The Wisconsin weekly blade. [volume] (Madison, Wis.) 1916-1925, 1916-06-08
Especial to The Rlade.)

Robert Russa Motion, former Com
mandant at Hampton Institute, Vir-
ginia, was installed formally as prin-
cipal of the Tuskegee Normal and
Industrial Institute today under cir
cumstances particularly impressive.
This being the first installation of
a principal of Tuskegee institute, the
interest of the whole nation both
white and black was focused on Tus-
kegee. For several weeks friends of
Principal Motion and old friends of
the late DR.. Washington had been
sending in letters indicating their in
tention to be present. For more than
week before the commencement ex-
ercises began these visitors started
their pilgrimage to Tuskegee. Spe-
cial cars came, not only from Mont
gomery, Opelika and other points in
the state, but also from Chicago,
from Virginia and other points north.
Booker T. Washington Missed
In reviewing the line of march, and
indeed throughout the Commence
ment Exercises, for that matter, the
older teachers present, and those WIS.,
itors who frequent Tuskegee could
but miss the presence of DR.. Wash
ington. They missed his promptness
in heading the line, and his presence
in carrying things forward. This
was not only noticed peculiarly on
commencement Sunday, but even be-
fore the season began. Is is a prac-
tice of the graduating class to form
a line and march through the cam
pus, singing "Auld Lang Syne."
Many evenings while they were re-
hearsing this song the thought of the
absence of him who had so often pre-
sided at Commencement Season and
who enjoyed so much the Senior Ex-
ercises brought tears to the eyes of
teachers and students at the very
thought of having the season without
him. However, as far as carrying
out the general program is concerned,
and having everything in its place
and everything on time the spirit of
the man was still at Tuskegee Insti-
tute.
I Peculiar Incident
For the first time in the history of
the Tuskegee Institute, the two Com
mencement Speakers having the high
est honors were children of men,
bers of the Tuskegee Institute Fac
ulty. The Salutatorian was Clarissa
Mae Scott, daughter of Emmett ].
Scott, Secretary of the school, and
the Valedictoran was Charles H.
Gobson, Jr., son of Charles H. Cob
son. Sr., Chief Accountant of the In
stitute.
DR.. Motion Presented
The principal-elect was presented
by William G. Wilcox, of New York
Il City, trustee of the Institute, who
is president of the New York City
board of education.
He was greeted as he rose to speak
with enthusiastic applause which
came from students, teachers and the
large number of visitors present. 1t
seemed really like welcoming an old
friend. because Major Motion is not
only well known at Tuskegee Insti-
tute, but has been considered in
way as a part of the Tuskegee In
fstitute for many years. Moreover,
he had been at Tuskegee Institute
for the last week or Sc working
among both students and teachers,
and those who had not known him
had come to consider him as one of
the Tuskegee Institute big family,
and had well adopted him by the time
he was inaugurated.
M Principal Moton's address was lis
tened to attentively. He pledged
himself to carry out the policies in
augurated by Booker T. Washington,
and spoke in part as follows:
Enthusiastically Greeted
while the outlook was never more
hopeful, the negro problem is not yet
soved," said Major Motion. while
there is great encouragement in the
& fact that seventy per cent of the ne
gro population can read and write it
] is rot safe to assume that seventy per
1 cert Of the negroes are really and
t-uy educated Our progress in this
country has been wonderful and we
4 have every reason for rejoicing; but
A stittlessness, disease. inefficiency and
ciue are entirely too prevalent