The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1908-05-14
THE CEMENTING
Of ALL AMERICA
An EpOch-MaTking Day In the Worlds
History.
PEACE IN THE NEW WORLD.
Representatives of All the Central and
South American Republics Attend
the Laying of the Cornerstone of the
Home for the International bureau
of American Republics.

Washington, ID. c. Especially A
tairer day could not have been chosen
Tor the cornerstone laying Of the
future home of the international
Bureau of American Republics. The
sun shone brightly and the green
trees of Van Ness Park were fresh
In their spring foliage and added
greatly to the scene. A great crowd
OF several thousand people came by
invitation and were expeditiouslv
greeted and seated, and the bright
array of costumes worn by the ladies
made the grand stand, already bright
with flags, look like a hanging gar
den. The grand stands we're four
IN number on all sides of the small
platform where lay the cornerstone.
The north stand was reserved for the
speakers, the governing board of the
bureau, the ambassadors and diplo-
matte corps, members of the Supreme
Court and Congress. The other
three stands contained almost every
Dody In Official and social Washing
ton. In the space between the stands
were number of rows of seats for
guests, while in the center of the
open space was erected a small stand
around the cornerstone and beneath
TINS stand TO the south was the Ma
rlne Band. The stands were elabo-
Tately decorated with the names and
nags or the Fl American republics
when the President arrived his
H0U N me-
silver eagle, was raised over the
north stand. Facing the speakers
stand and over the southern seats
were strung ropes, and while the
Marine Band played the national air
of each republic the flag of that re-
public was raised and huttered to
the wind. beginning with Columbia
and ending with the United States.
Each flag as it was unfurled was
greeted with applause, and when the
Il flags were all raised and flying
In the wind the sight was a beauti-
full one.
AT 2.3O O'Clock a large crowd had
already assembled and for half an
hour The Marine Band gave a concert
ana the gaiiy dressed guests filed to
their seats and waited the exercises.
The program was an interesting one
and was carried through without
hitch or delay. In fact, Mr.. John
Barrett, the director of the bureau,
deserves much praise for the efIi-
Client manner in which he arranged
and carried out the program. Near
ly all of the ambassadors and their
families arrived early and were given
seats on the front row of the north
stand to the right of the President
and his party. II was nearly 3
O'Clock when Secretary Root, who was
to preside, arrived, and he was quick
ly followed by Andrew Carnegie.
then Cardinal Gibbons, who wore
his full robes of office, and last of
all the President and Mrs. Roosevelt.
who arrived just at o'clock.
The ceremonies began with the
announcement of the program by Mr..
John Barrett, who introduced Secre-
tary Root as the presiding officer.
Then followed the unique ceremony
OF the raising OF the flags of the p
American republics and the playiny
of the special Pan-American hymn.
embodying the national airs of all
the republics. The invocation was
given by James Cardinal Gibbons.
Secretary Root made an eloquent and
impressive address. He was listen
ed to most closely by the vast crowd
and frequently applauded. especially
when he spoke of the peace now ex-
listing among the Pan-American ma
tions.
a score of cable messages from
the presidents Of South and Central
American countries, eXuding an at
mosphere of fraternity and good will
and expressing congratulations all
around, were read as q prologue to
the actual ceremony of the corner
stone laying. Several of these made
especial reference to the generOsity
of Andrew Carnegie. All were full
of aspiration for lasting peace.
President Castro, OF Venezuela.
whose country is wrestling with for
Cign claimants, was not among the
executives who sent messages.