The age-herald., 1898-03-31
TURNER BOASTS
 OF THE SCHOOLS Condemns Papers for Showing
 Up the Bad Features, PRINTS A FULL PAMPHLET He Says Alabama Can Compare FaVorably With Any Nation in the Union in Point of Educational Facilities The
 Name Monument Fund.
Special to The Age-IIerald.


 Montgomery, Ala, March SO.-Dr. John O. Turner, the able state superintendent of education of Alabama, has just issued a highly valuable hand book from his office. It is called "Circular of Information From the Department of. Education" and con tains a lucid and concise history of public schools in this state from their organiZa- tion in 1855 up to 1898. The book is a mine of authentic and useful information on a subject of most vital importance.
 In his introduction to this pamphlet, Dr. Turner says:
 "As there seems to be so much agitation at present among certain classes of our people, as to our people, as to our true educational status and, by these same classes, so much adverse criticism, upon the subject of common schools" by per sons who are either not informed as to the progress we have made, and are making, or are ignorant of or are willing to state the facts as to our educational advance ment, I deem it necessary and highly im- portant just now to issue a circular Of in- formation giving full and complete statis- tics of our public school system from it's beginning to the present, and also givlng comparative tables showing the relative standing of Alabama to other states, es- pecially those of the south."
 Leads to the South
 "By careful examination of this circu- lar of information, you will find along all educational lines, both public and private, substantial improvement in Alabama, not only in the common schools but in all branches of higher and technical and scien- tific education, as we'll; for l really believe Alabama can successfully boast or more and better institutions along this line than any state in the south.
 tr1xy ica unjust to the people of the state and the interest of the children, that certain news organs should make an attempt to convince the public that we have no educational 1a- cilities. You will remember that in matters of education and morals, progress must be- gin at the top and not from the bottom and many of these would-be reformers are fresh in the business and know nothing of and care less for our true condition in edu- cational matters. Alabama today, property pre- sented in all of her educational interests, will compare most faverably with any state or territory in the union, as was distinctly proclaimed in Governor Johnstons pres ence at Tuskegee by Hon. MT. Wilson, com missioner of agriculture of the United States last year."
 Monument to Maine Victims
 The several committees representing the different military organizations which nave undertaken to give an entertainment at an early Qate TOT IHe puipoSc ol SieS'Aiie - monument to the Maine victims were pres ent at the meeting last night. The sub committee of inquiry or investigation into the practfcability of such undertaklng, ap- pointed last Sunday, made complete re- port in favor of the entertainment and also reported that every encouragement at the hands of citizens had been offered
 The Montgomery theater was tendered the committee and it was agreed last night that the entertainment should take place, on date yet to be decided upon.
 A committee arrangement whose duty it will be to solicit outside talent and ar- range a programme, was appointed, consist ing of MT. J. P. O'Conner, chairman; MT. w. A. Foster, MT William Black, MT. Jud- kin Powell and Dr. James Berney Rous- seau. The committee is expected to have the cooperation of every member Of the several companies in perfecting a pro gramme.
 The committee will report at meeting of the joint committee next Sunday noon at a meeting to be held in the Greys' rooms