The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-06-02

 IS OPENED Lewis and Clark Centen- nial at Portland. ROOSEVELT PRESSES KEY At His Touch Machinery Is Started Working. Greatest Event in oreson's History Be- gins Under AuspiciOus Circum-
 stances - Fairbanks
 Was Present.
ROOSEVELT PRESSES KEY

Washington, June 1.--In the presence of a distinguished assemblage. includ- ing all the members of the cabinet ex- cent Secretary Hay, who Is in Europe,
 Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States, members of the diplomatic corps and inVlteI guests. President Roosevelt at 4:z2 o'clock this afternoon pressed the tele- graphic key which sounded the chimes in the Government building and started inc machinery of the Lewis and Clark Centennial Expedition at Portland, ore
 The ceremony took place in the east room of the White House. The hour set for it was o'clock, the intention being to start the machinery of the ex- position in motion at o'clock, Port land time. At the time fixed every thing was in readiness at the White House. The guests had assembled Tn the east room and only the flash from Portland was necessary to open the ceremony here. A circuit had been completed by the Western Union Tele- graph Company between the White House and the Portland exposition grounds, the telegraphic arrangements here being under the supervision of J. W. Collins, chief operator of the Western Union office in Washington. E. w. Smithers, the chief operator at the White House office. received and sent mtSSd6CS were exchanged between President Roosevelt and President Goode of the Exposition Company.
 The arrangements for the ceremony were complete. In the southwest cor ner of the east room on a mahogany stand was located an exquisitely mounted gold telegraph key.
 Historic Instrument.
 It was the instrument which was used by P. V. DeGraw, now fourth as- sistant postmaster general, in receiving the Presidents message at the opening of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition on April 30, 1904.
 On the roof of the White House was stationed a first class sergeant of the signal corps of the army, who, at the sounding of an electric gong at his side. was under instructions to drop a flag which was to be the signal for thO battery located on the White House lot south of the White House to fire national salute of twenty-one guns.
 At the moment when the White House ceremony was to have begun Vice President Fairbanks was deliver ing his formal address In Portland at the opening of the exposition. Until he concluded his speech. President Roosevelt could not start the machin- cry. At 4:2Q D. m.. Washington time, the speech was finished. The parIor doors of the east room swung open and the President, accompanied by Mrs Roosevelt and Secretary Loeb, entered. Immediately the orchestra of the Ma rine Band. stationed in the vestibuIe, began the inspiring strains of Hail to the Chief" Standing near the stand bearing the telegraph key with his naval and military aides facing him. President Roosevelt addressed the as- semblage briefly as follows:
 Ladies and gentlemen: l have just received from Portland a telegram from President Goode of the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition sending his greetings and stating that the ex- position management Is waiting for me to touch the button which will ring the chimes in the United States govern ment building and start the machinery of the exposition.
 Feat of Exploration.
 The exposition marks the feat of exploration a century ago which was the first step in the expansion of this republic westeward across the conti- nent, the most important step in chang ing a struggling line of seaboard com into mighty continental nation. It was one of the epochs of our history and 1t is eminently fitting that 1t should be commemorated by the exposition at Portland as is now being done. I. here in Washington. start the exposition in Portland and the same forces that have knit together the diff ferent sections nf this great country, that have rendered 1t possible to keep our nation more emphatically one in spirit, now that 1t has spread over the continent, than was the case when 1t occupied but a small fraction of the continent. will. firmly believe. bring the nations of the earth ever close together and enable us all to work together in peace and in harmony for the future of mankind
 At the conclusion of his address the President said: 'I now open the Lewis and Clark Exposition" leaning forward at the same instant and press ing the gold key which sounded the chimes and started the machinery three thousand miles away. Practically in- Simultaneously the first gun of the na- tional salute was fired on the White