The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-11-06
Of FUNDS
KEPT HIM HERE
President Francis Told How He
Came Near Being a Citizen
of Cincinnati.
FIRST VISITED OHIO CITY.
Commissioner Rankin, Vice May
or Gordon and Congressman
Bromwell Speak at the
Queen City Exercises.
cises.

President Francis came very near being
a citizen OF Cincinnati instead of ST. Louis,
according to his statement made in the
address Of welcome at the Cincinnati Day
exercises at the Ohio building at the
Worlds Fair yesterday morning.
The former Mayor of st. Louis, former
president of the Merchants Exchange, for
mer Governor of the State of Missouri, for
mer Secretary of the Interior and now
chief executive of the Louisiana Purchase
Exposition told how close a call 1t was
that Cincinnati was not selected as his
place of residence after he had left his
home in Richmond County, Kentucky.
President Francis stated that when he
started out as a young man to seek his
fortune In a new country and a large city
he first went to Cincinnati. He was very
much impressed with the enterprise dis
played by the residents of tina city. He
proceeded on to st. Louis. however, but
stayed here, because he was without funds
to return to Cincinnati.
The Cincinnati Day celebration took
place in the morning. and included an Of
fetal call on President Francis by Vice
Mayor Harry l.. Gordon and his escort,
a parade n addresses in the Ohio build
Ing.
The formation Of the parade was as fol-
lows: Mounted police. jefferson Guard,
Major Hammond and his aids, Sixth In
fantry Band, two companies Of the Sixth
Infantry. three companies of the United
States Marines and the Cincinnati party
in the Yellow Stone National Park coach.
Before arriving at the State building. the
coach went ahead and the party dis
mounted and reviewed the parade from
the steps Of the Ohio building.
PRESIDENT FRANCIS INTRODUCED.
Stacey B. Rankin, Executive Commits
sioner for Ohio, began the exercises with
a brief address Of welcome, closing with
an Introduction of President Francis. In
his address, President Francis spoke Of
the substantial encouragement given to
the Exposition management by the cit-
their civic pride. which was so largely re-
sponsib!e for the strides the city had
made. AS to the Exposition. President
Francis stated that the results of the eff
memorate q great event in the country's
history would speak for itself. MY only
regret" said he. lis that the Exposition
Is Was fast d diving to a Close s"raon u,, "a
sponded on behalf of the city of Cincin-
natl, complimented President Francis and
the citizens of st. Louis for the success
the preparations for the days celebration
and Of the proclamation issued by Mayor
Julius FleiSchman setting 1t aside as Gin
cinnati Day. He regretted the failure of
President Francis to settle In Cincinnati,
but stated that Cincinnati's loss was st.
Louis's gain, n that the world at large
was the gamer on account of his connec-
ton with tho Exposition. The presence Of
the Sixth Infantry, stationed at Fort
Thomas, near Cincinnati, for many years,
In the parade was a source of much pleas
ure, he said, to the C~incinnatians.
Jacob H. Bromwell. a member of Con-
gress from Ohio. delivered the response
for the Cincinnati Industrial Bureau. He
gave many facts and figures showing the
greatness of Cincinnati.
After the addresses an informal recep-
ton was held. Souvenirs of Cincinnati
were distributed by members of the Indus
trial Bureau. They were small books Of
celluloid cards fastened together with a
ribbon. Each of the cards contained a
picture of some point of interest in Cincin-
natl on one sid and on the reverse much
valuable information in regard to the
wealth, manufacturing interests. and sta
tistics In general.
The guard of honor to Vice Mayor Cor
don was as follows: John H. Gibson. pres
ident of the bureau. and chairman of the
day: VIII L. Finch. secretary; ]. c. Ho-
Club: William Lodge. president of the
Metal Trades Association; r.. T. Atkins,
president of the Ohio State Board of Com
merce: George F. Dieterle. Percy Wells,
Edward e pJtt I, shiDley. f W; Foslds 70 John
Harrison. Chester I. Korn. W. L. Car
penter and Julius Geissler.
The official party arrived in st. Louis
Thursday morning in a special car over
depart for Cincinnati to-day at noon over
the same road,