The Washington bee., 1907-08-10
The Negro'S Gala Day

VJTg az JQHieSGOIVH,
rr--rrcC OF EXPOSITION NO
LONGER IN DOUBT.
r.,.t.gss Educator Urges Race to Take
Advantages Of Every Opportunity to
Demonstrate Worth and Capacity =
Cheering Welcome of President Tuck
s--Frawless Program Executed with
--- Hitch - Hampton and Fisk
Largely in Evidence - National Con-
-er, Of Representative Negroes Ex-
or.t Achievement Of Race in Exem-
aav Fashion
Jamestown Exposition Grounds, Nor
re Ta August 4-Under cloudless
,-.. and amid an enthusiasm that has
nat been paralleled during the life of
ire historic panorama on Hampton
Roads. Negro Day. was fttingly OBJ
served Yesterday
Ten thousand Joyous, handsomely at
f-.a sober and well-behaved colored
r.ro,s witnessed the exercises, inspected
tr. magnificent building and its valuable
contents and shook hands with friends
and acauairtanccs from every section Of
che country. The affair was national
In scope and inspiring in effect. From
dawn to darkness there was not hitch
in the carefully planned arrangements.
The occasion was epochal, in that it
marks the turning point in the fortunes
Of the Negro Department Of the Ter
Centennial Exposition. The enthusiasm
of the supporters Of the institution has
been intensified into the liveliest inter-
es. The tremendous oupouring of the
beauty brilliance and Drawn of the de-
s..rlaa.s Of the twenty Negro slaves
who landed on this spot only three hun
fral years ago was not only a triumph
for the managers Of the Negro Depart
mau.. but d distinct benefit to the James
town Exposition as whole, and its
r18aarizIug influence was felt most
aupluLy in every direction. All Of the
exhibit buildings were visited. The
"War Path" and kindred attractions
were literally patronized, and the res
aurauts and various places for public
comfort and accommodation kept open
house" to their colored guests through
oat the day.
Dr. Washington Sounds a Lofty Key
note.
The bright and particular star Of the
occasion. of course, was DR.. Booker l.
Washington, the widely known educa,
tor. orator, and founder of Iuskegee
Tnstitute.pronounced by President N.St
George Tucker to be "the greatest Am
erican in America" His unusually able
and vigorous address covered the entire
range of current race topics. 1t was
high-pitched. clear and convincing, and
was listened to with rapt attention, ms
telling points being greeted with evi'
dences of the warmest approval. lht
eloauent message in praise of the mar
yclous progress of his people and II
c0mmendation of the practical efforts o.
the Exposition officials in exploiting It
sounded a keynote of hope, OF oppor
tunitv and of civic usefulness, and th'
rprftiDg spirit which pervaded ever!
utterance will cheer and hearten HI
thousands Of hearers for many a day.
The Day in Detail.
The crowd gathered early at tn
grounds. large delegations coming II
from Portsmouth, Hampton, Newpor
News and surrounding cities of Tide
water Virginia. Washington, Rchmon'
and manv metropolitan cities of the ma
ton were largely represented. lhre'
hundred teachers who had been attend
ing the convention at Hampton, and
large number of delegates to the Hamp
Ton Conference augmented the immenS'
throng. After exchanging greetings OF
the Negro Reservation, they gravitate'
naturally toward the spacious Lee IA
ra9e where the Hampton students were
announced for an exhibition drill at Il
O'clock. The grand stand from wnicL
President Roosevelt spoke on the oooa
sion Of his two visits here was well
filed when theHampton Institute Ban'
Of thirty pieces marched in review fol
lowed by two hundred and hf'y STU
fs-ts who appeared to advantage neat
rEsd in blue coats and white caps an( ~,
trousers. Their evolutions were sS'l
t-'v performed under the command % o.
Gap. Allen Washington, the more u'l
fca.t movements evoking tremendous
applause
Seated in the box Of honor were Dr
Booker T. Washington, and staff, con
ssdng of his son, E. Davidson; Iravel'
ing Secretary J. A. Cox and wife, anf
Mrs. Emmett J. Scott, together with
Chairman T. J. Galloway, Secretary
Treasurer Andrew F. Hilyer, Mrs. a
NJ. Curtis fiscal agent and Director