The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1904-05-06
League after league across the land
The ceaseless herds obey Thy hand.

League after league across the land
The ceaseless herds obey Thy hand.
Thou, whose high archways shine most
clear
Above the plenteous western plain.
Thine ancient tribes from round the sphere
To breathe its quickening air are fain,
And smiles the sun
To see made one
Their brood throughout Earth's greenest
space,
Land OF the new and lordlier race!
Other Speakers.
President Francis then introduced
Mayor Rolla Wells, of ST. Louis, who
spoke briefly extending to. the people
OF the United States and to the resi-
dents of countries abroad a cordial
welcome to the city Of ST. Louis when
they should visit the exposition. Other
speakers were: Hon. Thomas II. Car
ter, president of the. national COM
mission, on behalf of that body; SEN
ator Durham, for the senate; James
A. Tawney, of Minnesota, for the ma
tional house of representatives; E. H.
Hartman, for the domestic exhibitors,
and Michel La Grave, of France, for
the foreign exhibitors.
The chorus of America" was then
sung and Hon. William r. Taft, Sec
rotary of war. acting as the represen-
tative of the president of the United
States, delivered the last address of the
day.
President Touches Button.
81 Tho oOnal,cior of tho cpoo,l - ca
rotary Taft was the signal for the
opening Of the fair. In the white house
at Washington President Roosevelt
was waiting for the signal which was
to tell him that the proper moment
had arrived to touch the golden key
that would open the fair in earnest
and set it's manifold machinery in full
operation.
Secretary Taft had not turned to re-
sumo his seat after concluding his
speech before the signal had been
flashed to Washington. Instantly
there was a returning flash which
started the machinery in Machinery
hall in operation.
The First Parade.
The first feature of the exposition
was the concessionaires' parade. This
lures which will figure on THE Pike
during the life of the exposition. The
Pike is to the st. Louis exposition ex-
actly what 1.-THE Midway was to the
Columbian exposition in Chicago. The
features, though different in charac-
ter, furnish practically the same form
of amusement. There were in this
parade some who had actually been
present upon the famous Midway II
years ago, and many which had not
been seen or heard Of at that time.
This procession with it's diverse and
unique attractions gave much pleas
ure and delight to the crowds, which
cheered it most enthusiastically dur
ing the entire length of it's line OF
march.
Machinery Is Started.
Washington, May 2. President
Roosevelt Saturday pressed the gold
key by which the electrical circuit was
broken releasing the gigantic power of
the Louisiana Purchase exposition at
st. Louis, putting in motion the 40, 900
horsepower machinery and the fairy
like cascades on the exposition
grounds. The ceremony occurred in
the east room of the white house pre-
cisely at 1:14k o'clock, eastern stand
ard time. AS the president pressed
the key the Third battery of United
States artillery, stationed on the
grounds of the Washington monu-
ment, south of the white house, fired
a national salute of 81 guns.
The historic ceremony was witnessed
by a notable assemblage. Among
those who were guests of the presi-
dent in the east room were the mem
bers of the cabinet, except Secretary
Taft. who is in, 81 phi as the per-
sonal representative of the president;
the chief justice and the associate
justices of the supreme court of the
United States; Senator Frye, president
pro tenn. of the senate; Speaker Cam
non, of the house of representatives;
ambassadors, ministers and other rep
re%sentatives Of foreign governments at
this capital; the Missouri delegation in
the senate and the house of represen-
tatives and prominent people in the
various walks of civil life.
Congratulates Francis,
BY direction of the president, the
following telegram was sent to Presi-
dent Francis:
White House, April 80, 1904.-Hon.
David R. Francis, President Louisiana
Purchase Exposition Company, St.
Louis, Mo-: I congratulate you and
your associates on this memorable oc-
casion. I wish well to all who have
Joined in working for the success of
this great enterprise; and on behalf
of the American naopla I e.ae4 -