The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-27
NORTH CAROLINA LEADS
Her Delegation the Largest, Her In
fuence the Greatest.
DR.. wINsTON'S IMPRESSIONS AT ATHENS
Every Southern State Represented, Majority Of
Northern States East Of the Mississippi.
Northern Men Eager to Aid
in tie Work.

In response to request from ire
News and Observer, President Winston,
who has just returned from Athens, Ga,
gives our readers his impressions Of the
geat Educational Conference now being
held there. One of the men whose elo-
ing he most gracefully pays tribute to
The great work of the others at the
meeting.
Three great speeches Were delivered
before the conference, each of them
sweeping the convention off its feet with
enthusiasm. Foremost eff these in elo-
quence and power was that of Governor
Aycock. The audience rose and cheer
ed and waved their handkerchiefs for
several minutes. His speech was short,
full of power and flaming with eloquence.
Mr.. Robert c. Ogden, of New York,
President of the Conference, is easily its
most prominent figure. His address
was strong, broad and patriotic, mas
terpiece of lofty idealism and broad pa
triotism, based upon human sympathy
and hard horse sense. Mr.. Hamilton
w. Mabie made a most eXquisitely
graceful and charming speech, glowing
with sweetness and light Tt was
most eloquent in its simplicity and
charming gentleness.
'The conference had representatives
from every Southern State and from
most Of the Northern States east of the
Mississippi. Probably five hundred
delegates took part in the proceedings.
The names of the most distinguished
DELEGATES have already been published.
They include men prominent in the ma
ton as teachers, preachers, writers, men
of business and philanthrorists.
1.-The conference marks a new era, not
only in Southern education, but also in
natural life. Dr. Mabie expressed the
belief that the time would soon come
when the statue of Lee and Jackson
would stand in Northern cities beside
those of Grant and Sherman. He de-
clared that Lee did not belong solely
to the South, but to the North as we'll
and indeed to humanity. This spirit
animated all the Northern speakers
They plead for liberty to aid the South
in it's great task of education, not as a
was q most inspiring and amazing spec
tacle to see men who had served in the
conquering armies of the North nobly
pleading with the followers of Lee and
Jackson to be allowed to help them in
the education of their children. No race
but ours, no nation but ours could fur
nish such a sight.
Zone of the most striking features of
the conference was the influence exert
ed in it by North Carolinians. The
number of delegates from our State was
larger than that from any other State
except Georgia, and the part which they
took in the proceedings was greater than
that of all the other Southern States
combined. Gov. Aycock' thrilling ora
ton, President McIver's inspiring re-
port of the great work already accom-
plished and the great campaign now be-
gun for education in North Carolina,
President Alderman's ornate and polish
ed address on "The Child and the
State" President Branson's directing
hand and mind, Walter Pages magnetic
and inspiring personality, Rev. Mr..
Hunter as secretary of the conference,
Hon. Hoke Smith with his strong, brave
and torceful grafton on popular educa
ticn, President Joyner, one of the newly
elected vice presidents, Presidents Ven
able, Vann, Meserve and Hobbs, Pro-
fessors Carlyle, Tigh, Graham, Blair.
Foust and Vardell, Hon. John A. Small,
popular champion of popular education,
Mrs. Fries, Mrs. Patterson, Mrs. Blair,
Mrs McIver, Mrs. Humphrey, Miss
Lilly Long, Editor McKelway, Mr.. Alb
bott Mr. Davis and others not now re-
called, served to make delegation whose
record in the conference would have
done honor to any State in the Union. 1t
reflected much credit upon North Caro-
lima. Indeed by common consent North
Carolina was acknowledged to be the
great leader in the movement for pop
ular education in the South. 1t was the
talk of the convention on the streets,
through the city, and in the press.
Il could not but reflect with pride that
the three foremost speakers on one day.
Aycock, McIveT and Alderman, and the
newly elected president, Joyner
had all been college mates in our Uni
versity. breathing in at that new born
institution the new spirit of democracy
which was animating its life. That spir-
it gave them confidence in the people
and belief in popular culture and educa-
tion; that spirit made them stand TWEEN
ty years later upon the platform in Ath-
ems before the greatest educational con-
ference ever held in the United States
as the chief representatives of the South
ern people, the most vigorous workers
in the new movement for uplifting the
people by education. To have taught
these men, to have worked with them
i'm the Iield of education for twenty
years. to receive from them now with
compound interest all the power that
/ helped to give them, to work with
them in this great cause, is TO ME sat
isfaction which only teacher can real
ize. Georgia is looking to North Caro-
liza for help in her educational cam