Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1906-11-29
PRESIDENT IN PORTO RICO
RECEIVES A WARM WELCOME
FROM THE ISLANDERS.
Delivered an Address at the City
Hall In Ponee-crosses Island
In Automobile.

San Juan-President Roosevelt ar.
rived at Ponce from Colon on board
the battleship Louisiana He was Wis.
tied on board the vessel by Gov. Win.
throp, who extended welcome to the
island. The president at once came
ashore, and was greeted at the pier by
Mayor oppenheimer of Ponce and
delegation of prominent officials and
citizens. The town, which was pro.
fusely decorated in the presidents
honor, was crowded with people from
the surrounding country, eager to
greet Mr.. Roosevelt.
"viVe ell Presidential"
In spite of the early hour the land
ing place was crowded with an ex.
pectant throng, many of whom had
been in their places all night, to wit
ness the incoming of the Louisiana.
AS the president stepped ashore the
crowd cheered him, crying "Vive ell
presidentei" When the greetings were
over the president, accompanied by
Gov. Winthrop, was driven to the city
hall, Mrs. Winthrop and Mrs. Rooss.
welt following.
The president was kept busy ac-
knowledging cheers all along the two
miles of march from the landing place
to the principal plaza of the town At
the entrance to the plaza huge arch
had been erected from which little
girls threw flowers to both the presi.
dent and Mrs. Roosevelt as they
passed.
The Presidents Address.
At the city hall an address of well
come was read to the president. He
delivered his reply from the balcony
Of the building, addressing the largest
crowd that had ever assembled in
Ponce. The president said in part:
Il shall continue to use every eff
fort to secure citizenship for Porto
Rico. am confident this will come
in the end, and all that l can personal.
ly do to hasten that day will do. My
efforts will be unceasing to help you
along the path OF true self-government
which must have for its basis a union
Of order, liberty, justice and honor"
In conclusion the president said:
Il salute you from my heart as fel.
low citizens"
The reference to citizenship brought
out enthusiastic applause from the
people.
Visits Roosevelt School.
Before leaving Ponce the president
was driven to the Roosevelt school.
Here several hundred school children
had been assembled, and sang Amer
lea" as the president drove up. Tho
cornerstone of this school was laid in
April, 1908, by the presidents daugb.
ter, now Mrs. Longworth. The presj'
dent was greatly pleased with his re-
ception at the school, and made
short address.
The presidential party left Ponce
at 10:3O, the time set by the SEIZED.
ule, for the run to San Juan over ths
famous military road. Eleven auto
mobiles conveyed the party.
Stops of three minutes each were
made at Juana Diaz, Coamo and Al
bOnito. At each place the president
was welcomed by the mayor and spoke
briefly from his automobile.
Anxious to See the President.
The president received a remarkable
reception at Caguas, the most impor.
tant town on the mill airy road. Here
he spoke at length, reiterating his
views On Por.o Rico citizenship. Pass.
ing through the Caguas and the Cayey
tobacco district, where American capt.
tai has worked wonderful develop
ment, the president was greatly inn
pressed with the fertility and flourish
ing conditions of the Plan atoms. At
Caguas Mrs. Roosevelt was showeIed
with flowers and received many pres
ents. Between towns along thu mill
tary road scattering crowds eagerly
awaited the chance of a feeting
glimpse of the president.
San Juan.
At Rio Piedras, the last town be-
fore reaching San Juan, President
Roosevelt received an enthusiastic re-
ception from the school children, and
the pupils and teachers of the Porto
Rico normal school. To them he
spoke facetiously about college life
and outdoor sports.
Arriving at the original entrance to
the city Of San Juan, where formerly
stood the old city hall ana gate, a
huge arch had been erected by the
city, and here Mayor Todd and the city
officials extended their welcome to the
president.