The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-26

marty a greeting here.
When the Oleander had tied up to
the wharf, the local committee head
ed by Mayor George Parson, boarded
the flagship and. escorted President
Taft from its upper deck, through the
wharf boat and on to the speakers
stand, built to a level of the upper
decks and commanding view of the
thronged levee and a sight of the ter
ritory of three states.
With the appearance of the presi-
dent chorus of a thousand school
children, grouped as a living flag"
began to sing patriotic songs. They
continued until the steamers carrying
the visiting governors, members of
congress and foreign diplomats had
arrived, these guests being escorted
to seats behind the president.
Welcomed by the Mayor.
Then Mayor Parson welcomed the
guests to the city and introduced Rep
resentative N. B. Thistlewood, who in
turn presented Governor Dineen as
chairman of the day.
After brief speech by the latter
the president spoke. The cheers that
greeted the chief executive came from
the largest crowd that has ever as
sembled in Cairo. 1t began to gather
yesterday. but the bulk of the visit
tors came in early today. They
sWarmed upon the levee in COM
pact mass, / chorus of children and
l1tia adding to the brilliancy of the
occasion.
The entire river front of the city
had been decorated with flags and
bunting and at the intersection of
streets leading to the levee imposing
marble columns had been erected.
The significance of the presidents visit
as a part of the movement for water
ways Improvement was emphasized by
the local speakers. Mayor Parson de-
oIarRd
taken place except for the work of
the lakes to the gulf deep WATERWAYS
association and Representative This
tlewood called the attention of his
hearers to the possibilities of in
creased commerce and prosperity
which the contamination of the asso-
cations plans might be expected to
bring.
President Taft and his party docked
Eere today exactly on time at noon.
Ihe run from Cape Girardeau, Mo-,
which was left behind at o'clock.
was easy and frequently the engines
Of the presidents boat, the OIeander.
IS well as those following, were stop
pea. All the boats in the f1otilla man
aged to keep up to the steady pace set
by the flagship. The president rested
IN MS stateroom most of the morning,
but appeared on deck occasionally to
wave response to greetings from
groups On the shore.
Up Before the Sun.
Cape Girardeau. Mo-, Oct. 26.-
Twenty minutes before sunrise this
morning, President Taft stepped from
his flagship, the Oleander as it docked
here at 6 o'cock. This city, the first
stop on the trip from ST Louis by
boat to New Orleans. greeted the
president with prolonged cheers.
Thousands of country people arrived
during the night by rail and wagon
While the levee was thronged. the
greatest crowd was at the State Nor
| NAL school, one mile from the city,
where President Taft was driven in a
motor car.
| In the natural amphitheater, the
chief executive was introduced to the
citizens of southern Missouri by Con-
gresham G.. c. Crow, of the Four
teenth Missouri district. Mayor NJ. f.
Leming presided at the meeting, one
of the features of which was the
planting of tree.
/ The chilly October morning air
vibrated with cheers when a gold
4 r-.-