Arizona republican., 1909-02-13

e Hodgenville. Ky, Feb. 12.-Hence- forth the birthplace of Abraham Lin coin is to be marked by a pile of stones. The emancipator of race and, more than that, the liberator of the thought of a nation, builded his own monument in the heart of the world, and appropriately the physical structure that has now found be- ginning at the place where Lincoln first saw the light, takes the simple name of a memorial.
 It is to be a simple, but classic build 4ng of granite. and it is hoped that it may be completed some time next fall when the then president, William H. Taft, will Officiate in dedicating it as the president, Theodore Roosevelt. to- day officiated in laying the foundation stone.
 The corner stone laying took place after appropriate forensic ceremonies were participated in by the president, Gov. A. E. Wilson of Kentucky, former Governor Joseph w. Folk of Missouri, president of the Lincoln Farm associa- tion: Hon. Luke E. Wright, secretary of war and ex-Confederate soldier; General Grant Wilson of New York, who represented the Union soldiers, and l. T. Montgomery of Mississippi, a negro and an ex-slave.
 The orators, representing not only conflicting sides in the great struggle but the present political generation as well, the two political parties, the white and black races. and the differ ent sections of the country, spoke from the same platform.
 SiA or eight thousand people were present. Many of them had come on special trains from Louisville and oth- CT Kentucky centers. The bulk of the assembly was composed. however, of country folk from La Rue and adja- cent counties.
 There was a notable absence of ne groes in the crowd but those present were wedged in with the whites, show ing that none had been kept away py race prejudice.
 The exercises were conducted under 9 tent erected beside the cabin in which Lincoln was born 100 years ago. The weather was sufficiently disagreeable to render the tent useful.
 President -Roosevelt and his imme- diate party arrived shortly before 1 o'clock. after a drive over heavy clay road from HodgenvilIe. and five min utes afterward Governor Wilson call ed the assemblage together and intro- duced Dr. E. L. Powell of the First Christian church of Louisville, who pronounced the invocation.
 The speakers platform was small and accommodated few except the par ticfpants in the exercises and the pres ident's immediate party including Mrs Roosevelt, Miss Ethel Roosevelt, Mrs. Augustus F. Wilson, Capt. A. w. Butt and Dr. Rixey.
 Commencing with Governor Wilson address, the speaking began at l o'clock and notwithstanding there were six set speeches, one prayer and con siderable band music, to say nothing of the laying of the corner stone, the entire ceremony concluded at 2:45.
 The president applied the first trow- el full of mortar that will hold the corner stone in it's place. Under the stone was laid a metallic box contain ing copies of the constitution of the United States.
 To an aged negro, Isaac T. Mont gomery of Mound Bayou, Miss, who is said to have been a slave of Jeffer- son Davis, president of the Confeder- acy. was assigned the appropriate task of depositing n the box copy of Lin coln's emancipation proclamation. and in doing So he made a brief speech 1T