CHAPTER XVI.

THE VISIT OF PRESIDENT WILLIAM McKINLEY TO TUSKEGEE.

Author’s Early Desire to Have the President of the United States Visit Tuskegee--After Years of Work and Struggle, Author is More than ever Determined to Secure a Visit from the President--President McKinley’s Coming to Atlanta Gives Author Opportunity to Invite Him to Tuskegee--For this Purpose Author goes to Washington and Sees the President--He Goes a Second Time to Washington Accompanied by Mr. Chas. W. Hare of Tuskegee--Dr. J. L. M. Curry, Without Author’s Knowledge Urges the President to Visit Tuskegee Institute--During His Second Visit to Washington Author Secures a Definite Promise from the President to Visit Tuskegee--President McKinley in Conversation with Author Exhibits Great Interest in the Welfare of the Negro--Other Prominent Men with the President’s Party--Great Crowds at Tuskegee on the Day of the President’s Visit--How the Day was Spent--The Parade--Exercises and Speech-making in the Chapel--The President’s Address--Extracts from Address of Secretary of the Navy, John D. Long--Postmaster-General Smith’s Closing Remarks--White and Colored Citizens of Tuskegee Show Great Interest in the President’s Visit--They Assist Materially in Giving the President a Becoming Reception--The President’s Opinion of the Visit Told in His Letter to Author--The Letter in Full.