The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1905-10-03
WELCOME THE PRESIDENT
Washington Greets His Returu With
Enthusiasm.
A REMARKABLE DEMONSTRATION

Crowds of Men, Women and Children Line
the Route From the Railroad Station
to The white House, Cheering Like
Mad and Waving Flags and Handker-
chiefs-The President Deeply Touched
Washington, D. C.-There never was
an American President who, returning
to the capital at the end of summers
vacation, received such welcome
home as Theodore Roosevelt has just
received Tradition has it that Wash
ington crowds are not over-enthusias-
tic, that they seldom cheer, but that
was belied on the beautiful autumn
evening when the President in his pas
sage along Pennsylvania avenue to
the White House received an ovation
such as has seldom been witnessed in
this city of pageants and ceremonies.
From the time he left the train that
carried him from Jersey City until the
Executive Mansion was reached Presi-
dent Roosevelt found enthusiastic hun
dreds on every side, cheering like mad
and waving flags and handkerchieTs
with a vim and warmth that he appre-
ciated thoroughly. In his characters
tic way he entered into the spirit of
the occasion, and from the moment he
left the station until the White House
was reached he stood up in his car-
Tiage and waved his hat with an en-
joyment that was apparent to every
body along the line.
1t was as the peacemaker, and not
merely as the head of the nation, that
the President was received by the peo-
pie of Washington. No other man
who has occupied the White House
was paid such tribute as was
given to him. Official bound Washing
ton, having it's dinner at 5 O'Clock p. M,
and confirmed in its habit of reading
the evening paper after dinner was
over, abandoned the habit of years and
turned out in force to shout a greeting
to a man whose face was familiar and
who could be seen at almost any time.
The cordiality Of the reception and
the size of the crowd were all the more
remarkable from the fact that there
were no spectacular or imposing fea-
lures to the Presidents homecoming.
No bands were at hand no uniformed
military formed his escort There were
only a line of conventional carriages
and few mounted policemen. But the
route over which the President pro-
ceeded TO his official residence was
lined with men, women and children,
who forgot their hastily eaten dinner
and their hastily read evening paper
in the sheer JOY they felt of cheering
and waving and making the most dis
tingulshed fellow townsman feel that
he was one of them.
The special train which brought the
President and his party from Jersey
City arrived in Washington at 6.18
o'clock D. M, about two minutes be-
hind the schedule. A larger party than
usual Of Administration officers met the
President at the station, among the
number being Postmaster General Cor
telyou, Secretary Of the Interior Hitch
cock, Secretary of Agriculture Wilson,
Secretary of Commerce Metcalf and
Assistant Secretary of State LOOMS.
Mrs. RooseveIt's Manchester terrier,
Jack, was there in charge of Charlie,
the Presidents footman. and he rode
up Pennsylvania avenue in the Presi-
dents carriage.
Mr.. Roosevelt paused only minute
or so on the station platform to shake
hands with the friends who came to
meet him, but hurried to the carriage,
which was in waiting near the place
where the train stopped.
The police arrangements had been
made with almost as much care as If.
the occasion had been an Inauguration.
The whole length of Pennsylvania ave-
nue. from Sixth street to the White
House had been roped off, and the
crowd was kept back on the sidewalk.
The Presidents carriage was driven
slowly up the avenue, and Mr.. Roose-
welt stood during the entire drive,
lifting his hat and bowling in response
to the cheers of the crowd. Four
Secret Service men and plain clothes
men walked on either side of the car
riage, and mounted policemen sur
rounded the carriage at distance of
few yards. In an open carriage, im-
mediately following the Presidents,
was Chief Wilkie of the Secret Ser
vice
There was a big crowd around the
gate at the entrance to the White
House grounds, and the carriage was
stopped moment while the President,
with his hat in his hand, said: Good
night and good luck and thank you
very much for the reception you have
given me upon my Homecoming Mr..
Roosevelt seemed to be deeply touched
by the demonstration, SO unusual for
Washington. The carriage was then
driven rapidly up the driveway to the
porte cochere on the north side OF the
mansion. where the President and Mrs.
Roosevelt entered the house.