Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1915-02-26

House and President Moore, Of the Expo
sition. Instead Secretary Lane transmitted
the greetings of President Wilson and an
nouncement was sent to him by telegraph |
that the exposition was open.
In opening his address Secretary Lane
said, in part
ITO you. President Moore. and to your
colleagues. ladies and gentlemen. | bear
the congratulations of the nation on the
opening of this international exposition.
This morning have from the President
the following telegram:
please convey my heartiest congratu-
lations to the authorities of the Exposition
and express my hope that their highest
expectations for its distinguished success
will be more than realized"
All records for opening day attendance
at worlds fairs were broken. Less than
two hours after the gates had opened and
while the crowds were still streaming in,
the turnstiles showed 10000 admissions,
as against 1857 for the Chicago Fair in
1898. and l76,453 for the St. Louis Fair
in 1904
within month expect the President
himself will be with you to greet the rep
resentatives of the nations who have joined
in the creation of this new city by the
Golden Gate. leone as token bearer to
speak feeble foreword to the rich volume
Of his admiration for your courage, your
enterprise and your genius.
THE sculptors who have ennobled these
buildings with their work have surely given
full swing to their fancy in seeking to sym
bolze the tale which this exposition tells.
And among these figures have sought
for one which would represent to me the
significance of this great enterprise.
Prophets, priests and kings are here,
conquerors and mystical figures of ancient
legend, but these do not speak the word |
bear. My eye is drawn to the least con-
spicuous figure of all-the modest figure Of
a man standing beside two oxen who look
down upon the Court Of the Nations. when
East and West come face to face.
without him we could not be here.
Without him banners would not fly nor
bands play. Without him San Francisco
would not be today the gayest city Of the
globe. Shall tell you who he is-thi key
figure in the arch of our enterprises
THAT slender. dauntless, plodding. mod
est figure is the American pioneer. To
me he is far more. He is the adventure
some spirit of our restless race.
THE long journey Of this slight, modest
figure that stands beside the oxen is at
an end. The waste places of the earth
have been found. But adventure is not tc
END. Here will be taught the gospel of an
advancing democracy strong, valiant, con
fident, conquering -upborne and typihed
by the independent spirit Of the American
pioneer
"Forty-one foreign nations and 43 Stat e:
and Territories of the American Union
are participating in the Exposition.
This is the world in eptome," said DR.,
Frederick J.. V. Skiff. the director-in-chief
in a brief dedicatory address. within
the Enclosure of these exposition grounds
there are no foreigners. All may stant
and stop upon this soil as If it were theiI
native land"
Salvos of artillery salutes, shriekins
whistles and sirens. pealing bells. rolling
drums and piercing flies had Weakened thu
city at dawn. The day had been declared
legal holiday and nearly all the business
houses and factories were closed to permi
their employees to march in the gigantic
parade, which early took possession of thu
grounds.
In the parade were Secretary Lane, o.
the Department of the Interior. Governor
johnson, the Senate and Assembly of Cali
fornia. the Governor and entire Legsla.
ture of Nevada, Mayor Rolph of San Fran
cisco, Mayor Rose of Los Angeles and tn
Mayors of many other California cities
The formal aspect Of the dedication was
made as short and simple as possible.
United States soldiers and marines es
corted Secretary Lane, Governor johnson
and the other officials to stand facinl
the main entrance to the Exposition. wher'
they were welcomed by President Charlie
C. Moore and the other executive officers