Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-06-02
WITH A GOLDEN KEY
President Opens Oregon Ex-
 position From the Capital.
SENT MAGIC TOUCH 5000 NILES.
MessGge Had Previously Come That Lewis and Clark Memorial Exhi- bition at Portland Was Wait.
 ing RoOsevelt's Action.

AnR HOOsevelts ActlOn. WASHINGTON, June 2.-In the pres. ence of distinguished assemblage, in- cluding all the members of the cabinet except Secretary Hay, who is in Flu rope; associate justices of the United States supreme court members of the diplomatic corps and invited guests, President Roosevelt pressed the tele- graphic key which sounded the chimes in the government building and started the machinery of the Lewis and Clark centennial exposition at Portland. Ore. The ceremony took place tn the east room of the White House. The hour set for it was f o'clock, the intention being to start the machinery of the ex I position in motion at 1 o'clock, Port l land time
 The arrangements for the ceremony l were complete. Tn the southwest corner of the east room, on mahogany stand. was located an exquisitely mounted gold telegraph key It was the instru- ment which was used by P. V. De- Graw, now fourth assistant postmaster l general, in receiving the presidents message at the opening of the Louisi- l ana Purchase exposition on April 30. l 1904, and presented to Mir. DeGraw at ! that time. On the roof of the White l House was stationed a first class ser geant of the signal corps of the army, l who at the sounding of an electric gong at his side was under instructions to drop flag which was to be the signal for the battery located on the ] white lot south of the White House to fire a national salute of twenty one guns.
 1 At the moment when the White House ceremony was to have begun Vice President Fairbanks was deliver ing his formal address in Portland at the opening of the exposition. Until he had concluded his speech President Roosevelt could not start the machin- cry. At APO p. m., Washington time, the speech was finished. The parlor doors of the east room swung open, and the president. accompanied by Mrs. Roosevelt and Secretary Loeb. entered. The approach of the president was an nounced to the assembled guests by a fanfare of trumpets. Immediately the orchestra of the marine band. stationed strains of Hail to the Chief" Stand ing near the stand bearing the tele graph key, with his naval and military aids facing him. President Roosevelt addressed the assemblage briefly as follows:
 Ladies and Gentlemen--I have just received from Portland telegram from President Goode of the Lewis and Clark centennial exposition sending his greetings and stating that the ex- position management are waiting for 8sme to touch the button which will ring the chimes in the United States gov ernment building and start the machin- cry of this exposition.
 "The exposition marks the feat of exploration century ago which was the first step in the expansion of this republic westward across the conti- nent, the most important step in chang ing struggling line of seaboard com monwealths into mighty continental nation. It was one of the epochs of our history and 1t is eminently fitting that it should be commemorated by the exposition at Portland as is now being done. Such expositions will, l firmly believe, bring the nations of the earth ever closer together and enable us all to work together in peace and in har- mony for the future of mankind i The president then said: T now open the Lewis and Clark exposition" lean ing forward at the same instant and pressing the gold key which sounded the chimes and started the machinery 5000 miles away.
 The Lewis and Clark centennial er- position Is monument to the memo ries of Captains Merriwether Lewis and William Clark. who hundred years ago blazed the trail which opened to the world the Oregon country.