Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1907-05-02
The President Stood and
Delivered His Speech.
ATEXPO'SOPENING
Dedication Ceremonies of the James
town Fair Were Witnessed by a
Huge and Unruly Crowd.

Norfolk. Va. President Roose-
veat, the diplomatic, naval and
military representatives of 81 nations
OF the world and the governors of 20
states participated in the opening eX-
erc1ses of the jamestown terccnten-
nial exposition. While the exposition,
which is to remain open until Novem-
Der 30 next, is still far from COM
plete, the unfinished condition of
buildings and grounds was not allow
ed to interfere with Fridays celebra-
ton of the three hundredth annivers-
airy of the first English settlement in
America.
From the firing of a sunrise salute
OF 300 guns by United States army
to the picturesque review of the inter-
national fleet OF war vessels anchored
in Hampton Roads, through the cero.
monies OF dedication at which the
president spoke and down to late
hour last night, when the chief execu.
tive repaired aboard the naval yacht
Sylph to spend the night in the lower
bay, the day was crowded with no.
table incidents.
-Not lilS ledSJ ILL IMPRESSIVE Oh Ino
days events was the quick action of
the president in assuming command
of the situation in front of the
crowded grand stand and from which
he spoke when a panic seized the
surging throng OF spectators. Pressed
against the guard ropes by thousands
of eager persons in the rear of the
gathering who We're forcing their way
forward, the safety of life and limb of
those who had the more favored posi-
tons was endangered President
Roosevelt had just been introduced by
Harry St George Tucker, the head of
the jamestown Exposition Co., when
the disorder in the crowd reached it's
height and the guards in front of the
grand stand seemed about to be swept
from their posts.
With the agility of a school boy the
president jumped upon the table
which had been placed in the speak
ers' balcony and, waving his arms,
cried out to the men of Virginia to
live up to their traditions of gal
lantry and cease the pushing and
crowding which was threatening the
lives of the women and children in
the assemblage. a throng which all
but blocked the big grass-covered
plaza known as Lees parade.
Apparently oblivious to the unusual
position he occupied on the top of a
somewhat shaky table, not more than
two feet wide and not more than
twice that in length, President Roose-
velt made his speech on this i'm
promptu and unsteady platform. 1t
did not interfere in the slightest de-
gree with the characteristic vigor of
his delivery.
President Roosevelt took occasion
again to affirm his attitude regarding
the encroachments of corporations.
He declared that proper control over
wealth, especially that OF CORPORA
tions, was the c0untry's greatest |
problem, but held that in attempting |
to stop abuses no spirit of vindictive-
ness for past offenses should be
shown. He gave warning, however
that this republic must not fall as
others had-because they grew to
the interests of a class be-
fore the interests of the whole"
The ceremonies of dedication were
brief the feature being the address
of President Tucker Of the exposi-
ton, and President Roosevelt The
latter at the conclusion of his address
pressed the golden button which
marked the opening of the exposition.