The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-12-17
ADDRESSES THE PUPILS
ALABAMA LEGISLATURE JOINS
HIM AT TUSKEGEE.
MCKINLEY SPEAKS AT MONTGOMERY
Remembers Mother robson and Does not Forget
the Sweet Little Daughter Of fighting
Joe. Blue and Gray Will Greet
Him at Savannah.
Him at Savannah.

Tuskegee, Ala, Dee. 16.-Presidcnt
Mckinley to-day visited the Tuskegee
Normal School and addressed its pupils.
Two hours before the Presidents train
reached here a special train brought
the members of the Alabama Legislature
and large crowd from Montgomery.
\ procession formed at Tuskegee depot
and marched through the city on its
way to the Normal School.
The Presidents carriage was drawn
by four beautiful bays. In the carriage
with the President We're Governor John
ston, OF Alabama; Colonel Foster, of
Tuskegee, and Booker L. Washington
In the other carriages were Mrs. McKin-
ley and other ladies of the Presidents
party, members of the Cabinet and
Generals Wheeler, Shafter and Law
ton.
At the entrance TO the Normal School
grounds was beautiful arch inscribed
Welcome to the Chief and decorations
of bunting, holly and moss and products
of the fields were scattered in profus-
sion along the road through the grounds.
The President and party first reviewed
more than six hundred boys and 800
girls of the Normal School and 200 chill
dren of the training school.
Each of the boys carried q stalk Of
sugar cane with palm in the top. each
of the girls a stalk with cotton hollis at
the top, and the children carried stalks
tipped with mistletoe.
President Mckinley showed much in
terest and pleasure as with uncovered
head he viewed the procession. After
he Sftt9nutc had no SSa1 aara sotna fiftp
floats representing all departments of
school work.
After the procession all followed the
President to the beautiful chapel About
5000 people gained admittance. Here
singing by the students of plantation
melodies. the most quaint and beautiful
of the black belt section. was special
feature aud was greatly enjoyed by
the President and the entire audience.
Booker T. Washington, the principal,
introduced Governor Johnston.
BOOKER WASHINGTON SPEAKS.
''On this occasion / do not trust my.
self TO give expression to the feelings
that fill 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
Aht oNtil - VI tftl3 NlllStlis III Ell anu
low, the members of bis Cabinet, the
Governor of Alabama, the State Legis-
lature, together with other distinguish
ed citizens including our own brave and
good-hearted General Joe Wheeler
should lay aside their immediate duties
and responsibilities to pay a visit to
the town of Tuskegee aud to this insti-
tuition.
49,
where, without racial bitterness, bu,
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 in working out one of
the greatest problems ever given to man
to solve.
"In the presence of the Chief Magis-
trate of the nation, | 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
Tuskegee, but of the best people Of the
South.
''Said our present Governor in his re-
cent message to the Legislature:
I" Every dollar given to the cause Of
education becomes invested capital that
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
present Governor of Alabama, and | am
sure that no one can more fifty welcome
our distinguished guest to the State than
Governor Johnston. whom | take great
pleasure in introducing"
Governor Johnson made few appro-
pirate remarks, and then introduced the
President, Who spoke as follows:
Teachers and pupils OF Tuskegee:
"To meet you under such pleasant aus
piees and TO have the opportunity Of
personal observation Of. your work is IN
deed most gratifying. The Iuskegee
Normal and Industrial Institute is ideal
III conception, and has already n large
and growing reputation in the country.
and is not unknown broad. | congratu-
late all who are connected with this
undertaking for the good work it is doing
IN the education Of it's students to lead
lives Of usefulness and honor. thus eXalt-
ing the race for which it was established.
Nowhere, / think, could a more de-
lightful location have been chosen for
this unique educational experiment which
has attracted the attention and won the