The National tribune., 1908-05-21

course, there was plenty OF space for
putting In 100 chairs. and the room
would accommodate 500 by squeezing.
Along one side-the side next the
Treasury Building platform was
placed The chairs provided for the
East Room were gilt embellished. and
certainly were frail of construction for
some Of the heavyweights who used
them. American Beauty roses filed
vases on the marble mantels. and from
outside the lace curtains gently swaying
at the windows came rose fragrance.
locust blossom scent. from the old
fashioned gardens just outside the win-
dows.
The Seating Arrangements
The raised platform was SO feet In
length. This was carpeted with heavy
plush OF an olive-green color. In the
center of this platform was a large,
square cabinet. which was used to IL
lustrate. with the aid OF calciums. sec
tons os the country. giving different
views of the natural resources.
On either side Of this cabinet. on the
wall, were maps. in colors. the various
coiors representing the different re-
sources of different sections. while an
eagle of huge dimensions surmounted
the cabinet. At either end of the plat
form were stands bearing the coat of
|
center stand containing the flag Of
the country and the Presidents flag.
The seating arrangements could not
have been improved upon. To the right
of the Cabinet was President Roosevelts
chair, and to the left the chair was oc-
cupied by President Fairbanks. To
the right os the President and a little to
his rear were the chairs occupied by the
members of the Cabinet, and to the
left of the Vice President, 0n line with
the chairs of the members of the Cab
met. were the seats for the Justices
of the Supreme Court.
In block directly in front os the
platform were arrange the seats for the
Governors and the four especially invit-
ed guests, William Jennings Bryan. the
great Commoner and twice the choice
of his party for the President of the
United States: Andrew Carnegie, steel
magnate and philanthropist; James j 2
Hill, the railroad magnate. and JohnS
Mitchell. former president of the United [
Mine Workers Association.
For Invited Guests. To-.
To the right of this block, and within
a few feet of the platform, were the
chairs for the members Of the Inland
Waterways Commission, also specially
invited guests.
The other chairs were arranged in a
semi-circle around the room. aside from
the chairs for the press representatives.
which were to the left of the stand.
The other guests occupied chairs as
they desired.
A few minutes before II O'Clock OF
Wednesday, the President took up a
position in the main corridor. and the
guests were presented to him individu-
ally, the ceremony occupying something
more than Is minutes. After this the
guests were ushered to their seats, and
the members of the Supreme Court
bench and the Cabinet took their places
on the platform. A second later Vice
President Fairbanks entered, and when
the hands of the clock lacked but a
second or two of reaching the hour a
bugler sounded the Presidents call, and
the Chief Executive entered the East
Room and walked toward the platform.
The applause which greeted him was
tumultuous. and the President bowed
his acknowledgment.
The venerable Edward Everett Hale.
in his black silk robes, seemed the only
connecting link between the old days
and the new. While mentally as vigor-
Gus as ever, he is frail physically. and
leaned heavily upon the back of the
Presidents chair while reading the
scriptures and offering prayer.
The President Enjoyed II.
President Roosevelt seemed to get a
lot of fun out of the conference, and
when the Governors were peking5 sly
jokes at each other in their speeches
the President laughed, and got more
enjoyment out of it than anybody else.
On the other hand, every utterance of
the President was applauded to the
echo. 1t was freely discussed by Gov
ernors from all sections of the country
that eff President Roosevelt wants it,
but. then, you see. the President says
he does not want it, and will not have
it, so what is the use of even suggest
ing a third term
So much of one mind were all the
members of the conference that there
was scarcely a dissenting voice during
the week. The President and Andrew
Carnegie do not trot double on the idea
of big Army and Navy. but what's
the odds? Neither of them can settle
the question. And if they did, when
war shall come the people will rise in
their might and do as they like about
it, President or no President.
There was a lot of dinner giving, q
whole raft of "teas" and receptions to
our Governors and drives, visits to
Congress. land good time generally
was had" a,- .,-
The President gave the Governors a
scrumptious dinner at the White House.
Mrs Roosevelt gave a charming garden
party for the Governors, which was
one of the most enjoyable affairs ever
given there, and Mrs. Roosevelt was
never more gracious.
The Washington Board of Trade also
gave the Governors a banquet at the
New Willard. which is said to have just
laid little over anything in that line
ever given before.
So eminently and practically success
full was the conference that the Gov
ernors desired to perpetuate it, and so
'"The House of Governors is to be a
permanent organization, and they will
meet in Washington every year after
this.