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Show GOLDEN KEY . Gigantic. Power Moved by Unger's Tonch. President Breaks Electrical Circuit and the St. Louis World's Fair Opens. Ceremony at "White Houco Is "Witnessed "Wit-nessed by a Number of Dia-tingxtished Dia-tingxtished People. WASHINGTON, April 30. President Presi-dent Roosevelt today pressed the golden key by which th electrical elec-trical circuit waa completed releasing re-leasing the gigantic power of th Louisiana Louis-iana Purchase exposition at St. Loul9, putting in motion tho -lO.OOO-horflepowcr machinery and the fairy-like cascades on the exposition grounds. Tho ceremony cere-mony occurred In the East room of the Whlto House, precisely at l:Uft o'clock. Eastern standard tlrao. A distinguished distin-guished gathering won present. As the President pressed tho key tho Third battery of United States artillery, stationed sta-tioned on the grounds of the Washington Washing-ton monument, south of the Whlto House, fired a national salute of twenty-one guns. Congratulatory messages then were exchanged between the President and David R. Francis, president pres-ident of the Louisiana Purchaye Exposition Expo-sition company. At 1:07 o'clock a fanfare of trumpets announced tho approach of President RooaevelL As he entered tho East room, .with Mrs. Roosevelt on his arm, tho Marine band played tho inspiring 6trains of "Hail to the Chief." The President faced the throng of distinguished distin-guished persons standing immediately to tho left of tho stand, bearing the historic gold key. When tho. music ceased the President delivered the following fol-lowing brief address: Roosevelt's Address. I havo received from tho exposition grounds the statement that tho management manage-ment of the Louisiana Purchase expositor! exposi-tor! awaits tho pressing of tho button which Is to transmit the electric onergy which la to unfurl the flags and start tho machinery of tho exposition. I wish now to greet all present, and especially the representatives of tho for-olgn for-olgn nations here present. In the name of tho American pcoplo and to thank theso representatives for; tho part their several countries havo taken In being represented in this ccntonnial anniversary of tho greatest movement which transformed thu American Republic from a small confederacy confed-eracy of States lying along tho Atlantic seaboard to a continental nation. This exposition Is ono primarily intonded to show the progress in tho industry, tho sclcnco and the art, not only of the American Amer-ican Nation, but of all nations, of tho great and wondorful century which has Just closed. Every department of human activity win bo represented there nnd perhaps per-haps 1 may bo allowed, as honorary president presi-dent of tho Athletic association which under un-der European management started to rc-vivo rc-vivo the memory of the Olympic games, to say that I am glad that In addition to paying proper honor to the progress of industry, in-dustry, of science, of art, wo havo also paid proper honor to the development of tho athletio pastimes which aro UBefui In themselves, which are uneful as ahowlng that it Is wise for nations to be able to relax an well as work. I greet you all. I appreciate your having hav-ing come hero on this occasion, and in tho presenco of you representing tho American Ameri-can governments and the governments of tho foreign nations, I hereby open tho Louisiana Purchase exposition. Presses Golden Key. A3 the last words fell from his lips the President stepped to the table and eloped the key. Tho exact time was 1:14. A second later the first gun of the national saiuto boomed out over the monument grounds. Spontaneously the spectators broke Into applause. The telegraph facilities were installed in-stalled under the supervision of MaJ. Benjamin F. Montgomery, of the United Unit-ed States signal corps, chief of the telegraphic tele-graphic and cipher bureau at the White House. Tho handsome mahogany mahog-any table which supported the telegraph tele-graph Instruments was located in the south end of the East room. A small dais covered with blue and gold plush to the top of which was attached the gold key with which the President closed the circuit. The same dais and the same key have been used on several sev-eral similar historic occasions. In 1893 President Cleveland uped the key in starting tho machinery of the Chicago fair, and In 1898 it waa used to start the American electrical Institute. Tho key and dais have been In the possession posses-sion of Gen. Greeley, president-general of tho Sons of the American Revolution. |