Evening star., 1924-10-07
COOLIDGE PRAISES
MISSOURI HIGHLY
State in Forefront of Trans
mississippi CommonWeaIths,
President Writes.

A glowing tribute was paid to the
State of Missouri for it's record of ac-
compliShmentS by President Coolidge
in a letter to Gov. Hyde of that State,
which was read yesterday at the ex
ercises incident to the dedication of
the new State Capitol building at
jefferson City.
The President regretted that he
could not personally attend the cere-
mony, but the business of his office
made it apparent that he must deny
himself that pleasure. His letter in
full follows.
September 81, 1924.
MY dear Gov. Hyde:
LAS you know, l have been loathe
to decline the many cordial invita-
tions which have come to me from the
public officials, the civic organizations
and the hoSpitable people of Missouri
to participate in the dedication OF the
new Capitol building on October g.
1t having now become apparent that
| must deny myself this pleasure, l
am writing to express my thanks for
the generosity of the invita- tions that
have come to me, and my regrets that
i am not able to accept them.
First Of Western States.
The dedication of the splendid new
statehouse at jefferson City is a par
ticularly fitting time for survey of
the notable history and splendid de-
Nelopment of the State. 1t was first
among all the States whose entire
area is west of the Mississippi to be
admitted TO the Union, and, with the
single exception OF the imperial do
main of Texas, it remains to this day
the first among the transmississippi
commonwealths. Because of it's GEN.
Fra IL
vantage as the center from which
the great water routes of the mid
continent radiate, il has been, from
the very beginning, the seat of an
exceptional and remarkable influence
in the development Of the entire
West.
by river or overland, the early
routes of trade and migration,
whether to the Southwest, the Mid
west or the Northwest; whether to
the gulf at the South, the lakes in
the North, or to the East by way of
the Ohio, Missouri has truly been the
great central State of the Union
Her sons and daughters have
spread themselves to all of the newer
commonwealths and borne a great
and creditable part in establishing s
them. Endowed with an extraordi-
nary diversity of natural resources in
metals, minerals, forests and agrlcul-
tural opportunity, the State has al
ways been n favorite of fortune and
prosperity. Its great cities are trade
centers of an empire.
Plays Important Role.
"Borr into the Union of the States
in the midst of one of the great crises
in our history, Missouri has always
been a center of many diverse infiu-
enceS and interests, which have given
to its outlook upon public affairs a
peculiarly broad and cosmopolitan
character. 1t has been a mother of
States ard a mother of statesmen,
always claiming a prominent part in
influencing National concerns.
"A community capable of such con-
tributionS to the making of the Ma
tion is truly entitled. at time like
this, to receive the good wishes of
the Nation and of every sister State.
/ know in what generous measure
these will be extended, and l wish
my own to be included among them.
Very sincerely yours,
CALVIN COOLIDGE
Gov. a. NJ Hyde, jefferson City, Mo-