The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-05-31
Goyernor Morgan Deeply Touched
BY Greeting From the Fairmont
Kiwanis Club When it Reached
Reviewing Stand
DISPLAYS USUAL OPTIMISM
Sound Applying Device Was Great Help To Large
Audience, But Hampered the Speakers At Times.
Bridge Made Pretty Picture With Parade On II

has not heard for many a day, they
came slowly by, salute after salute
followed, each man and woman in.
tensely excited and utterly happy.
The Klwanis club from a mag
nificent float welcomed Governor
Morgan, who stood near the front
OF the stand, in song,
We're with you every man,
Well help you all we can,
"Howde.do, Governor Morgan,
how.de.do." they shouted musical
Ily.
So hearty and w%holesouled was
1.-THE welcome that the eyes Of Gov.
ternor Morgan filled with tears as
he nodded in return. unable to
speak. It was the most touching
incident OF the entire parade.
One solid mass Of humans-tol-
flowing tho final salure from each
organization in the parade, when
the tantalizlng music, heart and
sould stirring died down and stop.
I ped-crowded close again. Rev,
Or. j. ;. Broomfield spoke the In.
vocation in a strong voice rocking
back end forth on his immaculate
soldier.clab limbs, eye closed, head
bowed. The vast audience tipped
forward In Il body-only the tops OF
many vari-colored hats visible.
America" was sung strongly
and expressiYely under direction OF
Lamar Satterfield, every hat sud.
denly removed, many Of them held
like small suashades to the side
Of the face, giving a most respect.
full, worshipful appearance TO
every individual! present. The song
rang out very beautifully, very
touchingly, The Greater Fairmont
band rendered the accompaniment
softly and well.
There were 80 speakers in all
on the program so 1t was no won.
der the crowd dissolved slowly. al
most t%mperceptibly along about
five O'Clock, leaving u faithful two
Hundred or more who remained
standing, weary but interested
while the final speakers delivered
themselves OF their addresses. At
five O'Clock the sun had faded into
less trying heat and from the
grandstand the magnificent new
viaduct. stretched smooth and wide
beyond the crowd punched tightly
at tho east end. Overhead the sky
was u mixture Of pearl clouds and
blue dome. Soft shadows toned the
cement structure beneath into a
satiny grayness. Trains below per.
sisted In p%unctuating the silence OF
the river with loud spurts and bel.
lows. The smoke from them curled
upward and over the top with far
from pleasing impartiality. Far
below the Biz bridge the Mononga.
hela flowed proudly. The great
porcelain glObed lights hanging one
below the other In a continuous
line across the alched span, resem-
bled huge pearls Of unusual splen.
dor.
The principal speakers Of the
afternoon were Governor Morgan.
Charles NJ. Schwab. Americas
premier steel maker; Colonel j. NJ,
Shoemaker, of the Lake Erie
railroad; James McRea. 70
Pennsylvania; Maxwell BE; i.
the Western Maryland; II. c
Of the Monongahela; j. j.
also Of the Lake Eric ant
Muesser, the designer
bridge. The Hon. o. S. M .
who was master Of ceremonies In.
troduced a number Of the speakers
in unusually pleasing manner.
Both the present mayor OF the city,
W. W. Conway, and ex-mayor,
Anthony Bowen, gave short talks.
Those men who were in charge Of
the bridge building itself spoke
briefly. A number OF we'll known
Fairmont men, among them George
T. Watson, Judge w. s. Meredith,
Judge W. S. Raymond. James A..
Meredith, Captain Rollo ]. Conley,
]. N. Jacobs. Captain George NJ.
Alexander and ]. Walter Barnes,
spoke for a moment or two in In
Producing various speakers.
Mayor Conway said in effect:
This magnificent bridge is the fruit
of our labor and we take pride
In this great monument which is a
typical work Of our city, a work
which will be enduring and will
show what Fairmont can do for
many, many years. am glad TO
see SO many visitors hero and I
welcome you all. Come again and
often.
Elk -Commlssioner Ira Smith said
the day was an occasion when 1t
was quite impossible to express
ones biggest thoughts. The bridge
stands as a sermon to all-every
person who passes and views II
will understand, will feel the char.