Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-04-06

the President to talk to the people on
| the question of statehood.
The President said:
at was here in this territory that no
small part of my regiment was raised
and you. my cOmrade there, who
fought in the big war. know it means
good deal to have men with you in
the trenches. I take the most extreme
interest in everything that concerns
your welfare. Ii will be but a short
time now probably when in conjunc-
ton with Oklahoma you will become Il
great state. 1t is going to rest with
you on the way you handle yourselves.
whether you will be proud of that state
or rot. There is not anybody that can
help us do more than start along the
right direction. Each one of us will
stumble at this. and shame on any
man who will not help his brother up;
but you cannot carry him. He must
walk by himself
South McAlester, Indian Territory.
April Ten thousand persons greeted
the President at Muskegee. President
Roosevelt. had not intended leaving the
| train at that point. but when he saw
the stand erected for him and the
eager crowd, he left the train and
| mounted the stand. and spoke for five
minutes. He was received by the To-
cal committee headed by Pleasant POr-
ter, chief of the Greek Nation. EXcur-
sions were run by all the railroads and
not for years have so many full-blood-
ed Indians of all nations visited the
city, AS the President left the train. Il
son of the plains who had climbed a
| Telegraph pole. called 'hellO. old pal,
we are with YOU" The President de-
knovledged the salutation with a
smile and wave of his hand. Two
| thousand school children had gathered
| i'm an enclosure near the stand and
gave flag salute.
The President spoke as follows:
81 cannot say how impressed 1 have
been travelling through the territory.
| this morning. Your territory probably
| iii conjunction with Oklahoma. will
| soon be one of the great states of this
! Union. l look forward to meeting your
| senators and congressman not long
| hence. I earnestly hone that as you
enter statehood you will realize the
| immense responsibility that rests upon
| you. Statehood is a first-class thing. if
you use it right. 1t will be a mighty
| poor thing if you don't. Successful self
government. of course. must be based
| upon the average quality of the citi-
zenship. If the average citizen does his
| duty. you will have Il good state and
| you will not otherwise. and nobody can
| make a good state except yourselves.
| You need Just the qualities in govern
ment that you need in private life. a
| man who is Il good neighbour a good
| husband. a good father. is the type of
| q man who makes a good citizen. The
| person that you want to have as ii
| neighbOr is the man to whom you can
| rely; to whom you can count. the man
| who is q game man in time of trouble.
| but who does not seek trouble. the
| man who does not brag or brslwl but
| who makes good; the man who is de-
| cent and square in his dealings with
others. That is Just the type you have
| got to have in public life. You cannot
| afford to let any man represent you in
| public life if he is crooked. l do not
care whether he is crooked on your
side or not, if he will do something
that is not exactly straight for your
|
his own advantage:''
Atoka, 7. r.. April 5.-President
Roosevelt and his party We're greeted
here by 5O00 people. including ii thou
sand children and many full-blooded
Indians. Crowds came from all the sur
rounding towns. The business houses
were decorated and many banners.
! CT Mt vi init
| strung across the streets. The Presi-
dent made brief address and was
| cheered heartily.
South McAlester. I. r.. April s.
Statehood was the Presidents text at
| this place. He told the people that IN
dian Territory probably would come in
to the Union Of States in a years time
LET the children conn to the 'front.'
said the President as the crowd
thronged around his car and the chill
dren did come to the front with rush.
| the grown ups standing by to make
| loom.
The President. after repeating the
remarks, he made earlier in the day
regarding statehood. said:
Il am particularly glad to greet ev-
erywhere I have been today so many
| school children. l need not tell you
| that what really counts in any state
| is the character of the men and women
who make up that state. You have a
| wonderful soil. wonderful climate.
| You are developing great industries
But all of that will not avail if you
| don't have the right type of men and
y omen in the state. That is what
counts. | believe You are getting that
type. ! believe you are paying heed
to the education f the young people. of
these boys and girls that I see before
| me. who in 10 or Is wears will be run
ming things (applause) ] do not want
| to preach. but / do want to say Just
| q word or two TO make you understand
the responsibility that rests upon YOU.