The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-05-30
EDUCATORS FOR
RURAL SCHOOLS
Conference at Montgomery
Proves Grand Success
SIXTY-SEVEN MEN PRESEN T
Or. sattriek Says the Board Hao j
Miilien Dollars and Expects More.
Must Study Situation Be-
fore Apr opriating.

Montgomery, May @.-(Special)- 1.-The
keynote OF the educational conference
which met here today at the call Of the
Rev. Edgar Gardner Murphy, secretary
o. the Southern Education Board, was
help for the rural schools. The intima-
ton was made clear. however that such
institutions as equip boys and girls for
careers in the Industrial: field lie very
near the heart and the judgment of those
engaged in the movement.
The conference WAS a success IN every
way, having an Tendance OF sixty-seven
coming from oil sections OF the state. In
Guiding Governor jake. F. ofessors Palm
cr and Safold represented .ne university;
Professors Thach, Petrie. Smith and Dun
can he A ard ". College; President
Wilson the Florence Normal; President
DaEghette tbs Jacksonville Normal, and
almost the whole faculty OF the Toy
Normal came over. Dr.. Massey cRs here
from TuskAsee. and DR.. Peterson from
Moatevailo. Several of the agricultural
schools and many city schools ard se--
ersl counties were represented. ard alto
gcther 1t was as representative gather
ing OF educators as ever got together in
the state.
Mr.. Abercrombie Presided.
State Superintendent Abercromhie pre-
sided and made a brief opening and con-
gratulatory address. Mr.. Murphy ex-
planned that the conference was called
rather that the representatives Of the new
educational movement might meet IT.
person the educators with whom they
must work, and thus acquire the elbow
touch so essential to successful and har-
monious effort. Short speeches, and all
in the language of enthusiasm and con-
fidence, were made by Prof. Shackelford
of the Troy Normal Prof. Wilson of the
Florence Normal. DR.. Palmer of the uni
versity; Dr. John Massey of Tuskegee.
Mr.. ]. B. Graham, the field agent for
Ala bama of the Southern board, addressed
the meeting and made 1t clear that his
efforts would be primarily given to pro-
noting the adoption by the counties of
the privilege of the one-mill tax allowed
by the new constitution.
Dir. Wallace Buttrick. executive secre-
tary of the general education board,
made the principal address He outlined
the organization and policy of the board,
specifically explained that the work was
all to be through the local and state or
CARNATIONS, and that no money is to be
given to anybody. 1t is to be invested,
and 1t is believed that 1t can be 50 in
vested that every dollar from the board
will yield four or five to the cause of
education. He pointed towards the rural
schools as the principal objective of the
work. The work of the board Is not
charity. it is not interference, it is not
philanthropy" he said. at is statesman
ship, 1t is duty, 1t is love"
Board Has 100000.
DR.. Buttrck said the board had mill
lion dollars and expected to have more
1t had been decided not to make any ap.
preparations for six months after the or
ganization, two months ago, and this
resolution had been violated in only two
cases. The first thing was to investigate
and to study the situation.
A general meeting OF school officials
will be held in Montgomery sometime
early in September for conference on
more definite lines of action which Dr.
Buttrfck will attend. In the meantime the
propaganda will go on In Alabama In
various ways. Mr.. Graham, the field
agent for Alabama, was seen after the
conference and said:
II will be busy through the summer at
tending teachers meetings Institutes and
other gatherings where education Is be-
ing considered. l will not call any meet
ings, but will be glad to attend any that
the people Of a community may desire to
get up. The object is to get the one
mill county tax In operation in some of
the counties. No county can vote the
tax until after the next Legislature meets
and provides the machinery for an cleo
ton on the subject, and In the mean
while all we can do is to educate public
opinion along this line. When some coun-
ty gets ready to have a vote on 1t. we
will have a proposition to make to the
people by the board In the way of help
ing those who thus show a readiness to
help themselves"
Mr.. Graham did not say so in so many
words, but his remarks in connection with
some intimations OF DIR. Buttrick, point
toward the readiness OF the board to
make liberal additions to any fund that
early counties, to seize the opportunity,
may raise by way of local taxation.