Worlds Fair at
National Capital.

washington. April 3O.-President
Roosevelt today pressed the golden
KEY by which the electric circuit was
broken releasing the gigantic power OF
the Louisiana Purchase exposition at
st Louis, putting in motion the forty
thousand horse power machinery and
the fairylike cascades on the eXposl-
ton grounds. The ceremony took
place in the east room of the White
House precisely at / o clock, eastern
standard time. AS the president press
ed the key the Third battery of United
States artillery, stationed on the
grounds of the Washington monu-
ment, south of the White House. hred
a national saAte of 81 guns. Con-
gratulatory messages then were ex-
changed between the president and
David r. Francis, president OF the
Louisiana Exposition company
The historic ceremony was Witness
ed by a notable assemb lage. Among
those who were guests of the president
in the east room were the mem berS
of the cabinet, except Secretary Taft,
who is in St. Louis as the personal
representative of the president; the
chief justice and the associate justices
of the supreme court of the United
States; Senator Frye, Speaker Cannon,
ambassadors, ministers and other
representatives of foreign govern
ments al this capital; the Missouri
delegation in the senate and the house
of representatives and prominent peo-
pie in the various walks of life.
The Marine band was stationed in
the vestibule of the White House and
rendered a suitable programme, imme-
diately preceding and subsequent to
the ceremony in the east room.
The Geographic facilities were in
stalled under the supervision of Major
Benjamin F. Montgomery of the
United States signal corps, chief of
the telegraph and cipher bureau, at
the White House.
which supported the telegraph instru-
nents was located in the south end of
the east room. on it rested small
dais covered with blue and gold plush
to the top of which was attached the
gold key with which the president
closed the circuit. The same dais and
the same key have been used on sew
eral similar historic occasions. In
1893 President Cleveland used the key
in starting the machinery of the Chi
cago fair and in 1898 it was used tc
start the American Electric institute
This key and dais have been in the
possession of General Greedy, Dresi-
dent-general of the Sons of the Amer
fcan Revolution.
In thoroughly democratic way the
members of the cabinet, members OF
congress and other civilian guests as
sembled in the east room. The mem
bers of the diplomatic corps gathered
in the red parlor. Among these were
several of the ladies of the embassiel
o'clock the diplomatic corps wai
ushered into the east room by Maiol
Charles McAuley of the Marine corps
The diplomats were received there b!
Colonel Thomas w. Simons. militar.
aid of the president At lot o'clocl
fanfare of trumpets announced tn
approach of President Roosevelt. A
he entered the east room with Mrs
Roosevelt on his arm, the Marine bani
played the inspiring strains of Hal
to the Chief" The president face
the throng of distinguished person
standing Immediately to the left o
the stand, bearing the historical key
The assembled guests arranged them
selves in a semi circle across the room
facing the president. AS the strain
Of music died away, a hush fell owe
delivered the following brief address
s'I have received from the exposition
grounds the statement that the man
agement of the Louisiana Purchas
exposition awaits the pressing of tn
trio energy which is to unfurl tn
flags and start the machinery of tn
exposition.
IT wish now to greet all present an
especially the representatives of tn
name of the American people and t
thank these representatives for tn
part their several countries have take
in being represented in the centennis
anniversary of the greatest step in tn
movement which the transformed tn
American republic from a small con