The age-herald., 1898-12-14

its second and last meeting, when the twelve reported to the Alabama Educa- tional association. They are thoroughly apostolic ip ngmber at leask l have ae. the seven bills recommended by this edu- cational apostolate. I did not say in my letter that the action of the committee was void for purposes of suggestion and rec ommendation to the general assembly, but that the action of the committe deserved respectful and careful consideration at the hands of the state legislature. I denied and do still deny that 1t bears any stamp of a popular demand per SC or binds anybody who does not approve of the bills recom- mended. The work of the committee Is suggestive only and must stand or fall upon it's merits.
 MT. Cunningham holds that the recom- mendations of the committee and Ala bama Educational association should be accepted, indorsed and promoted by the teachers of the state regardless of their convictions on the subject. We diff fer radically and irreconciiaby on this point. l do not think the association Is in- fallible or even authoritative beyond the province of suggestion and recommendation to the legislature. The state association i- not represen at ve but vs luntary body Of pubic school teacntrs private scnool 3eacii- CTS and professors from denominatonal coi- leges and state ns itGtions. It Is suggestive ana advisory in constitution and character only. In this lies it's value and usefulness. Its intellectual discussions aree illum!nati and instructive. If the association is going to descend from it's nigh level and become a lobbying machine, under the inspira ton and direction of Mr. Cunningham it will cease to exert wholesome and eevating g educational influence in the state. I do not think that the action of the Jefferson Coun- ty Institute has any force or authority but that of suggestion and recommends tion It 9 nf ri nd do it fo ,a da c1ded by our lawmakers. There is no use or getting angry and abusing anybody. Malediction is not argument.
 MT. Cunningham recognized the action of the Jefferson Institute as perfectly regular at the time of its action There are usually larger number of teachers present on Fri day night than Saturday morning MT. Cunningham knows this to be a fact. His compla mt is simply the wall of the chaRrined and vanquished.
 MT Cunningham says: "The teacers of JeHerson county are not willing to have placed over them man as county superin- tendent having competency and power to control" The following quotation which can be found by reference to section of a special act of the leg stature approved Feb ruary 2. 1887, and now law. is the b'st answer to this malicious and whole mis- representation of the teachers of Jefferson county:
 Provided, that none but a practical, ex- perienced teacher and educator shall be eligible to the office of county superinten- dent of Jefferson county; and. provided, further that sa d superintendent shall de- vote his time expressly to the interest of public schools in his county"
 This proviso is contained in the act that provides an adequate salary for the county super ntendent of Jefferson county
 An adequate salary will do more than all else to secure competent men, whether elected or appointed because 1t induces competition for the place among competent and qualified teachers. It will lead to ap- plication for the position by the best eau 'pped professional workers. Nothing else will secure this desirable end A proyi sion requiring qualifications of learning and professional attalnments would be wholly intellectual without an adequate salary and an active public sentiment demanding com potency. Some very incompetent and ignorant county superintendents have been appointed, notwithstanding Mr. Cunning hams expressions to the contrary.
 I should Ike to see constitutional and statutory qualifications required in every county, and believe this will be done, but I am unwilling to see the elective system abolished in the meantime.
 We do not think we have any reason to believe that anybody becomes "ingrate to the present administration because he has opinions at variance with those held by MT. Cunningham. We have a better opinion of the present administration than to enter tain such an absurd supposition.
 MT. Cunningham, the Solon of the educa- tional apostolate, goes on to say:a
 "As to the present state constitution abol- ishing the state board of educat'on that is purely a constitutional abolishment and does not deny the right of the general as- sembly to make a statutory board at any time desired" Of course an abolishment by the const tuition is a constitutional abol- ishment. and as such 1t binds the general assembly and limits it's action; and an in stitution abolished by the constitut on can not be restored by the general assembly un- less the constitution provides for its re- storation in some modified form. If MT CNningham's contention is sound, then the first legislature that assembled under the constitution of 1875 could have copied the very words of the constitution of 1868, pro- vding for the state board just abolished, and enacted them into law and the sover- eign voice of the people constitutionally ex- pressed could have been and would have been throttled by statutory enactment. un- less this provision of the constitution of 1875 is construed to be an inhibition upon the legislature 1t has always been prac- tical nullity because 1t was nulif1able at the will of the general assembly. Surely
 
 appears oblivious to obvious and necessary impl cation. He has studied the constitu- tions of many states, it seems, and appar- ently digested none. Perhaps much con- stitutional learning doth make him mad.
 MT. Cunningham brings into review the state boards of thirty-three states to air his reading. I discussed the state board provided for by MT. Cunninghams bill, not the boards of thirty-three other states not under consideration. Had Mr. Cunningham studied the constitutions of Alabama as diligently as he claims to have read those of other states, he would nave been more competent to draw school bills for Alabama; his natural arrogance would be tempered and his judgment rendered more reliable. Had the constitution or S'o made no reference to state board or edu- cation and had not expressly abolished the old state board as feature of our public school system, then possibly the general as- sembly might have had the power to create a statutory board. A comparison or MT. Cunninghams bill with sections l, 7, 5, 4, D. s ' s and of Article Il of the constitution of 1868 will satisfy any reasonable nina that he is seeking to establish feature In our educational system that the members of the constitutional convention or isio ln-