Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1905-04-14
GREETING At WACO.
President Warmly Welcomed at the
Central Texas City.
GREAT is GATHERING
People From Surrounding Country
and Towns Adjacent Present at
the demonstration Held
Thursday Morning.

Waco. April 7.-Amid the thunder
of cannon, shrieking setam whistles
and huzzas Of thousands of people the
special train over the Missouri. Kan
sas and Texas railroad bearing Pres
ident Roosevelt rolled into the station
shortly after Q O'Clock Thursday.
The president was met by a recep-
tion committee, Confederate and Grand
Army of the Republic organizations
and given a cordial greeting.
The president was escorted to a
park adjoining the depot. where an
immense assembly awaited him. His
reception here was an ovation, hats,
handkerchiefs. umbrellas, flags, etc,
being waved by the people. Each per-
son entering the park bore small
United States flag, and the fluttering
of thousands of these patriotic en-
hlems was beautiful spectacle. The
park has an area of several acres, and
was festocned with the national colors.
while every few feet large flags waved
in the breeze.
The president was introduced by
Mayor Baker. and delivered an ad-
dress. Just as the president stepped
on the platform the school children,
assisted by a band, rendered Amer
lea"
The entire city was deliberately dec
GRATED, all places OF business being
closed by agreement during the stay
of the president here. The postoffice,
also all school were likewise closed.
The complimentary illusions of the
chief executive to the state and the
nice words he said about Waco were
received with a tremendous demon
stration.
The presidents train made its first
stop of the day at Hillsboro A large
gathering was at the station, and
yielding to repeated cries for speech,
the president spoke briefly from the
rear platform of the car. He was given
a cordial reception.
Tho special left Waco at 9:45 a. m.
for Austin.
When the president started to speak
the band commenced playing "Dixle,"
and Mr.. Roosevelt "beat time" enthusi-
astically. H said he had come TO
Texas good American, but would so
away a better one. He paid a glowing
compliment to the greatness of Texas,
saying it had been borne in on him
every hour that glorious heritage was
enjoyed by the people. Texas was a
part of the common country, and ne
believed i'm the United States owner
ship of every foot of American soil.
He strongly stressed the need -. a
compact and disciplined national
guard. and expressed qualification al
the interest shown in this organiza-
tion in Texas. But the true greatness
of Texas was in the men, women and
children who were animate1 with non
est purpose courage and balanced by
old common sense. Particular graft
dcation was expressed at the TACT that
the wearers of the blue and the gray
were mingled in the crowd, which had
Increased to 10000 people before the
speaking concluded. The closing ref
erence was an expression of gratifica
ton at the magnificent reception
everywhere When the train pulled
out South street was packed for blocks
with people, and the last view of The
president was as he stood on the rear
OF the last car waving to the multi
| tutc..
In introducing the president. Mayor
/ Baker referred TO the fact that th'
people of Texas were anxious to sec
the Brazos and Trinity rivers madC
| navigable, and the president In hii
remarks, said that Texas as a part q
the common country, would cCrtainl,
receive attention as to her streams. no
: az a favor from him. but because al
projects which had been found meri
torious by honest and competent agen'
cies deserved II.