New-York tribune., 1900-07-02
EDUCATION IN THE SOUTH.
RESULTS OF THE CAPON SPRINGS con
FERENCE GRAVE PROBLEMS
EARNESTLY DISCUSSED.

tains near the dividing line between what the
residents Of the region call the "Old state" and
the one which was set or from it by the fort
unes Of war. bids fair to become as well known
as the seat Of gatherings OF public interest as
Lake Mohonk. in the Shawanguuk Mountains OF
New-York The fame OF the latter has gone
far and wide by reason Of the conferences held
there on the subjects OF Indians and peace
which have served to call together many emil
nent thinkers, phiIanthropists. educators and
other public men
The same generous hospitality extended by
Mr. Smiley at Lake Mohouk has been freely
offered by Captain Sale. OF the Capon Springs
Hotel. For three successive seasons he has
entertained at his own charge those drawn
hither by their interest in the cause Of educa-
ton in the South. with its double problem.
doubly difficult Of solution involving as it does
Two races The third conference which ended
its three days session on Friday. brought to
gether men and women from many States both
North and South. who are freely giving Of their
time and money 70 the work Of answering the
serious questions which Southern conditions
make more and more pressing.
The first conference, held here in the summer
OF 1898. was presided over by Bishop T. L. Dud-
ley, OF Louisville. and Dr.. J. L NJ Curry, Of
Washington. made the vice-president Last
year Dr. Curry was made president. and he
is widely known as the manager Of the Peabody
and Slater educational funds. and in this work
has secured wide acquaintance with the needs
and resources of the South in educational mat
ters, and is able to speak with authority upon
them from intimate knowledge. Under his di-
rection the last year the Rev. Dr.. George B
Dickerman formerly worker al Hampton and
a resident OF New-Haven. has acted as
field agent OF the Conference and has studied
the educational problems Of the South al first
hand, and he will continue 10 give his atten-
tion TO the work the coming year. The report
made by Dr. Dickerman Of his observations and
conclusions was regarded by the Conference as
Of great value TO all interested in the extension
OF the work already under way
NEED OF heroic EFFORTS
But there was general feeling that only the
slightest impression had already been made in
the dense mass Of ignorance prevailing in so
many Southern States. and that there is need
Of heroic efforts 10 bring much greater forces
10 bear upon IT, The facts set forth OF what
the South had already done and OF the gener-
osity Of Northern men only served 20 exemplity
the need Of much greater efforts
A movement in the direction Of securing the
aid Of the National Government in coping with
| the problem caused the most animated and Wig
| orous discussion OF the sessions Of the Confer
QILer5lCeS
opinion The example set in the Indian schools
supported by the Government and the aid given
10 certain Virginia schools on the one hand. ana
the attitude taken toward the Blair bill on the
| other, were cited. and finally the matter was
left to the Executive Committee for considera-
ton in the ensuing year This committee consists
Of Dr. Charles F. Nese-ve. president Of Shaw
University. Raleigh. y. c.: DIT J. L NJ Curry
Of Washington; Herbert Welsh. Of Philadelphia;
| Professor A. L. Nelson, Of Washington and Lee
University; Dr. H. B. F-isseu Of the Hampton
Institute; Captain Charles z vawter of the
Miller School Virginia; Professor H. St George
Tucker and r. Fulton Cutting, Of New York
Another important action Of the Conference
was taken TO guard the generous givers OF the
North from the advantage taken OF their ready
acquiesCeuce in demands put forth by plausible
persuaders in behalf Of institutions which exist
only in name or are doing such inadequate
work would in no sense justify their exist
ence- II was proposed to have a list pre-
pared OF the institutions worthy OF assistance
and engaged in genuine and conrendable work
But IL was felt that wiser action. and what
would be less open 70 the charge OF making
invtdious discrimination would be 10 name a
committee to whom all inquiries could De ad-
dressed with confidence that the information
would be strictly accurate The committee was
formed OF Dr.. Curry Dr.. Dickernau and Mr.
Cutting.
WHAT IS NEEDED IN THE SOUTH
In the course OF the discussions before the
Conference there were many striking utter
ances Of individual opinion and matured judg-
uent on the questions involved in dealing with
the iliteracy OF both whites and negroes and
illustrative examples Of what had been done at
various points TO bring about the desired re-
suits. The three points most forcefuIIy pre-
sented were the need Of vastly greater amounts
Of money for the work, Of more devoted men
and women in the direct task OF teaching and
o1 more home training. with its beneficial ef-
feet on those brought under its influence
President Curry said that the work or the
Conference was not TO gather statistics. as there
were no greater liars than statistics He laid
stress on the need OF more White education in
the South, saying that as between the two. II
zither had 70 be neglected, II would be better 10
neglect that OF the negro. but neither should be
neglected. To give exclusive attention 10 the
negro and neglect the white would De far
more harmful than the reverse. He advsrted to
the fact that outside OF the gifts TO Wander
bIt University not S50.O00 had been given 70
white education n the South II twenty years
The paramount question was The provision OF
adequate public schools. which alone could give
education 10 the people at large The in
adequate terms OF school, the inefficient
teachers and the insufficient training now pro-
vided would never succeed. Prejudice and
ignorance could not solve the problem The
only solution which would satisfy would be 10
give the amplest educational opportunity 10
every child OF the Southland
WORK FOR WHITES AND NEGROES.
Two widely different classes OF work were set
forth by the men in charge OF them before the
Conference The Rev. Lyman Ward is the head
Ind