The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-10-02

Keokuk. Iowa, Oct. l-Accompanied by
the boon companions Of the day ne was
rOughing It in the West and campaigning
in Cuba, President Roosevelt is tonight
steaming down the great father of waters
aboard the old-fashioned stern-wheeIer
Mississippi. With a'scant good-by 10 the
visiting governors of twelve States who
had come here to meet and receive him,
the President took his old Rough Rider
comrades-Seth Bullock Civil Service
Commissioner NcIIhenny, and Gov Franz.
of OklahOma-with him aboard the
steamer and left this city at noon to-day.
1t is the frst time that the President in
his journeys about the country has ever
Travelled by boat upon the Mississippi.
The President desired 10 be left alone
with his ola friends on the trip down the
river. and the governors went on to St.
Louis by special train. It had been ar
ranged that Commissioner McIIhenny
should join the President here and ac-
company him on the river voyage. but
the President almost kidnapped the Old
trapper, Seth Bullock. and forced him to
go with him.
Met by Big Crowd.
When the Presidents special train
pulls into KeOkuk az o'clock this
morning there was large crowd at the
station 10 meet him, including the mayor
delegation of citizens and almost all
the governors Of the Mississippi Valley
States
They stood about with their silk hats
in their hands awaiting the Presidents s
greeting. Did he see them2 Well, yes.
but not at first, for there in the throng.
his bronzed face shadowed by a broad
sombTero, stood Seth, who had left his
office Of United States marshal In South
Dakota and had come to Keokuk to
greet his chief The moment the Presi-
dent alghted from the platform Of his
car he caught sight of that big hat
Why, there's SethI he exclaimed
rushing toward him with outstretched
hand. Seth, how are you? Seth. you've
got to go with me on that boat down the
Mississippi"
Seth started to make protest that the
United States court was soon to meet
in South Dakota, and that he must hurry
back
That's all right; that's all right.
Seth,' broke in the President: but
you've got to go with me, and that's all
there is to IT,"
Very well. Mr.. President" said Seth.
"C-dr-s is orders, and I'm not the fellow
10 disa5ev them"
seth BaIIoeE Goes Along.
So ii happens that Seth Bullock is to-
night on the deck OF the Mississippi as
she lodges dusty sand banks and picks
her way through the narrow channel
down TO 81 Louis, and he is presumably
discussing the old Dakota DAYS with the
Chief Magistrate.
Gov. Franz, too, may find out whether
or not he IS TO get a fat Federal Job
after be is succeeded in office by the
Democrat whom the people OF the new
State Of Oklahoma have just selected
Following behind in the wake and the
splash of the Mississippi is the Nissis-
sippi River Commission, on Board the
steamer Lily, and then some other small
craft which is acting as a sort of naval
escort TO the President and his Rough
Rider companions. The governors will
meet again in St. Louis TO greet the Pres
ident when he gets there tomorrow morn
ing a He may have more opportunity 10
see them there.
The President spent three hours in Keo-
kuk, and it viii be a long time before
Keokuk forgets his visit His approach
10 the city over the bridge which spans
the Mississippi here was signaled by the
shriI toots. Of the whistles Of all the river
craft lined up along the bank awaiting
his coming
As soon as his greeting with Seth Bull
lock was over, the President entered q
carriage and was driven through the
principal streets Of the city 10 Rand
Park. a beautifully wooded spot over
looking the river and commanding a view
OF the street for many miles north on the
ride 70 the park
Plans Big Power Plant.
The President was told how Keokuk ex.
poets TO treble her population within the
reXt few years. because big mower
company is planning to dam the river
at this point at q cost of SlO.OO0000 and
create a fall OF twenty-five feet. which will
develop sufficient electric power to suppIv
all the surrounding country and Derbaps
part of Chicago. Navigation viii De kept
open by means Of locks. and a canal eight
miles long. which is used now 20 avoid
the rapids. will no longer be necessary.
Then. too, he learned something Of the
history Of Keolluk and the old fort which
was once a frontier town. whose people
were befriended by the great Indian
chieftain. Keokuk, Of the Sac tribe So
much did the old warrior endear himself
TO the frontiersmen that they namdl the
place for him, and erected over what is
supposed 10 be his bones, in Rand Park
a huge monument, built Of native stone
Chief Keokuk. so the people here say.
was a good Indian even before he died.
In a vast natural amphitheater. where
grandstand had been erected, thousands
Of people gathered to hear the President
address. First, the school children. sev-
eral hundred of them, all dressed IN
bright red waists sang America" " and
then Gov Cummins of Iowa, introduced
TIE President
The clouds which had been hanging
overhead all morning began to leak Just
at this time, but the audience raised UNI
brellas and prepared To hear the Presi-