Omaha daily bee., 1899-06-21
BRIGHT DAY FOR PRESIDENT
Mckinley Distributes Diplomas Among
Sweet Girl Graduates.
DEGREE is GRANTED EXECUTIVE IN RETURN
Exercises Are Followed by n Recep-
ton ut which Mckinley submits
to Twcnty-Four Hundred
Hnndshakcs.

SOUTH HADLEY, Mass, June 20.-Presi-
dent Mckinley participated in the COM
mencement exercises at Mount Holyoke coll
lege today, awarding the diplomas to the
senior class, among whom was his niece,
Miss Grace Mckinley, and accepting in a
brief address the degree of Doctor of
Civil Laws, conferred upon him by the col
lege, The president and party came from
Holyoke by electric car this morning.
After the college exercises the president
held a reception on the platform in front
of the village church, shaking hands with
2,4O0 people Then the visitors returned to
the Whiting mansion in Holyoke by electric
car. Tomorrow President Mckinley and
party Will enjoy a steamer ride down the
Connecticut river to Springfield, where
there will be receptions and a parade, and
at p. m. the party will leave Springfield
for Adams, Mass, by special train.
The president and party left the Whiting
house at $3.50 o'clock this morning on the
electric car Rockrammon and at the rail-
road station Governor Wolcott and wife,
Adjutant General Dalton and Colonel Nor
gan were taken aboard.
South HadIey GaiIy BedecLcd.
The decorations about the town, par
ticularly upon the houses near the col
tempt at general decoration of the institu-
tion buildings had been made beyond the
draping OF a few American flags. The in
terror OF the chapel, however, was adorned
with flags and bunting and the generous use
OF potted plants, palms and cut flowers pro-
duced very pleasing effect The town was
crowded with visitors early in the day.
Although the limitations of the college
chapel were well known to all residents in
this section the people seemed to expect that
somehow or other an opportunity would be
given them to shake hands with the pres
ident, and the college grounds were thronged
some time before the hour scheduled for the
beginning of the days program.
The president and his party reached here
at 10 O'Clock. Rev. Dr.. Trask and Rev. DR..
Judson Smith of the Board of Trustees of
Mount Hoyoke college were waiting for
them at the entrance to the college grounds.
The visitors were escorted to the chapel
and as the president, leaning on the arm of
DR.. Smith, appeared at the entrance the
audience arose.
The president and the gentlemen who
accompanied him were given seats on the
platform. Mrs. Mckinley, Mrs. Wolcott and
the other women of the party sat at the
right, in the auditorium. The seniors oc-
cuped the front rows.
AlIeT ueVOtlOnal exercises Dr. smith rea1
an address, his subject being: "a Plea for
the Humanites." In closing he welcomed
the guests and introduced Governor Wolcott
who spoke at some length. Then, while the
chorus was singing President Mckinley was
escorted to the front of the platform by Mrs,
Mead president of the college. Upon
table near at hand lay the diplomas AS the
music ceased the president raised one Of the
rolls and the name it bore was that of his
niece, Miss Grace Mckinley. The young
woman advanced. received the diploma and
shook hands with the president. This was
the only demonstration made by the gradu-
ates aside from the usual bow and express
sion of thanks. .r.... r'~
AS the diploma was presented and the
president was about to resume his seat, DR..
Trask arose and addressing President Nc
Kinley announced that Mount Holyoke COL
lege wished to confer upon him the degree
Of Doctor of Civil Laws. The president ac-
cepted the honor in the following words:
President Addresses Class.
President Mckinley said: 81 cannot re-
frain from making acknowledgment OF the
very distinguished honor which the board
of trustees and officers OF this institution
have been pleased to confer upon me. l
want to assure the young ladies Of the
graduating class that l am both delighted
and honored to be amember of a class of
99.
Massachusetts, has been and is first in
many things, but in nothing more than in
educational institutions.
81 count myself most fortunate to have
been privileged yesterday to look upon the
faces of graduates Of Smith college, the
splendid institution of learning for the ed
ucation of the women, and l count myself
most fortunate today to look upon the faces
of the graduates of this glorious historic in
stitution, that has done so much for the
exaltation of women and whose influence is
felt not only in Massachusetts, but in every
part of our common country.
mount Holyoke is more than sixty years
old today and the influence of this insti-