BRENT ENGEL Mo — Following is the first part in a two-part story series.

Few presidents have had the ability to hold an audience as spellbound as Theodore Roosevelt.

Pike County got a taste of the Republican’s unflappable intensity and energy on Wednesday, April 29, 1903.

Though he was from the other political party, even the normally talkative Champ Clark was practically silenced.

The nation was much different then. Missouri had almost three times more people than California, there was no federal income tax, the Union had 45 states and there were fewer than 150 miles of paved roads across the country. Most significantly, the economy was bustling under Roosevelt’s ideas.

A crowd estimated at 7,000 to 10,000 stood in the spring sunshine as the president’s six-car train pulled into the depot along the Louisiana riverfront just after 1:30 p.m.

“The citizens of Louisiana and Pike county certainly have good cause to feel proud of the enthusiastic reception given President Roosevelt,” the Pike County News said.

The “vast crowd surged to and fro and filled every available space and even the roofs of the buildings were filled with spectators,” added the Louisiana Press.

More than 1,000 children waved flags and sang “America” to the accompaniment of the Louisiana town band in what the Press called a moment “not soon to be forgotten.”

Roosevelt disembarked in a Prince Albert coat with steel gray pants, a black tie and a silk hat.

When he reached a special platform that had been built for the occasion, eight children offered a greeting along with American Beauty roses and a basket of Pike County lilacs. The children were Theresa Weed, Hazel Fry, Linda Crewdson, Louis Henshaw, Dan Flagg, Paul Stark, Luis Irwin and Glenn Rule.

Clark was well known for his speaking abilities, but on this day, he kept it short and simple. The Pike County lawyer and Democrat Congressman, who in eight years would become Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, introduced the president “in a half a dozen words,” the Press said.

Roosevelt “looked as happy as a bridegroom as he smiled and showed the teeth that (have) made many a cartoonist wealthy in the past few years.”

Roosevelt spoke for eight minutes, and it was obvious he knew a little about the location in which he stood.

“He said he was glad to visit the historic county of Pike which had furnished so many distinguished sons to the nation, and he seemed especially pleased at the reception given him by the children, who he said seemed to be all right both in quality and quantity,” the Press reported. “He addressed a few strenuous comments to them, and advised them that whatever they did, to do it hard. When they play, play hard, and when they work, don’t play at all.”

Roosevelt “was frequently cheered and applauded,” the News added. “He made a good speech and fully met the expectations of the people.”

Topics included American greatness and World’s Fair preparations in St. Louis. Roosevelt was scheduled to participate in dedication ceremonies the next day for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition.

“He said that the true way for a people to achieve greatness was to establish a right ideal and work to it, and that the only permanent foundation for a government was character,” the Press wrote.

Next time: No protestors.

 

CUTLINE FOR PHOTO:

There apparently are no confirmed photos of President Theodore Roosevelt speaking in Louisiana on April 29, 1903, but this print from a glass negative almost certainly shows him arriving (center) at the downtown train depot that day. (John Wood Collection courtesy of the Louisiana Area Historical Museum)