The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-06-01
IT is OPENED.
Gates Of Lewis and Clark Elk
position Swing Wide.
Ceremony Begins With an I'M
mense Military Parade.
ROOSEVELT'S TOUCH.
From His Home in Washington
Signals the Event.
Vice President Fairbanks Ad.
dresses the Multitude.
ROOSEVELT'S TOUCH.

Portland, Oregon, June 1.-Amidst a
scene of festivity and spIendor never
equalled in the Pacific Northwest, with
din and clamor of cheering thousands,
accompanied by the booming of artil-
lery, the Ginning of bells and the blar-
ing of bands, Portland today made her
greatest bow to the world in the formal
opening of the Lewis and Clark centen-
nal exposition. The event took place
under conditions presaging complete
success to this historical commemora-
ton of the blazing trail to "Old Oregon
4 by Captain Merriwether Lewis and VIII
liam Clark. who, commissioned by
President Jefferson, explored the great
Oregon country one hundred years ago.
Today's celebration was participated
in by the president Of the United States
through his personal representative,
! Charles w. Fairbanks, representatives
Of the state and of the house of repre-
sentatives of the national congress, of
/ the army and navy, together with the
/ governors and staffs of the states of
California, Idaho, Washington and Ore
gon and multitudes of people from far
and near.
All Portland was decked in her best,
business was suspended and the holiday
spirit was everywhere in evidence. The
states of Oregon, Washington and Idaho
in which June l had been declared a
legal holiday in honor of the centennial
sent thousands Of visitors. The trains
of yesterday brought the vanguard of
| the eXcursiOnists and today the rail-
roads and boat lines entering Portland
have been taxed to their utmost. Never
in her history has Portland been called
upon to care for so many people.
Began With Military Parade.
! The prelude to the actual opening
ceremonies at the exposition consisted
/ of the parade, a grand pageant of mill
/ itariSm led by Vice President Fair
! banks, the congressional party, visiting
governors and other dignitaries and
/ the exposition officials With martial
music constantly playing this imme-
! date forerunner of the actually was
greeted with continued cheering along
/ the entire line Of march, from the
new postof1ce and through the bust
ness and residential sections of Port
land to the fair grounds. As the
troops passed the mass of sightseers
danking the column fell in behind, and
when the exposition grounds were
reached there was a stream of human
ity miles in length following in its
wake. Thousands in the meantime, an
ticipatng the onward rush, had pack
ed themselves around the speaker S
stand and occupied every point of
vantage, and late comers had to be
content with being within seeing dis
tance. AS the parade swung into the
grounds the vice presidential, congress
sional and fair parties were detached
from the column and were escorted
by the cavalry between long lines of
cheering thousands to the New York
state building.
Everything, being in readiness, at
| II AS o'clock, Vice President Fairbanks
| and party emerged from the New York
| building. receiving the vice presidential
salute of 18 guns. Flanked on either
| side by a line of troops, the party
walked to the speakers stand. AS the
| word was passed that the party was
! coming an air of expectancy settled
over the crowd, which gave way to a
tremendous outburst of cheering and
1 handcla piping as the official party as
cended the speakers platform.
Opened ut Noon.
Promptly at II O'Clock, noon Presi-
dent H. w. Goode, of the exposition,
1.-The beginning of the ceremonies which
meant the realization of Portland s
dream The announcement was receiV-
ed with tremendous cheering which
echoed back and forth through the
| crowd for several minutes. As the echo
died away, the Right Rev. David H.
Moore, bishop of the Methodist Episco-
pal church. stepping to the front of the
platform, raised his hands invoking
the divine blessing.
A perceptible stiffness prevailed in
the vast throng as the prayer was spo-
ker-
ed the prayer was broken as the inspir-
ing strains of Imperial Oregon" a
march, composed by Innes and dedica-
ted to the memory of Captains Lewis
and Clark and inscribed to the people
of Oregon, was played by the band.
While the last notes of music reverber-
ated through the grounds and before
the great applause which greeted the
rendition of the piece had subsided,
President Goode again arose to address
the people. His appearance on the rOs-
trum was the signal for renewed
cheering, which continued for several
minutes. Finally, in response to his
appealing gestures. the president was
permitted to begin his address.
Joseph G. Cannon, speaker of the
lhouse of representatives, in his old
apt way brought out the greatness OF
the exposition and the sentiment for
which it stands. The noted humor OF
the speaker was several times made
apparent during his discourse, the
orator being obliged to cease talking
several times to permit the handicap
ping to die down.
At this period of the programme
the steadily increasing enthusiasm of
the multitude found expression in a
tremendous ovation to Vice President
Charles W. Fairbanks, the personal
representative of the president OF the
United States. Through his previous
visits to this city, notably during the
last national campaign Mr. Fairbanks
became somewhat intimately known
to the people of the city and state
When he was At last able to make
himself heard above the roiae of the
greeting he said:
Fairbanks Address.
ssBIr. President. Ladies and Gentle
,en.-Presiden Roosevelt has taken q
verv great interest IN the Lewis and
clark exposition from its inception, and
It is at his request, and on his behalf,
I have the great honor OF participating
with YOU in these opening ceremonies