The Savannah morning news., 1901-12-06
TO HELP IN Dixie
FIELD AGENT OF NORTHERN PHI
LANTHROPISTs IN SAVANNAH.
LOOKING OVER THE FIELD.
MIR. G. S, DICKERsON INVEsTIGAT-
ING EDUCATIONAL CoNDI-
TIONS HERE.

Gathering of Men Interested in
Southern Education, First Held Mt
CapOn Springs in 1898, and Better
Organized at WinstOn-SaIem This
Year, Is Now Represented by an
Executive Doard-RObert G. Ogden
Is Chairman-Board Represents
Men of Large Means, who, when
They Give to Education, Wish 10
Give With Assurance of Results.
THE unifcation of educational ideals
and cooperation in educational pro-
jects in the South, the collection of in
formation along these lines and The
dissemination of that information
these make up part of the mission that
has brought Mr.. G.. S. Dickerman of
New Haven. Conn, to Savannah.
Mr.. Dickerson is field agent of the
band of Northern philanthropists and
friends to education that came South
last year under the leadership of Mr..
Robert c. Ogden of New York, and
from whose interest in the education
of both races in this section of the
country so much of good results has
been confidently expected. At the De
Soto last night Mr.. Dickerson talked
interestingly of the inception of tine
enterprise he represents, and of it's
present and future purposes and aims.
For a number OF years" he said,
there have been annual conferences of
certain persons interested in the edu-
cation of the Indians, held at Lake
Mohonk, a summer resort in New York
state. These have been productive of
much good, and from the exchange of
views at Lake Mohonk opinions have
been formed and plans of action out
lined, that have been crystalized in
the form of legislation.
1T occurred to Dr. Edward Abbott,
of Cambridge, that a conference on
such a plan might be of advantage to
the cause of education in the South.
At Lake Mohonk those who attended
came as the guests of Mr.. and Mrs.
Smiley, who own the hotel there, and
DR.. Abbott suggested to Capt, Sales,
the proprietor of the Capon Springs
Hotel, in West Virginia, that he would
benefit his section greatly by getting
together there a number of men from
all parts of the country who were in
terested in education in the South.
After some correspondence Capt.
Sales approved the plan, and in 1898
the first of these conferences was held
at Capon Springs, where the members
of the party were the recipients of
Capt. Sales generous and courteous
hospitality. In succeeding years, 1899
and 1900, conferences were also held,
resulting each year in a more and more
thorough understanding by Northern
men of the educational needs of the
South, more cordial appreciation of
the position in the matter that South
ern men occupy, d more determined
purpose to help the South to solve it's
educational problem.
For the last two years that confer
ences were held at Capon Springs the
host was prevented by Illness from at
tending, and the Illness finally resulted
In his death. This year the people of
Winston-Salem. N. c., desired that the
conference be held there. The invita-
ton was accepted and the conference
was somewhat more numerously at
tended than ii had been on former oc-
casions. It will be remembered that
Mr.. Ogden brought party on his pri-
vate car from New York and that this
party afterwards made trip through
the South.
AT the Winstn- Salem conference II
was determined that a board should be
organized. the more effectively to car
~ on the work, and the selection of
the members of this board was COM
1nitted to Mr.. Ogden. He considered
the matter during the summer and
made his selections, and in the early
part Of November the board met and
organized in New York Mr. Ogden
himself is chairman of the board, DR..
G. d. McIver. secretary; Mr.. George
Foster Peabody, treasurer: Dr. j. L.
N. Curry, managing director; Dr.
Charles w. Dabney, president of the
University of Tennessee. director of the
bureau of investigation and informa-
ton; DR.. e. G. Murphy of Montgom-
cry, executive secretary; DR.. Booker
Washington of Tuskegee and myself
field agents. Other members Of the
board are DIR. Edwin A. Alderman,
president of Tulane University; Dr.
II. 3. Frizzell. principal of Hampton
Institute; DR.. Buttrick of Albany: Mr.
William II. Baldwin. president of the
Rhode Island Railway; Mr.. Walter
Page, editor of the Worlds work, and
Mr.. Albert Shaw. editor of the Review
of Reviews"
Mr.. Dickerman explained that the
primary purpose of the members of
the board was to secure information
and induce general cooperation. OF
course, some of those interested in the
movement are men of large means,
who have already given literally to the
cause of education in the South, and
who expect to give more literally still.
They want TO give intelligently and
TO be assured that the money they in
vest will bring returns in increased
culture and improved character, and a
greater fitness to fight the battles and
win the victories of life to those upon
whom II is spent.
Mr.. Dickerman has been in consul
tation recently with well known edu-
Gators in several Southern cities. He
had a long talk last night with Mr..
Otis Ashmore superintendent of pub
JIG education. and tonight he will
discuss questions of education with a
number of those interested in the sub
feet here. He will leave tomorrow,
either to return home or for a trip to
Jacksonville.