The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-04-27

people has material and economic. value. Real progress pauses for the popular rec ognition of the fact. This conference has a serious share in the perception of the fact and the expression of the reply.
 Enough has perhaps been said to indi- cate the ease of association and co-opera- tion between the educational and ma. terial professions. What then of the ofii- ciai7 The complaint is not local nor con- fined no places dominated by either of tho great political parties, that politics are the bane of public education. The complaint has a large basis of truth and the difflculty should be removed. This complaint like many others upon which pesslmism fattens rings loudest from the silent partners of the evil. County super- intendents are not always intelligent but they are humane. The demands of in- teiligent public sentiment considerably enforced have omnipotent power. Bee tween the teacher and the official stands the citizen. Let him extend a kindly hand each way and the magic power of intelligent sympathy win twist the three cord cable of progress so strongly that It may not be easily broken.
 Out from the Hampton School there went, years since. a good negro that by sharing the knowledge gained at the SCAiOOk WAti HIS Ntct8ftb5fb VI UUtl IdCcu doubled the potato crop of his county. On the same principle there are school districts and whole counties scattered through the South in which one educated. fcrceful. tactful, white citizen beginning single handed and alone has so inspired teachers. officials and neiRibers as to in- crease hundred fold the, quality and quantity of public education. A single phrase settles the point In our present dis
 cussion. It voices itself to each delin- auent. Co thou and do likewise"
 And now assuming that the historic spirit of the Conference Is understood, that its right to continued existence be- csuse of prevailing need is admitted. that it's parental relation to other organ l nations has not been obscured by expla- 1 nation and that larger opportunities for usefulness are clearly before it, have | the privilege to commend to your con- sieeration the admirable program pre-
 pared by the Vice President of the Com ference. q citizen of Alabama and Execu- | tive Secretary of the Southern Education Board. MT. Edgar Gardner Murphy, with the assistance In m hour of need of pr. Wallace Buttrick, Secretary of the Gen. erai Education Board.
 l It may be very readily said that the | speakers make the program. In a sense | they do. But what of the man that | must bring topics and takers into sym | metricai succession, through worry and | work7 The distinguished men needed for l such an occasion as this are human and the unexpected is the only absolute | certainty. Thus 1t comes about that the maker of our program dealing with men from, remote places finds that sickness | and unforeseen obligations enter the most distinguished circles and many kaieido- | .t .rk AAN n I proper program confronts the audience, | Therefore ask appreciation for the labor | demanded by the executive work in the arrangement of the intellectual repast | that the succeeding sessions of this 1 Conference has reason to expect.
 For few moments more must ask your attention to sorrowful topic. We 1 are here this evening by invitation from l the State of Alabama All who were at | Richmond a year since will recall the | presentation of this invitation by several citizens of this commonwealth Promi- nent among them was tho Hon. Joseph | B. Graham of Tailadega. Field Agent of | the Southern Educational Board. All that heard his cordial message wiu recall | tho grace and sincerity of his utterance. | the charm of his manner, the attractive | ness Of his personality. Also few remen- | ber the forceful style of his later address upon local taxation for education. Lat | tie did we then expect that coming here | In response to his invitation we should | miss him from the ranks of welcoming l friends. In the early days of July last | just as he was about starting from his l home city for a tourney in the interest l of the Board, his precious life was sud
 denly taken by a railroad accident Elk
 planation of the mysterious Providenes
 that removed him in all the rich maturity
 of his splendid young manhood is impos- | sible.
 The sympathy of this Conference goes 1 forth to the desolated home. His asso
 ciates in the work for the people per
 sonally mourn for Jim, and the cause
 to which so much of his efforts wal
 devoted is poorer in It's loss of his unique
 power and unseYfish devotion. This Con
 ference is young in years, but Is yet olt
 enough to have sacred roster of noble l names of those who have passed from the field of active work. Bright in thu
 golden list so long as our persona
 memories shall last will shine the nam'
 of Joseph B. Graham. As we close uI
 the ranks and accept the legacy of added
 responsibility created by this latest be
 reavement let the solemnity of duty fnC
 inspiration from the fidelity of his great
 example.