The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-10-26
At Early Hour This Morning
The Presidential FIotiI|a
Pulls Into the Little Mis-
souri, Town. -
CHILDREN SPOKEN TO
BY PRESIDENT TAFT
An Immense Crowd Was Left
Behind Last Night When
The Steamers Left St. Lou
is for "Dixie."
(By William Hosiery

Cape Girardeaux, Mo-, Oct. o.
In the dark OF the early morning, at &
q. M, to be exact, President Taft's
boat, "Oleander," put in at Cape Girar-
deau this morning and made the first
stop of the 1900 mile trip down the
Mississippi. Though it lacked twenty
minutes of daylight, there was a big
crowd out to welcome the president in
the little Missouri town. The thirteen
official boats in the fleet trailed be-
rounded to, following the example ot
the Oleander. and goodly representa-
tion of governors, senators and repre-
sentatives went ashore, rubbing the
sleep out Of their eyes, but strong In
their determination to do what Taft
did.
An address of welcome was delivered
by Mayor Leming, after which group
of school children presented the presi-
dent with flowers.
Representative Grow introduced the
president, who spoke briefly, thanking
the children for rising at such an early
hour to greet him. Before returning
to the boat, the president planted a
tree on the Campus. The sun was
just rising when the Oleander, at Z
o'clock, pulled out for Cairo, Illinois,
which will be reached at noon.
An Immense Crowd.
An immense crowd was left behind
at st. Louis last night. when the pres
idential fleet pointed southwark amid
q din of screeching whistles and
changing bells. Far down the river
crowds lined the bank and levees and
sent bedlam of salutes ringing
across the water. In the gathering
twilight, huge bonfires began to blaze
forth. Beautiful electric lights were
set off and the fleet passed through
rows of flames and torches. Skyrock-
cts burst in the air, bombs exploded
and cheers. growing fainter and faint
er. as the river widened, came echoing
from the shores. At jefferson bar
racks, three great fires were burning,
and as the fleet passed slowly by the
troopers were discerned in the red
glow, drawn up at attention.
Buglers sounded series of flourish.
es and when darkness had fallen the
Star Spangled Banner took the place
of the twenty-one guns that would
have been fired in honor of the pres
ident. had the sun been shining. Then
the moon came out, a glorious full
moon, that lighted up the father OF
waters to an almost daylight glow
On the governors boat, the st. Paul
which is crawling along in the wake
of the Oleander, bearing the president
preparations were under way for the
banquet that the president was to at
tend. the floating feast, the arrange
ment being that the Oleander and thu
St. Paul should tie up together, In or
der that the president might cross ove'
and sit at the head of the table witt
the twenty governors who make up tn;
party.
Flashlights Played.
Flashlights began to play, and bu
gle call from the Oleander. attracted
the attention of the st. Paul. A ines
sage from the president St. Pau
ahoy; back at you Oleander. What, no
The president regrets that he can no
accept your invitation for tonight. H,
is completely tired out, and his throa
is in such bad shape that he believes h
will rest here. Some other night TO
the dinner" So the governors aban
doned their dress suits and sat dowI
to family dinner with the diplomat.
and cabinet officers in the ship benin,
and the senators ana congressman IL
the ship behind that and the citizens
committee and deep waterways dele
gates trail along. flashlights playin,
from ship to ship and megaphone call
being hurled back and forth to pass tn
time of night and maintain the feelin,
of brotherhood and union. On tn
presidents boat Taft indulged in
friendly game Of whist until 10 oclocl
when he turned in for rise betime
at Girardeau this morning. The gov
ernors beguiled the time getting &C
quainted and laying plans for dee
waterways that shall make inland Gil
les seaports in the days to come. o.
the senatorial and congressional boa
few decks of cards We're called int
play, but talk was general and mos
OF it had to do with the exceedingl
frank speech of the president in tn
coliseum today when he served warn
ing on congressman that II there are t
be deep waterways from the lakes t
sea. the pork barrel must be smashe
as q preliminary move.
it Is An Evidence.
The speech is just another evidenc
OF the determined stand Taft has take
CONTINUED on Page Seven.)