The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-10-24
AIR RENT WITH
HEARTY CHEERS
President Roosevelt Welcomed at
Mobile, Alabama.
PLEA FOR EFFICIENT NAVY
PREDICTION CONCERNING THE
PANAMA CANAL.

Mobile, Ala, Oct. 23.-That peace
hath her victories no less renowned
than war" was never better exemplified
than in the reception of President
Roosevelt during his two hours stay
in Mobile this evening. There was
general closing of all business houses,
and along the route Of the procession
from the Union station to the stand on
Bienville square, where the reception
ceremonies took place, the residences
and stores were covered with decora-
ti0ns of lights and bunting IN the ma
tional colors. The route lay out Gov
eminent street, one of the most noted
drives in the south, for ten blocks,
passing the homes of some of Mobiles
most influential citizens, her chief ed
vocational institutions and one Of her
historic churches. The sidewalks and
streets along Government street were
packed with humanity, and at McGill
institute, Barton academy and one or
two other points hundreds of children
were massed, who sang national an
thens and songs as the procession
passed, Cheer after cheer rent the air.
The procession was headed by pla-
toOn Of police. followed by militia and
two companies of artillery from Fort
sity military school Behind the young
boys came the battle-scarred veterans
of Raphael Semmes and Jones M.
WitheTs camp L. Q. V, as a guard Of
honor 10 the president
Brilliant Scene.
The stand was erected on Bienville
square, facing the square, which .ong
before the president arrived was 1led
with a struggling crowd of citizens. I
was brilliant with electric lights, and
overhead the magnificent grove of i've
oaks formed a canopy of green. 1t is
estimated that by the time the presi-
dent began his address there was a
crowd numbering 10000 people within
the sound Of his voice. He appeared
TO be overwhelmed with pleasure at
the spontaniety OF his welcome. His
seat was on an elevated dals in chair
which was built by the students or a
technical school in Japan. Back of the
chair was an enormous stuffed bear,
eight feet tall. bearing in its mouth
a floral independence bell and above
its head a white dove holding stream
er on which was the inscription,
blessed is the peacemaker.' The
bear was killed in a hunting exDedi-
ton by Emperor Alexander II Of Rus
STA in 1857, according to the inscription
on a bronze plate on the base OF the
mounting.
oliver ]. semmes, son of the confed-
crate admiral, Raphael Semmes, then
presented TO the president and pinned
upon the lapel of his coat handsome
souvenir badge as the gift OF the peo-
pie OF Mobile.
President cheered.
President Roosevelt was cheered as
he arose 10 speak. He thanked the
people for their magnificent reception
and spoke special words OF greeting 70
the Confederate veterans, who formed
a portion Of his escort. He referred
TO the fact that one of his uncles was
in the Alabama during the civil war.
Referring to the Panama canal, the
president said he did his best to bring
about it's completion for the benefit
of the whole people, but particularly
for the benefit of the Gulf states.
Originally, he said, he favored the
Nicaragua route, but when il was
demonstrated that it must be the
Panama canal or nothing, he favored
the Panama route, as ne wanted to
see a canal built. and one will be
built Notwithstanding the efforts or
certain people who are striving by
their circulation of false rumOrs or
other methods TO delay or defeat the
construction of the canal. the presi-
dent said, they would be disappointed,
for there is going TO be a canal. Health
conditions on the isthnus. he said, are
better now than ever before. The
president said:
IF we build the canal, we must pro-
tect it and police it ourselves. We
must therefore bring up and keep up
our navy TO the highest point Of eff
cheney.
Plea for the Navy.
In the event of war the American
people must rely mainly upon its vol
unteeT soldiers. While il is compare
lively "a simple act 10 turn a man
into quite d good soldier. you can
neither imprOyise a battleship or the
crew OF a battleShip. 1t is not neces-
sarv that we should have a particu-
larry large navy. but Il is necessary
that, ship for ship. il should be a lit
tie the best in the world"
The president concluded his speech
by referring 20 his pleasure at seeing
the children, the future citizens Of this
country.
The fathers and mothers must see
10 it that the children are properly
trained in order to keep Up the stand
ard of citizenship" he said
President Roosevelt win spend the
night outside the city of Montgomery.
His train will be sideuacked in the
country near Montgomery. and will
leave at Z o'clock tomorrow morning
for Tuskegee. where il is scheduled
10 arrive at $3.50 a. N.