The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-04-08
President Praises Mother, Old Soldier and School Children
 of the Lone Star State
CONTINUOUS, OVATION IS
 ACCORDED IN SAN ANTONIO
Meeting With Rough Riders Was Cor dial and Their Demonstration Dur ing Afternoon Was vigor-
 ous and Hearty.

San Antonio, April 7.--With the city covered with patriotic emblems, display os flags of all sizes, likenesses or the President in many windows and the streets and plazas filled with cheering throngs of people. Theodore RooseVeit could not mistake the hearty welcome accorded him in San Antonio today
 Enormous crowds of people greeted him along the route of the procession from Fort Sam Houston to Alamo Plaza' where an address of welcome was deliv- ered and A. response made. The people felt that they had as their guest noS o,lv the President, but man to whom San Antonio could feel especially friend lv on account of the fact that IL was here the regiment was organized with which his name has become a synonym The President was delighted with the reception accorded him. He was Kept busv lowing right and left acknowiedg- inr the outbursts of enthusiasm It IS approximately seven years since Presi- dent Roosevelt left San Antonio with his Rough Riders.
 NO human being dreamed that after that I would return as President or the United States" he said last night In short addfess at the depot
 President Has Busy Day.
 It was a busy day for the President. It began with a reception at the train. This formality was soon over, and the Pres- ident and party proceeded to the parade ground of the post, where the troops in Fcrt Sam Houston were reviewed. This interesting ceremony over, the start was made for the city. From the moment the procession of troops, carriages, po- lice and Rough Riders swept out of the gates of the post into Grayson street un- til the President entered the gates of the fair grounds to go into camp with the Rough Riders. he was the recipient of the greatest ovation ever witnessed here The most spectacular scene of the day was at Travis Park The Presidents re- ception here by 5000 school children was the most inspiring feature of the pro- gramme All the way the crowd cheered and the children sang America" while a band played the national air.
 On Alamo Plaza, within the shadow of the old Alamo, which the President in his speech said had seven years ago filled him with determination to do nothing to re- fleet on the heroes who died here, he was greeted in manner which profoundly touched him. His arrival was the signal for burst of cheering which lasted un- til after he had taken his seat on the stand, and which was renewed when he arose to respond to the address of wei come by City Alderman Kirkpatrick. The Presidents speech was frequently punctu- ated by applause. He made character istic address. He was pleased that San Antonio agreed with him in his ideas on race suicide. He noted with satisfac- tion the attention Texans are paying to education. The law of the worthy life, the effort in a cause worthy of striving for was his theme. His reception through out Texas had touched him.
 Makes Him Better American.
 While though I was a good American when I came to Texas he said, 1 am going away from Texas much better American"
 The President spoke as follows:
 "Mr Mayor, MT. Kirkpatrick. and you my fellow Americans of this mighty commonwealth:
 T thank you for the day in which have liveds You can now imagine how much it means to me to come back to San Antonio in this way. and to be re- ceived as you have received me. (Ap- plause) I know that the rest of you will not grudge my saying special word of acknowledgement to two sets among your citizens; first to the men of the great war. to the men who wore the blue or wore the grey in the days that tried mems souls. My fellow citizens, infinitely more important than any President. infinitely more important even than the reception to any President, is what is symbolized by seeing the men who fought in the Union army, and the men who fought in the Confederate army standing mingled to- gether, fellow Americans, one in devo- tion and honor and loyalty to country shoulder to shoulder as fellow citizens of the mightiest republic upon which the sun ever shone. Indeed the man would have a poor heart. a poor spirit who would not be thrilled by such meeting as this. by such sight as you accord me today. you of the gray, you of the blue. all under the flag of this reunited country. tApplause)
 Tribute to Old Soldiers.
 q suppose you must know it. but want to tell you, that it was of course the memory of the valor. the self-sacri1ce. the endurance you displayed fin the great war that made us of the younger gem eration feel that when the lesser war came we wished to emulate your course The regiment which I had the honor to command was raised and organized in this city took part in what were only skir-
 
 which you did your shares. and all that we claim is that while 1t was not given to us to have the chance to do great deeds, yet we hope we made you feel that the old spirit was not altogether lost. This regiment served under men who had themselves fought in the civil war, both under Grant and under Lee. The com mander of the cavalry division was that great. gallant, ex-confederate soldier, Maj. Gen Joseph Wheeler, and our emil nent commander was an ex-Union soldier who entered the Union army as a private and to whom I owe the great fortune that 1t befell me to sign the commission as lieutenant general of the army of the United States. Lieutenant General Young.
 Afterwards at San Juan the cavalry served under General Summer. from whom I took my orders I am going to tell you just one anecdote of General