The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-04-05
BOOKER WASHINGTON'S SCHOOL
 CELEBRATES ITS ANNIVERSARY

yard. With the party also are Rev. pr. Lyman Abbott. clergyman and edi tor of national reputation; Isaac N. &c., ligman and A. S. Frissell. bankers in New York City: Oswald Garrison Viii lard, editor of The New York Evening Post: and George Foster Peabody, Charles J. Peabody. William J. Schefre- lin and Hamilton M Twombley, all of New York. and all men who have in the past contributed liberally to the supp ori of the school
 Visitors from the South.
 Not all the noted visitors here today are from the North. Early this morn ing a train bearing white people from New orleans and Montgomery arrived at the Institute and the passengers de- parked. Prominent among those who came from the Capitol City was S:lra Commissioner of Agriculture R. R. Poole. who. for the occasion, is acting as official representative of the State; Postmaster c. w. Buckley was another member of the party, among whom were also Dr. J. w. Hudson, Henry Abraham. Leo Strassburger, Abe Veil, Henry Vandiver. Simon Rosewald and others. many of whom were ac- companied by their wives.
 The first unwelcome news of the day was to the effect that the visitors ,x- peCteQ ITOIu the NOTtn Hdu pcSH Oo- layed, and that the special train Dn which they were to have arrived abou: daybreak this morning, would not reach the Institute before II or 12 o'clock. This party includes 112 persons. who have come to Tuskegee at the request of Robert c. ogden, to see the school which has just entered upon its twenty sixth year.
 While the weeks exercises really began last Sunday, when Bishop Doane of Albany preached the anniversary sermon, the ceremonies of that day, and of Monday night were merely preil2,- mary to the important festivities of today and tomorrow. The late arrival of the Ogden train, therefore, inter- fered seriously with the plans of the celebration schedule. and the morning program was postponed until afternoon.
 Notwithstanding the discouraging re- ports from the incoming visitors. how ever, the work of preparation was con- tinued. Before afternoon. the chapel in which the exercises of today and to- morrow are to be held was testefully trimmed in gold and red, the colors of the school. Around the railing of the balcony. facing the stage a sign with the words welcome to our guests" was hung.
 Decorations for the Occasion.
 The buildings of the normal school were draped in the colors of the occas- ion, and the red. white and blue. Op- posite the building where are located the offices of the institute. a stand had been erected from which the guests should view the students passing In review on their way to the chapel exer- cises.
 The exercises of last evening marked the prelude to the ceremonies of to- aI <f .kt t,a black man. Only few whites were present at the services in the chapel. The only speaker to deliver an address was Rev. A. B. Mason, a colored preach CT from Cincinnati. All the principal figures present were negroes who are connected with the institute, or with Afro-American churches and negro schools in the North.
 When Booker T. Washington stepped on the platform of the chapel auditor ium last night, he was greeted with a roar of applause which testified the affection by which he was held by the two thousand negroes in the audience. His reception amounted to demon- stration.
 Today, with consummate fact. the leading spirit of the institute, with drew into the background. It was visi- tors Day. The guests from the north and south invaded the school grounds. The hegira of the notabilities from the leading cities of the country set in, and with their appearance they became the focus of attraction. Theirs was the attention, theirs the honor. As has been said, they were the event.
 With their arrival the anniversary became only the occasion
 With the approach of the hoour set for the afternoon exercises further ad- vices were received from the belated Ogdon party which indicated that their special train would not reach the Tus- kegee Institute until late in the day The length and nature of the program necessitated that 1t should be proceeded with, without the presence of the guests. accordingly the students were marshalled together and marched down to the chapel. where Booker Washing ton delivered the opening address.
 Welcome to Ogden Party.
 With cheers and applause which fill- ed the spacious auditorium of the chapel here. and could be heard half way to the village of Tuskegee, the students of the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute this afternoon well comed the Ogden party of philanthro- pitss and public men who had come from the North to attend the celebra- tion of their twenty fifth anniversa- ry.
 Stepping from the belated train. the guests were hurriedly conducted to the chapel where the exercises of the eel ebration were then in progress. As they stepped upon the stage. tired with the strain of more than thirty-s six hours travel. they were electrified by shout which rose from more than 5000 throats in their acclaim.
 Their welcome amounted to a de- monstration. Before them spread a sea of 5000 dusky faces. All wore smiles. all were enthusiastically shout ing. They rose as the distinguished guests came upon the stage. and re- mained standing until after the last guest had been seated.
 Although the. enthusiastic welcome was intended for the entire party, the crowd had singled oit Secretary Taft as its especial favorite. The big man was applauded when he came upon the stage, he was applauded when Ie rose to speak, and during his speech. he was freduently interrupted by bursts of handcIappings and cheers, which prevented him from continuing, and the cabinet member took his greeting modestly and calmly With smile. and head bent forward. he looked at the crowd over his glasses, imperturb- ably calm. quiest and perhaps, trifis amused.
 Only once did his cool compartment receive a shock photographer had prepared to shoot him, as he spoke. but the Secretary had not noticed the camera standing in the aisle. It was not until the speaker had gotten we'll along in his address that the bolt was let fy. The flash light made the au- dience jump. and arrested the secre- tary in the midst of an impassioned Sapfance Calmly he nlaced his glass