The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-02-12
President Laid the Corner sstone OF
the Marble Memorial Hall That
is to Shelter the Lincoln
Log Cabin.
GREAT CROWD PRESENT
President Folk Of the National Lin.
coin Farm Association Gave an
Address-Gov. Wilson
Also a Speaker.

HODGENVILLE, KY, Feb. 12.-
President Roosevelt today laid the
corner stone of the marble memorial
hall that is to shelter the log cabin
in which the late President Lincoln
was born. Secretary of War Wright
spoke in behalf of the Confederate
army; Gen. Rodger Williams, of Lex.
ington, was chief marshal in charge
OF arrangements. Great crowds from
the surrounding country attended the
exercises, besides there being the most
noted men in the country. A canvas
accommodating six thousand was erect
ed where the speech making was held
The cabin and Lincoln spring nearby
were decorated with the national col
ors. Twenty-six negro citizens were
appointed by Governor Wilson as a
reception committee representing
their race All lines. north and south,
were blotted out in the representative
men from both sections taking part
in the ceremonies.
Folk Opened Program.
Governor Folk, president of the ma
tional Lincoln Farm association,
opened the speech making. After the
laying of the corner stone the Presi-
dents address followed. Governor
Wilson of Kentucky ana Secretary
Wright followed in the order named.
Bishop Galloway pronounced the ben
ediction. After the preliminary re-
marks extending welcome to the
President and the visitors to Kentuc-
ky, Governor Wilson said in part:
| 1--WE meet here at this farm where
| he was born, in memory of Abraham
(! Lincoln, to know for ourselves and
prove to the world by our record deep
craven on these acres, that the love
| of country and its noble useful citi-
zens are not dreams of idle words but
living feelings" He said Lincoln was
/ claimed by the world Illinois claims
him as he there made his home, but
| said Kentucky claims him as her son,
as there he was born.
/ Secretary Wright paid tribute to
Lincoln's understanding of the people
of the south and sincere desire for
peace and speedy reconciliation
/ after the war He called attention to
the fact that Lincoln and Jefferson
Davis were born in the same state. He
/
when he had reached point for which
he had striven that he should have
died at the hands of a hair-bralned
play actor, who was in no way identi
fed with the south or her people
! Still more cruel was the fate OF the
southern people Men of the south
can not only look back upon the lost
cause without bitterness but recognize
it best it fail, and join in sincerity III
having tribute to Lincoln, the great
American"
At the opening exercises Gov. FOLK
said in part: eHere. on this farm one
hundred years ago, was born the
strongest. strangest, gentlest char
acter the country ever knew. In
reyering the name of Lincoln there IS
no north. no south, 70 east. no west.
The inspiration of high Citizenship
must ever emanate this spot Ihe
massive block which will form the
corner stone of the Lincoln memorial
was then put in place. The president
approached and delivered his address,
The presidential train arrived a,
lHodgeuville at 80 and was greeted
Inv Governor Wilson of Kentucky ano
STAFF G. A. r., ex-confederates, mem
hers of the farm association and thot.
s.nds az visitors. The sky cleared
hut the mud was deep. The preslden
t;al marty was hurried into carriages
and with a military escort starteu to
tho lincoln farm.