The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-12-20
TRIP THROUGH

Tuskesee, Ala, Dec. 10 President
Mckinley to-day visited the TUskegec
Normal School and addressed its pupils.
Two hours before the Presidents train
reached here Il special train brought
the members of the Alabama Legislature
and :; large crowd from Montgomery.
\ procession formed ut Tuskegee depot
and marched through the city on its
way to the Normal School.
he Presidents carriage was drawn
by four beautiful bays. IN the carriage
with the President We're Governor John
ston. Of Alabama: Colonel Foster. Of
Tuskegec. and Booker L. Washington.
In the other carriages We're Mrs. McKin-
ley and other ladies of the Presidents
party. members of the Cabinet and
Generals Wheeler. Shaftcr and Law
ton.
1t the entrance to the Normal School
grounds was i beautiful arch inscribed
"Wclcome to the Chief and decorations
of bunting, holly and moss and products
of the fields were scattered III prOfuS-
sion along the road through the grounds.
The President and party first reviewed
more than six hundred boys and 300
girls of the Normal School and POO chill
dren of the training school.
Each of the boys carried Il stalk of
sugar cane with a palm i'll the top. each
of the girls Il stalk with cotton bolls at
the top, and the children carried stalks
tipped with mistletoc.
President Mckinley showed much in
tercst and pleasure as With uncovered
head he viewed the procession. After
the students had passed came some fifty
floats representing all departments Of
school work.
-. e II -
President to the beautiful chapel. About
1900 people gained admittance. Hero
singing by the students Of plantation
melodies. the most quaint and beautiful
Of the black belt section. was q special
feature and was greatly enjoyed by
the President and the entire audience.
Booker /. Washington, the principal.
introduced Governor Johnston.
BOOKER WASHI\GTON SPEAKS.
"On this occasion I do not trust my
self to give expression TO the feelings
that I'LL the heart of every white man
and men Of the South because of the
fact that the President of the United
states, who has the deepest place in
the hearts of every citizen. high and
low. the member of his Cabintt. tn"
Governor Of Alabama, the State Legis-
latur". together with other d~isiin-uisli-
cd citizens including our own brave and
@ood-hearted General Joe Wheeler,
should lay aside their immediate duties
and responsibilities to pay 4 visit to
the town of Tuskegee and to this insti-
tuition.
I'VE welcome YOU all to this spot.
where. without racial bitterness. but
with sympathy and friendship. With the
aid of the State. with the aid Of black
men and white men, with Southern help
and Northern help, we are trying to
assist the nation iii working out one of
the greatest problems ever given to man
to solve.
In the presence Of the Chief MagiS-
tratc OF the nation. l am glad to testify
that in our efforts to teach our people
to put brains and skill and dignity into
the common occupations Of life. we
have not only the active help of all
classes Of citizens in the little town of
I~uskegee, but of the best people of the
South.
said our present Governor III his re-
cent message to the Legislature:
Every dollar given to the cause of
education becomes invested capital tilat
cannot be lost or destroyed. but will con-
tinue to pay dividends from one genera
ton to another
These are the words. This is the
spirit that governs the action of the