Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-10-25

grounds of the TuSkegee Normal and
| Industrial Institute after a brief stop
in the town of Tuskegee where he was
received by the mayor and other dis
| tinguShed citizens Of Alabama. The
Presidents train was brought direct
| ~ into the grounds of the institute
over its private track. From midnight
until this morning, great crowds of
country people. white and black. were
arriving in all kinds of vehicles from
all sections surrounding Tuskegee.
The President was received by Prin-
cipal Booker 7. Washington and men,
bers of the institute board Of trustees
and faculty. He then entered a car
riage made by the students Of the
school, drawn by horses raised at the
school and driven by student in the
school. The party proceeded to an
deliberately decorated stand in front of
the office building. From this point,
the President viewed the educational
and industrial parade which was head
ed by the institute band.
Then came 1900 students Of the
school in two divisions, the young
men uniformed in blue suits. with
brass buttons, white gloves and cadet
caps. The young women wearing blue
dresses trimmed with red braid and
| wearing blue, straw braid hats fol-
lowed.
Immediately behind the student
body came 81 floats, representing the
various phases of work of the acad-
envy department and the 81 industrial
divisions of the school.
After the parade had passed, the
Presidential party was driven about
the grounds and was shown the ex-
tent of work being carried on by the
institute. Then to the chapel. the
party was taken, where the students,
led by the institute chair of $50 voices
sang a number of plantation melodies.
Principal Booker T. Washington then
presented the President in the follow
| ing words:
This is a great day for the Tuske-
gee Normal and Industrial Institute;
too great to be described by words.
We have gathered to hear but one
voice; to see but one face.
IN presenting our guest to the stu
dents, teachers and citizens. | must
not omit to express the gratitude felt
| by the people of the Tuskegee Insti-
tute and by the people of both races
| Ill inns section Oh AltDdild III tilC
honor which has been conferred upon
them That the Chief Magistrate Of
our beloved republic OF 100000 pco-
PIE deemed it good and wise TO in
clude Tuskegcc Institute in his trip
| through the South and pass rev
hours seeing the work We are doing
here. brings t. the heart Of every man
ana woman OF our race in this coun-
try. degree " encouragement and
inspiration which II Is impossible for
any American citizen. not Of our race.
fully % appreciate.
MY friends. without further words
" mine. | have the pleasure and the
honor Of presenting 70 you the Presi-
dent IT the United States. Hon. Theo-
durc Roosevelt"
| Tho President said:
Mr. Washington and each student
and graduate Of Tuskegee:
| You can't be- as much inspired by
anything | may say as | have been in
| spircd by what ! have seen here. Mr.
Washington. 1t is liberal education in
itself just to come here and see this
great focus OF civilization. Now,
had read good deal Of your work
and | believe in it with all my heart
would not call myself Soou
American il l did not. l was prepared
to see what would impress and please
me, but had no idea that I would be
so deeply impressed. so deeply pleased
as | have been. | did not realize the
extent of your work. I did not realize
how much you were doing. I wish I
had the time not merely to go around
to see the buildings and grounds, but
to see the finished product outside
would like to go around and see the
houses that are being built by those
who leave this institution. l would
like to see the effect on actual life of
the training here, and wish that some
man with the gift of description would
come here and go from here out where
the graduates go and visit them in
their homes and follow out what they
are doing and describe it. l think
there could not be anything better
\ than that, so as to show what is be-
ing done and, Mr.. Washington, while
1 have always stood for this institu-
Continued on Page Two)