The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-08-21
HOME COMING WEEK
ALsBAMIANs ELSEWHERE INVITED
 TO RETURN.
Governor JeIks Issues an Eloquent Jn- vItaffon to Former Citizens of This stnte to Come
 Back.

l The off7cial proclamation for Home coming week, which Is ko be celebrated | throughout the State during the six I days beginning October Is. was issued | by Governor Jelks yesterday. Aiabaminns from the north. the south. | the east and the west, are urged to return to their native State during that period From wherever they have chosen to go they are reauestedS by the chief executive of the State to come back and renew the friendships and as- sociations of their youth, and to re- new the spirit of State loyalty which is found in the heart of every true son of Alabama.
 The proclamation of the Governor follows:
 s,Whereas, In the years gone by many Alnbamians have found homes in other States, and some beyond the confines and boundaries of any of the United States, and
 ..whereas, They must ever have a longing to look again upon old scenes and old faces and renew in actual as- sociation the sweet memories of other days. I am moved to extend these wan derers an invitation to come home. saTherefore, They are invited and urg- ently requested to return to Alabama for :he week beginning October the 18th, 1908, fhc days of which will be known as Home Coming Week. These self exiles will find the fields they knew more fruitful now: the once pine groves given over to cotton, corn and other cereals: and vast tracts of the then uncuitivated soil responding Handsomely to the touch of the tilIer. They will find that we are making the price of pig iron for the world, and | that steel is produced in large quan- tftfes, both industries comparatively new. They will find hives O. industry. | in the great mineral belt, undreamed Of a few years ago, while a marvellous prosperity from border to border lights up every community and almost every l home. Come homci You will find some old faces that will brighten at your pres- enea. You will miss some other faces that have gone to home beyond the power of this proclamation to reach. Tears for theml
 1 .'You have changed your allegiance but not your affections. The senti- ments of your younger years cannot be outgrown. Give them play and come back to the friends you left by the laying sea; along that middle l stretch known as the Black Belt; como | back to your friends of the hills, From side to side and end to end of the | great State you will receive a vel | come which shall be as full as ars our abundant harvests, as gracious al is our sweet climate and as rich as ars the warm impulses of our hearts. I since 1t is necessary to fix upor some central point for the main cele' bration it Is ordered that Birmingham shall be such point. It is suggested however, that the local authorities pre- pare a home coming festival in theil trespective counties
 'In testimony whereof have here unto set my name and caused the grea
 seal of the State of Alabama to b, afixed, at the Capitol at Montgomery this the goth day of August, A. D.. 1906
 By the Governor.
 l .E. R. McDavid,
 Secretary of State"
 That the date of Home Coming Weel has been set for the six days begin ming October IS is due largely to the iinsistenee and enterprise of the peopl, of Birmingham. During that week tn, State Fair, which is held annually 1T
 the Magic City. IS to be the main st
 traction of the northern part of th' state. and hand in hand with thil event the Commercial Club decided th'
 home coming feature
 Some time ago delegation of citi gems from Birmingham, including May
 or Ward and J. B. Babb. of the Com mercial Club. came to Montgomery ana urged the selection of October IS al the date for the beginning of Home coming Week. At that time the Gov ernor promised to accede to theh
 wishes. provided arrangements eoult be made with the railroads of thu State to grant special excursion ratei 10 cities of the State other than Blrm inghann, This arrangement has net ye
 been made, but Secretary Babb of tn, Commercial Club has given assuranc,
 that efforts to secure this concession will be continued until a definite an. qxvar has hnen aAeuraH