New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-27
EDUCATION IN THE SOUTH
r. c. Ogden Speaks at the Ann"aI
Conference at Birmingham.

tonight, the Jefferson Theatre was cIoNueu ~
the doors. Colonel T. C. Bush, president of the
Alabama Consolidated Coal and Iron Company
delivered the address of welcome on behalf OF
the state and the city. President ogden fol-
lowed with his address which in part as
follows:
The several agencies connected with this move
ment for better public eaucauo9m AN, anu yainabie
what unwecome Irritating appear. Deliri-
Gus statistics emerge Shall We oppose strength 1s1,a
strength? Shall we accept or decline the hsfI
We overcome evil with good? The best ins3ira az
duty. The golden age of peace and goodwill. con,
seoUent upon universal wisdom. is far away our
eeaf 2gd sd thea nnd ' from the
achan Hills from factoT towns b hons is coming
the demand for larger knowledge. Ihus A5 b r.5e
ringing Of silver bells at evening comes the nope.
fu harmony that shall make the yoke or ser bT9
fellow Americans TO the liberty that Is the cIlu u
knowledge - ,,,,. ,rr,r,a its
neInbersIiR ,I 90 ~ oiJ hecase If its powerful
influence be considered very seriously. In, very
actual sense it IS dynamo and storage pat'efHi,
/ unseen but potent, imparting power to many ON
working in sympathy and harmon ,o @I ar IarFe
and generally improved educauona! condtloilS. ia
bare be a Conference Tor Education in the SOUTH"
II is assumed that the absence Of sectional edIca-
implies that this one in the South is superfuous
IS p;5rpo Se whether the country would not be
F heined By other conferences similar in character
based upon ascertalned and proved facts iRdl-
Gates a special and unique demand for TINS CONFER
The conditions of education in the South have
educators The discussions OF this conference and
the administration Of the two boards have eFG h
"A spirit of investigation Great service mas oecn
rendered not only by the secretaries and some
members Of the boards but also by presidents and
educational executives in various States The gTea{t
original sources Of information are me s NO.
States and the reports OF the United SIateS
nom these great storehouses OF statistics is made
luminous. popular and instrleiive tn i tl-e
whose artistic faculties OF analysis , ana G9n3Ia
/ artists whose arithmetcal pigments are wrought
/ into compositions that touch the heartstringS OF
Who are the makers Of future Ameriea. 1t. ,,,..
The results Of such stIdy aemons'ga'e ns ' T
I spouse to existing need Of the South But more
to prove the rFht Of the conference
/ growing abundant life.
SUPPORTING THE MOVEMENT.
An explanation OF the lie Of this conference
recognize that the conference owes much Of is
l continued growth and broadening influence to the
the leading colleges OF tho North have been repre-
/ ..nted in the membership year BY year and the
T higher institutions Of learning IN the south nave
4 been constant and generous in their sympathetic
aid But the conference is not merely an ho or
Business men and professional men public spirited
I citizens patriotic women. good people Of various
]
s.,sr-,I ctics tb.t Taye inns far made Inc CON
. ference welcome have been equal 10 the audiences
desiring TO attend. Il ie. therefore. unique. As
sociatious for the promotion Of local public In
terest in education or 81 some special study are
not rare Great proIessloLal oIs%iL1ti, , ,,
notably the National Educatlonal Assoc latun, Win
. Its splendid executive equipment ana uaiy Ia
ference to command the direct interest Of eleven
States and sympathetic representation from rs
many more in movement to influence the peo-
ment of larger interest IN and Intelligent
2 improved
Is 50 significant and Important as 10 require espe-
cial attention and wide publication. ,.- 7,t.
convocaion viii fan far short OF its Opportunity
n the several representative groups OF citizens
here assembled fail 20 get n more accurate con
respect public education and especially OF rura!
I would saw 10 my brother men. men Of my own
. group-brsiness men. men In trade. manuiacturng'
transportation, hnance-that We especially have les
! sons TO learn At this conference. As a rule. We
aye h9t cared 30 Ie lqrinTr IpUn c %r Irl
. ignorance the synouyme ~ bliss To educators and
/ tent to leave the whole question OF public educa-
/ uonal responsibility. Too apt We are 10 pay our
that IA 50 doing We exercise the highest and most
sacred right Of citizenship
END TO BE SECURED.
The proposition seems clear and accurate that
the supreme and special end TO be secured here
cator and The oGcia The place is apprnpriae
business IS resna dl In this city Of Brmngham
OF an adopted parent, both proclaiming through
out the world the trtumDhS of brain and Drawn,
/ of progress and prosperity: Birmingham the an
tiphon Of Pittsburg. the great industrial centre
decades has placed Alabama second only to Penn
I sylvana in the production of iron. The vlcinage
cation and civilization Fitting. then the time and
/ place IN which to acknowledge the dictum Of the
highest educational authority in this country that
/ business Is 10 De numbered Win the professions.
! and that the recognition is more than graceful
courtesy. 1t IS the ayowal Of condition that per
] Vades az educatloi. Manua! training. domestic
science. the fine and industrial arts in primary and
secondary education. economic, scientific and tech
meal training Tor business IN the higher lnsttu-
lions. all emphasize the fact that the worlds work
/ demands technically instructed workers.
The aristocracy or education has passed. The
Importance OF the citizen Is than
apPSI en- Is ,e N. "a our ueiocIacy pro
ceeds IN It's evolution Not the least present evil
dence Of this fact Is the appeal Of this conference
/ him to get a broader and better definition Of de-
mocracy. And there IS something beyond this. II
tuqe OF hlSher education 10 business Is true the
indication IS plain that scholarship recognizing the
we. present age Is holdlng torth the rlght hand
of fellowship to business. Time was when soldiers
peoples heroes. but the time is now when captains
OF industry. masters of finance, creators of com
/ whom the people delight to honor '''' ''' men
Fitting then. the time and place for business men
the hand Of education. From this place let in
telligence. craftsmanship and social service
the bad etflcs ana worse policy involved in the
fallacy that taxation for education is sacrifice
QUESTION or knowledge by the mass Of the people
has material and economic value. Real progress
This Conference has serious share u me laSI.
ception Of the fact and the expression OF the reply
case of association and cooperation between the
educational and material professions. What then
confined to places dominated by either Of the great
! political parties, that politics the bane of
/ OF truth. and the difficulty should he removed
Ihls complaint Ike many others upon which pessi