The Washington herald., 1907-10-22
AID FOR WATERWAY
President TalkSinFickSbu
Assuring State Help.
CHANNEL FOR THE MISSISSIPPI
Pledges Himself to Urge Congress to
Deepen the River from the Great
Lakes 10 the GuIf-Great Crowd
Heurs Address-Pays Tribute TO
the Confederate Veterans.

Vicksburg, Miss, Oct. z1.-After a fort
night spent in the canebrakes. President
Roosevelt, bronzed and vigorous. paid a
flying visit to Vicksburg and made a
speech this afternoon. in which he an
nounced his intention Of urging the Mis-
siss!ppi deep-ehannel plan on Congress
Excursion trains on all railroads had ar
rived all morning, crowded with visitors.
and Washington street and other thor
oushfares are decorated with flags and
bunting. Everywhere large pictures Of
the President were in evidence.
The President arrived at o'clock. He
was met by the steamboat Belle OF the
Bends. with a reception committee Of 100
on board. The President embarked. and
followed by a dozen boats and yachts.
made his entry into the city. The bluffs
overlooking the river were lined with
people who gave the Chief Executive
hearty and noisy welcome.
President Roosevelt entered the for
ward carriage at the pier. and. with
Mayor 3. W. Griffith and Gen. Steuhen
d. Lee, headed a parade which passed
through the principal streets to the Ma
tiOnal Cemetery The President was re-
ceived with great enthusiasm. The
streets were packed with people, who
eheered the visitor continually. At Cher
~ and Clay streets the procession was
halted and Gen. Lee. commander IN
chief Of the United Confederate Veterans.
told the President that several hundred
Union and Confederate vets stood be
fore him. The President arose in the
carriage and cordially shook hands with
the old soldiers.
Arriving at the National Cemetery.
the President and party drove slowly
through the grounds. the President
cvincing a lively interest in the historic
place. From the cemetery the party
drove to Courthouse square, where an
immense crowd had gathered TO hear
the speech by the President. He was
introduced by Representative John
Sharp Williams. who drew tremendous
applause when he said:
You cannot in the history Of any
country, ancient or modern. find a sue
cession Of twenty y-five kings. emperors.
or prime ministers the equal in intelH
Gence, culture, courage. or character of
the twenty-five Presidents of this great
republic, from Washington to Roose-
velt, inclusive. ], a Southern-born Dem
ocrat have an American pride and
pleasure in saying that the last is by
no means the least"
Immediately after closing his address.
President Roosevelt and party were ran
idly driven to the Yazzoo and Mississippi
Valley Railway Station, where a special
train stood in waiting. At $50 o'clock the
train pulled out for Memphis. where the
President was scheduled to arrive shortly
after midnight The train will be i'm
transferred TO the Louisville and
Nashville Railway and started for Nash
Vile
The Presidents Address.
In his Vicksburg speech. the President
said:
1T is. indeed, an honor for me to be
to-day the guest of Vicksburg and of
touched by the greeting over the arch Of
cotton bales, which said Mississippi
greets the President I should not be M
to be President at all if / did not. with
all my might and main. with all my heart
and brain, seek TO be in the full sense the
President Of Mississippi, the President Of
every State in this union.
Il am glad to be here in this historic
city, this city forever memorable Of the
conflicts in which victor and vanquished
alike showed such splendid courage. such
splendid fealty to the light as it was
given TO each. Even before the civil war
sons had shown that they
knew how TO fight
1T was from Vicksburg that a COM
pany Of that famous Mississippi regi-
Continued on Page 3, Column 2.