Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-07-02
KOURNED At CAPITAL.
Orders Issued to All Branches for
Tribute to Dead Ex-Chief.

4I1DuL6 10 OGdO EX-Sn1eI.
In Washington appropriate honors
were paid TO the memory of ex-Presi-
dent Cleveland by all branches of the
national government. Immediately up
on receipt of the Presidents proclama-
ton. formally announcing Mr.. Cleve-
lands death, steps were taken 70 carry
out the provisions of the executive pro-
clamation. In the case of the State De-
partment all officials of the diplomatic
and consular service were notified of
the ex-President'S death and were di-
rected 10 fly the American flag over
their respective offices at half-staff for
a period of thirty DAYS after the re-
ceipt of the letter. All army posts and
stations, and all commanders in chief
of fleets in the navy, captains of de-
tached ships and navy yards and naval
stations were ordered to fly the nation
al colors at half-staff for thirty DAYS.
In Washington, where many of those
who are now leading officials of the
government came into office during his
administration and where thousands Of
residents met him at social functions at
the White House, the news of Presi-
dent Clevelands death caused a pro-
found sensation. Official action fol-
lowed promptly.
A few hours ahead of his formal
proclamation announcing the death
President Roosevelt directed Secretary
CortelyOu, the senior cabinet officer in
Washington, and thus the acting head
Of the administration, to have all ex-
ecutive departments place the national
flags on their buildings at half-mast.
This order was Immediately promul-
gated. Within few minutes the Stars
and Stripes over the great white build
ings which house the federal govern
ment had dropped half way down the
poles, conveying to many people the
first news that death had claimed an
other illustrious man.
The proclamation issued by President
Roosevelt follows precedentS in the
cases of former eX-Presidents. and is as
follows:
To the people of the United States ::
Grover Cleveland, President of the United
States from 1885 to 1889 and again from
1893 to 1897, died at s 40 o'clock this
morning at his home in Princeton, n, j.
In his death the nation has been deprived
of one of its greatest citizens. By pro-
fesSion a lawyer, his chief services to his
country were rendered during long, va
ried and honorable career in public life
As Mayor of his city, as Governor of his
State, and twice as President. he showed
signal power as an administrator, coupled
with entire devotion to the country'S good
and a courage that quailed before no hos
tility when once he was convinced where
his duty lay. Since his retirement from
the presidency he has continued well and
faithfully to serve his countrymen by the
simplicity, dignity and uprightness of his
private life.
In testimony of the respect in which
his memory is held by the government and
people of the United States, l do hereby
direct that the flags on the White House
and the several departmental buildings
be displayed at half-staff for a period of
thirty days, and that suitable military and
naval honors, under the orders of the Sec
retaries of War and of the Navy, be rem
dered on the day of the funeral.
Done this twenty-fourth day of June,
in the year of our Lord one thousand nine
hundred and eight, and of the indepen-
dence of the United States Of America the
one hundred and thirty-second.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.