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FOR STRONG NAVYPRESIDENT URQES ITS NEEDS in SPEECH AT TACOMA.Believes That Is the Surest Way t0 Secure Peace-Speech Came as Surprise—Tacoma in Gala Dre»g to Welcome Him-— His Trip 0n the Sound.Tacoma, May 22.--As the presidentsteppped from his train in this city at 4 o’clock this afternoon his saltue of 21 guns, not heard on Puget Sound for many years, boomed forth from the revenue cutter McCulloch.Then he and his party drove to Wright park, where the commander-in-chief of the army and navy delivered a speech which has attracted more attention through his advocacy of a strong navy than almost any speech de-livered on his Western tour. Before a crowd which numbered many thousands, for Tacoma turned out en mass to welcome the president, lie made a strong plea for an ever-increasing fighting force in the navy.That President Roosevelt should reserve the topic of the navy until he reached Puget Sound is regarded as most significant, not alone by the people of Tacoma, but by those who form members of bis party. The speech which he delivered here today came as a surprise to those who have been following him since he left ^ashmgton. The weight of his words is great and they were delivered in a stirring manner.When be had finished speaking the president recognized Otto Winters, who had been in his regiment during the Cuban campaign, and greeted him most affectionately before those in whose ears the speech was still ringing. Asa special favor to himself, and one, he said, which he seldom asked, the leader of the Rough Riders requested that Winters tie permitted to accompany him in his carriage to the hotel, andthat he be a member of the party which will hoard the steamer Spokane to visit the navy yard on the way to Seattle.President Roosevelt, at the conclusion of the Wright park speech, laid the cornerstone of the new Masonic temple, after which he drove to his apartments in the Tacoma hotel and rested for a short time before preparing for an informa 1 dinner at the home of Senator Foster. The enthusiasm of the people was shown in the cheerirrg at the president’s utterances, and at the sight of his person in his carriage along the street, but the demonstration was of an orderly nature. The decorations in his honor were many, and the pretty homes of the city along the line of march were in gala dress. The lawns were 6etwith words of welcome and curious devices, and the drive to the park through the avenues of trees was most pleasant. The president remarked the beauty of the scene as he closed his address, and stood gazing at the throngs of brightly decorated people in the beautiful sunlight, scattered about the lawn and partly hidden among the trees.Probably 20,000 people were on the streets when the special train pulled in at the Nineteenth street station. Crowds had been pouring into the cUy from different parts of the surrounding country all day, and the Grays Harbor trains brought in a large contingent from the western part of the state. People began thickening on the streets in the forenoon, and immediately after the noon hour the crowds became so densse in the business districts that there was a perfect jam an hour before the president was due to arrive.
Newspaper Details
Friday Harbor San Juan Islander
Friday Harbor, Washington, US
Thu, May 28, 1903
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Doug S.
USA 31 May 2023
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