Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-05-19

ST. LOUIS, No, May 19.-The first.
Of the series Of great international
congresses planned in connection
with the worlds fair was opened IN
Festival Hall today. II Is the worlds
press Parliament and is attended BY
noted journalists and newspaper men.
form many parts OF the world. The
nresiding officer is Sir. Hugh Gil
zean-Reid OF London, and the partlci-
pants include men Of such prominence
1 u Paul Adam, editor Of lie TempA,
Paris; Charles H. Taylor, editor of the
i Boston Globe; A. B. White, Governor
of west Virginia, Prince ESD
outkhtomsky Of Russia; N. McIl
Bodkin, editor Of the Freeman's JVurs
nal, Dublin; NJ. Buhler, Of Der Bund,
Berne: j. K. Vardaman, Governor Ct
Mississippi; r. w. Hoch, Repubiican
nominee for Governor Of Kansas !
John a. Cooper, president of the
Canadian Press Association; a Y
Collins of Minneapolis. president Qi
4 thS national editorial assiciAtion;
|2srdeby 8. Noyes Of the WASHINGTON
s3SSfarA Fritz Rotiers. OF the Chronique,
& BrussaIk; Frank B. Noyes q the SIT
cago Reckd- Herald; H. Won Kupffer'
81 The Anxeiger, Berlin, and numerous
Others. The congress will continue in
session through the remainder Of ths
FL week. A3
Secretary 2of State John Hay spokt
as follows:
thank you, Mr.. Chairman; ! thant
you, gentlemen all Of you-for youl
too generous ana amaible welcome
/ esteem it d great privilege to meet s.
many representatives Of an estate
which, more than any other. at this
hour controls he world. II IS ms
daily duty in Washington to confel
with the able and distinguished re
Z personalities Of civilized soyereigns
aud states. But we are all aware tina
the days Of personal government arr
gone forever, that behind us, and be
hind the rulers We represent, there
stands the vast, irresistible power q
public opinion, which In the last re
sort must decide all the questions w
discuss, and whose judgement is final
iii your persons greet the organi
and exponents Of that tremendous
power with all the respect which Y
due to you and your constituency
deeply sensible Of the honor which
has been done me in making me tn
mouthpiece Of the sentiment OF an
probation and regard with which th'
nation welcomes Won 70 this grea
festival Of peace and Of progress.
! 1t IS possible--if you will pardon
personal word from me-that the cir
cumstances OF my life may have com
mended me to ths notice Of Presiden
Francis, and may have led him e in
vite me here tonight to take part y
this ocatton Il the tlual capacity 9
host and guest, NY years Of news
paper wcrk might ntitle me % 4 mt
dest place IN yoar membership, Will
+ the valley of the mighty river Whic
rolls by the wharves u ST. Louis ca
never D considered BY me othefWis
than as my lone. Tic years of ~
hoyhood were passed on the bank
Of tha Mississippi, and the gree
river was the scene of my earl
dreams. The boys Of my da
led an amphibiois life In and near i
waters In the summer time, and In th
winter its dazzling Ice bridgs, Of Il
comparable beauty and purity, was ou
fayorite playground: while our imal
inations were busy nth the glamou
= and charm OF the distant cities Of u
South. with their alluring Frenc
names and their legends of stirrin
adventure and pictures d perpetui
summer. ii was d land of fancy ALL
10 us in all but d sense Of common ov
nership and patriotic pride. We bui
snow forts ami called them the Alamo
we sang rude songs Of the canebrak
and the cornfield, and the happief
days Of the year to us who dwelt Q
the northern bluffs Of the river wer