The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-10-25

to save the time of the President. The secret service men were uneasy lest the President should stay so long that he
 would interfere with his schedule, but
 to their hint of this he turned a deaf ear and refused to come away until the parade had been completed. speech Making i'm Chapel. Upon It's completion the President hurridiy entered his carriage and was rushed around for q brief inspection of the extensive grounds and numerous buildings. He was then driven over to the chapel, the largest auditorium att tached to any institution of learning in the State. white or coIored. This build- ing it Is said seats more than 2,000 per- sons. It was packed and jammed and hundreds of negroes who were not able to. get inside crowded about the win- dows, eager to hear a snatch of the Presidents speech. Seats on the pIat- from had been arranged for perhaps a hundred white guests and space in the auditorium and gallery had been set apart for the other white visitors.
 The remarks of the President were to be addressed directly to the student body of the institute and they were given seats directly in front of him. A special choir of students was estab= lished in the big choir loft in the rear of the chapel.
 As the President entered the build ing from the rear the huge audience rose and cheered him again and again A forest of flags waved and students stood and cheered until the veins stood out in their faces.
 When the cheering had subsided the big choir burst into song. The song was The Tuskegee Anthem" In a moment the audience in front had 5otn- ed them. This over the student chotr sang Tn My Heart" song with an appealing minor chord
 The principal announced that Golden Slippers" would be sung and asked afl present to join in. It was sung with spirit and with vigor. Some man with an excellent tenor voice, member of the choir raised the melody and sang line or too, to be joined in later with the entire choir and the entire gather- ing. It was the true plantation melody, the sort of music that no race. no color can sing so we'll as the negro, On a thousand cotton fields and in a thousand camp meetings the song had been heard in Alabama. There waa no hybrid distorted coon song music In 1t. but it was the true plantation melody, the sweet and semi-barbaric music of transplanted race.
 The President plainly showed his like ing for the song, a liking that was shared by every white visitor.
 s The President was presented to the gathering by Booker Washington in a brief but impressive introduction. The words of the introduction were:
 This is great day for Tuskegee 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 students, teachers and citt- zens. I must not omit to express the gratitude felt by the people of the Tus- kegee Institute. by the people of both races in this section of Alabama, for the honor which has been conferred upon them. That the Chief Magistrate of our beloved Republic of eighty mill lions of people deemed 1t good and wise to include the Tuskegee Institute in his trip through the South to spend four hours seeing the work we are doing here brings to the ear of every man and woman of our race in this country a degree of encouragement and inspir- ation, which it is impossible for any American citizen, not of our race, fully to appreciate.
 My friends, without further words of mine have the honor and pleasure of presenting to you the Prssident of the United States. Theodore Roose- velt."
 The President had prepared a speech setting forth his we'll known views on education and on the negro question. While he spokee all his prepared speech he made frequent excursions outside as he grew enthused In the beginning he voiced his peculiar and his deep ini- pression of the Institute gathered by what he had just witnessed and told the students that while he had before stood for the Institute he would stand for it now more than ever.
 A Great Day." Says HooAevelt.
 Tt has been great day for me" he
 (Coatluued on Page Tweiva,