Morgan County republican., 1909-10-28
TAFT UNRESERVEDLY
FOR DEEP WATERWAY
President Declares When Feasible Proposition Is Put
Before Him He Will Be Ready For Bond
Issue For The Rivers.

in st. Louis at 1927 o'clock Monday
morning and was taken to the st.
Louis Club, where ne breakfasted. Az
ter a brief address there he was
whirled in an auto to the Coliseum,
where he spoke at IL o'clock. His
physician had limited him to Ave min.
utes because Of hoarseness, but he
warmed up to his theme under the
heartiness OF his reception and spoke
40 minutes.
At 2 p. m. he lunched at the Plan
ters Hotel From there he went to
East St Louis to dedicate the new
Postoffice Building When this SER
vice was over the President returned
to st. Louis and boarded the Oleander
to begin the most memorable cruise
down ths Mississippi ever undertaken
by President of the United States.
Big Day In East st. Louis.
Before tie biggest crowd ever gath.
cred in East St. Louis, President Taft
Monday afternoon dedicated the new
Federal building.
The dedication of the Government
structure had brought thousands to
the city and ~ith the President, the
Vice.President and the Speaker OF the
House of Representatives present,
East St. Louis experienced the great
est day in her history.
Before Mr.. Taft s arrival in the city
at 4 O'Clock Mayor Silas Cook. Repre-
sentative Rodenberg, Vice-President
Sherman md Speaker Cannon had
made speeches.
The day was started of with
To- I ,l-<sp .I.H .
morning, IN which delegations from
nearby towns look part. The parade
formed at Tehth street and Iliinois
avenue and started promptly at 10
o'clock and was reviewed by the Vice.
President. More than G,O0O persons
were in the pageant. which was his
torical as we'll as industrial.
Dinner In Federal Building.
Following the parade, dinner was
given at IL o'clock at the Federal
Building. at which Speaker Cannon.
who had arrived meantime. was a
guest. Following the dinner. the
scene of activities was transferred to
the front of the Federal building.
where the crowd was entertained until
President Taft arrived. The dedica.
tion ceremonies were necessarily brief
owing to the early hour OF the Presi-
dents departure with the waterway
flotilla.
A secret service detective guarding
the President In the Federal Building,
made things hot for Senator Lorrimer
and party of friends for a while af.
ter Taft had finished his brief East
st. Louis speech.
The detective was so concerned for
the safety of his charge that he would
not permit the Senator and the others
to follow Mr. Taft out the front door
of the building and compelled them
to take side exit.
The President returned to st. Louis
at $40 o'clock.
New Orleans Cruise Starts.
Three short shrieks from the siren
of the Oleander signaled the departure
Of President Taft from st. Louis, lead
Ing the most notable fleet that ever
steamed down the Mississippi River.
AS the Oleander made short and
graceful circle to strike the current,
she was followed by the st. Paul, the
next boat OF the feet. bearing govern.
Ors and newspaper men, and with the
grace of swans. the handsome boats
filed in stately array for the long trip
down the Father of Waters.
Unparalleled Array.
At no one time In the eventful his
tory of the river has so large and dis,
tinguished body of men been borne
on its bosom.
After the Oleander and st. Paul, the
boats Of the feet came on In the fol
lowing order: Quincy, bearing the
congressman; Erastus Wells, City of
Alton, Grey Eagle. G. w. Hill, Illinois,
Florence H.. Lilly. Mississippi, Cape
Girardeau and City of Saltillo.
Even early in the afternoon when
the center of interest was on the
Eads Bridge. where the East St. Louis
Reception Committee and escort we're
lined up to receive the President,
thousands congregated along the lines
and early obtained positions OF want.
age whence they could take part In
the farewell.
Taft Receives Ovation.
Taft received an ovation when he
stepped upon the stage at the Coli.
scum.
o. L. Whitelaw. presiding officer of
the meeting, announced that Mr.. Taft
would speak three minutes He asked
ahe audience to keep quiet. while the
President posed on the platform for q
picture.
Mr.. Whitelaw at 1928 introduced
Gov. Herbert 8. Hadley. who received
another ovation when he stepped to
the front.
Tho Prssident's Speech.
Gov. Hadley and Mr.. Chairman,
and Ladies' and Gentlemen: II you
will give me little time and little
Quiet win bring that voice hack from