The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-04-26
President Roosevelt Presses the
Button at jamestown
And Sets the Machinery of the
Exposition I'm Motion.
MILITARY PARADE.
Commanded By Gen. Grant Fol-
lows the Ceremony.
The President Will Not Visit
the Exhibition Buildings.


town tercentennial exposition. a land
and water display such as never was at
tempted in this country or on foreign
shores was opened today with that
pomp and ceremony which always at
tend an event where the president OF tbs
United States is a central figure and
diplomatic representatives of foreign
nations. governors of states and like
oignitaries are hOnored guests andspa
ticipants-
The day of the inaugural ceremonies
opened cloudy, but by o'clock the sun
ShOne forth and a strong breeze from
the southwest soon drove the cloud
banks beyond the horizon, leaving 4
clear sky. The breeze sweeping across
Hampton Roads aIsO tempered the heat
which had a tinge OF midsummer in Il
? D. the time the presifer- landed on tfts
exposition grounds The unfinished
streets were deep in dust which made
the grass covered parade from which
the inaugural function was viewed By
the pOpulace a welcome refuge.
Incident 10 the opening President
Roosevelt reviewed from the deck OF
the MaydOwer the war vessels anchored
In Hampton Roads He reached Dis
coyery' landing. having been transfer
red in a naval launch from his yaCht
shortly before noon and amid applause
from the thousands gathered 10 voice
their welcome. he was received by the
exposition management Then follow
ed the program for opening to the public
the enterprise cOmmemOrating the 30Otd
anniversary Of the first English settle
mS1t in America. which program in
Guided an address by Harry St. George
Tucker, president of the exposition and
one by President Roosevelt: singing by
the exposition chorus OF 200 trained
voices, the pressing of the gold button
by President Roosevelt, which marked
The formal opening and a review by the
president of the assembled military
forces
At sunrise the ceremonies were begun
by the United States artillery firing a
salute of 200 guns TO usher in the day.
This was a signal for the trend of hu-
manity TO railroad trains. street cars
and boat lines which from that moment
poured people into the grounds.
At Discovery Landing.
a distinguished gathering received the
president and his party at Discovery
landing Il included President Tucker
and all of the general officers of the ex-
position, Rear Admiral P. F Harring-
ton il charge Of the naval program.
and Major General Fred D. Grant, who
arranged the military attractions. After
an exchange Of greetings during which
the bands played patriotic selections.
the party proceeded in carriages 10 the
grandstand- The cheering crowd press
ed the outsiders and surged after the
line Of carriages which took the most
direct route around the main auditor
ium building TO the scene of the inaug-
uTal- The recession was rTIumphal
one for the president. but it was equalled
later by the welcome given him as ne
entered the reviewing stand.
Bowi1g 10 the right and TO the left
his ackuOwledg gmeuLs Of the great pub
lie acclaim spurred the crowd 70 re-
ueEed efforts The gathering in front
CT the grand stand had started as soon
as the choice vantage points had be-
come occupied AT the water front and
u1 rha ceremonies OnauA1 the au7i-
euce extended over the parade grounds
far beyond the reach Of the spea kers'
voices.
The formal programme opened with
Q n overture by the bands-''James-
town Dixie" which was composed
especially for the occasion, followed
by a selection by the exposition chorus
and prayer by the Right Rev. Alfred
Magiu Randolph. bishop OF the diocese
of southern Virginia
After the chorus had sung the off,
cial opening hymn-a beautiful and
appropriate work by Wilberforce @.
Owst-President Tucker faced the
multitude \ spontaneous Outburst of
cheering greeted him as a testimonial
OF approval by the people 10 the gigau-
tic work IN celebra ton Of one OF the
most important events OF the history
of the nation as wei as of virginia
AIr- fuckers address was of histor-
fcaI and chronological character and at
It's conclusion he introduced Presi-
dent Roosevelt
Roosevelt Presses the Button.
When the president Of the exposition
concluded IL was some minutes before
President Roosevelt could proceed
with his address The people again
and again gave vent 10 their enthusi-
esm- As he pressed the gold button
which formally opened the exposition.
II was the signal for the unfurIinsz OF
a thousand or more flags on the vari-
Gus buildings
At the same time signal was given
- the United States and foreign war
ships and TO the garrison at Fort Mon
roe and all fired a salute 70 the union.
When the echoes OF the last gun died
away all of the bands on the exposition
grounds played the star Spangled
Banner and the troops saluted the
national anthem by presenting arms
and all persons present barred heads
After this impressive ceremony the
president of the United States his
Cabinet. members of the dipIornatfc
corps, committees from both branches
of congress governors of states and
officials Of the exposition were served
luncheon in the auditorium annex.
During the luncheon the parade
grounds were cleared and the great
crowd sought places around the walks
10 witness the military pageant on
the reviewing stand besides the preSi-
dent were members of his cabinet and
other official visitors as well as several
hundred especially invited guests
The Military Parade
While the military feature was not
large il was OF q splendid character
II was commanded by Major General
Fred D. Grant as grand marshal. who
was attended by his entire staff In
addition he had about score of hon
qrary aides. chosen largely from union
and confederate societies and hfstori-
cal associations In the parade in the