A vast throng greeted the President's arrival. Gov. William J. Northen and the other members of the Reception Committee received the party. Governor Northen said: "I am glad to welcome your excellency to the State of Georgia. You will find among us a loyal and hospitable people, and in their name I welcome you to the State."
Replying, the President said it gave him great pleasure to visit the Empire State of the South, the wonderful evidences of the prosperity of which were manifest in the stirring city of Atlanta.
In the evening the President and his party were tendered a reception at the Capitol by Governor Northen and Mayor Hemphill, assisted by Chief-Justice Bleckley, Judge Simmons, Judge Lumpkin, Gen. Phil. Cook, Comptroller-General Wright, Judge Van Epps, and the following prominent citizens: E. P. Chamberlin, J. W. Rankin, G. T. Dodd, Judge Hook, R. J. Lowry, J. W. English, Hoke Smith, Phil. Breitenbucher, J. G. Oglesby, John Silvey, Capt. Harry Jackson, Jacob Haas, W. L. Peel, B. F. Abbott, John Fitten, Joe Hirsch, George Hillyer, A. A. Murphy, P. Romare, J. B. Goodwin, David Wyly, G. H. Tanner, Dr. Henry S. Wilson, J. F. Edwards, M. A. Hardin, A. J. McBride, John J. Doonan, Hugh Inman, J. H. Mountain, M. C. Kiser, E. P. Howell, A. E. Buck, Edgar Angier, Col. L. M. Terrell, S. A. Darnell, John C. Manly, T. B. Neal, Walter Johnson, Major Mims, W. R. Brown, Col. T. P. Westmoreland, Albert Cox, Clarence Knowles, H. M. Atkinson, J. C. Kimball, C. A. Collier, Rhode Hill, Howard Van Epps, W. H. Venable, G. W. Adair, F. T. Ryan, L. P. Thomas, H. F. Starke, W. A. Wright, Amos Fox, R. L. Rodgers, H. C. Divine, W. M. Scott, A. B. Carrier, W. B. Miles, T. C. Watson, and L. B. Nelson.
At the conclusion of the reception the President, accompanied by Mayor Hemphill, Hon. A. L. Kontz, and Superintendent Slaton, visited the night school, where the boys gave him an enthusiastic welcome and called for a speech.
The President said:
I am glad to be with you to-night. Having but a few minutes to spare I would offer a few words of encouragement to you. Most, if not all, of you are here at night because your circumstances are such that the day must be given to toil. The day is your earning period. The night must, therefore, be set apart for study. I am glad to see that so many find it in your hearts to be here in this school; it is a very hopeful sign. I think it has in it the promise that you will each become a useful citizen in this country. Pluck and energy are two essential elements. A boy wants to be something. With pluck and energy success is assured. There is a day of hope above every one of you.
I bid you good cheer and would offer encouragement to every one of you, and I know every one of you may be useful and honorable citizens in this community, whose officers have taken the interest to organize this school for your benefit. I very sincerely and earnestly wish you God-speed. Stick to your studies and don't neglect to acquire a needful education, and you may one day occupy the positions of honor which are held by those to-day in charge of the affairs of your city.