The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-25
OGDEN WELCOME
IN SOUTHLAND
Hon. Clark Howell Shows Me-
cessib for United Action
BRILLIANT SPEECH BY OGDEN
Says With the Great Rush of Capital
to Unite Forces Comes an Awak-
ening to Our Intel
Iectua Needs.
BRILLIANT SPEECH BY OGDEN

tonight given Robert C. Ogden and his
party Of philant hropists by an assem-
blage composed of prominent educators
from all parts of the south. jurists busi-
ness men and students, who came here
to be present at the first session OF the
fifth annual conference for education in
| the south. The conference was invited to
the state by the Georgia Legislature and
Hon. Clark Howell, president OF the Sen
ate, speaking for the commonwealth and
for the municipality of Athens. voiced
the first words OF welcome.
After extending a hearty greeting to
the gathering of distinguished men and
women. Mr.. Howell said:
This welcome is made doubly hearty
in the declared purpose Of this organ
ization to conduct its work along lines
which will recognize the necessities of
the great masses of the whites as well
as of the blacks. who compose our pop
ulation. In the excited rush of some of
those philanthropically inclined to pile up
funds to be devoted exclusively to the ed
ucation of the negro, the struggling
masses of the whites have been too often
lost sight Of
Best to Be Frank.
ut is best to be frank In this matter
of so much Importance to our well being.
The failure to secure heretofore the real.
sincere and practical cooperation of the
south in external educational movements
normally entitled to the very fullest sup
port and sympathy from all the people
Of the section most directly affected, has
been due to the fact that the philan-
thropy which has directed its energy
toward the south has been expended al
most exclusively in the behalf of one
race, overlooking the greater necessi-
ties of the other. As a result of this
course vast armies OF poor white boys
who could not help themselves have been,
since the civil war, working out their
own salvation against odds which have
> required superhuman endurance to sur
mount.
In this day Of trusts and combines let
the work of this conference be to improve
the opportunity to organize, the largest
and most comprehensive trust yet at
tempted-an educational trust, In which
every child will be stockholder and
every human head will be a share of
inaugurated a movement beside lich
will be insignificant the combines which
have cornered both the land and the
ocean, and which levy tribute ON every
| morsel or food which enters the mouths
of the hungry.
Storehouse of Energy.
There will be created in such a COM
bination a storehouse of energy, backed
by riches greater than Golcondas, and
which can be made to unfold to the eager
world the priceless resources locked in
the fertile bosom of the wealthiest unde-
veloped territory OF Gods green earth
an energy which will harness our rivers,
start to pulsating as never before the
beating arteries of our commerce; create
new factories, inspire new enterprise;
transform idleness into industry and
touch with the magic wand of knowl-
edge the source from which will spring
an ever-fowing fountain Of peace, con-
tentment and prosperity"
Mr. Ogden was then introduced and
delivered his annual address. He said:
This conference exists for a holy
cause-holy in the highest sense. It's
creed reflects the divine love, broad and
benehcent as the universal sunshine and
expressed in the single simple dogma
that every child in this broad land DOS.
sesses the natural right to a good Eng
lish education The personnel is cosmo-
politan in marked degree. Here are
Governors of states, officers of great
corporations, educators of every degree,
clergymen Of many communities, editors,
authors, bankers, merchants and law
yers. who for the time being have set
aside their several cares for larger inter-
ests of our common country. And the
browning grace, influence and power Of
this assembly appears in the presence of
SO many good women.
Accumulation Of Power.
I'm raj and national things the new
century Ia an advent to the world at
large. There is a sudden manifestation
of accumulated power. Masses of capital
rush together with magnetic Impulse and
in startling magnitude. Community of in
terest pools In concrete forms. values that
had not been compi ehended in detail.
his material Efe is natl onal.
simultaneously with this realization
| of things an intellectual awakening ap-
pears. Generous facilities for research
are placed at the command of science.
The increase of endowments to great in
stituticns Of learning is the recognition
| of debt that wealth owes to scholarship"
The President then outlined the organi-
| cation and work Of thu Southern cduca-
tional board and the board Of the gen.
eral education fund formed since the last
conference. AS to the problem CT cduca-
ton In the South, he said in conclusi IN:
The silent Appeal.
"Out of the case comes the silent APP
peal Of millions Of children of school age.
With this appeal comes the cry Of our
country with stern demand that from
this child material. good citizens for the
future shall be furnished. 1t is our duty
to echo end re-echo these appeals, that
the ignorant shall rise up and by the
mere force Of human right demand ade-
quate education; that school authorities
should promote the best ideas of cduca-
| ton; that philanthropy should apply the
lacking margin beyond the capacity OF
the public purse and private local LIBERAL
| ity Let no doubtful expression or un-
| certain sound go forth. Education for all
| the peoples: good. well-equipped school
houses with competent teachers and an
eight months term In every school dis
trict Let this. and, nothing less. be the
| aim of this conference
Itinerary of the Party.
4 to Il