The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-04-29
j. COMgTO END The officers Are Re-
 Elected. MEETING IS SUCCESSFUL Much Good Expected to Fol-
 low the Session.
MEETING IS SUCCESSFUL
President Ogden Urges More Com pact Body--Addresses are Deliv-
 cred by Many Distin-
 guished Educators.

seventh annual conference for education in the South. came to a close today and shortly after midnight President Robert c. Ogden and his party of Eastern and Southern educators and philantropIsts, left here on their special train for Wash inEton. The conference was successful from all standpoints. the attendance be- ing large and much interest being dis played in the excellent program which was arranged and carried out. The papers read and discussions offered dur ing this conference were all brilliant and there Is no doubt but that much good will follow in this immediate district from the meeting.
 The conference was slow in getting together this morning. social pleasures occupying much time and attention of visitors. President Ogden in his opening address advocated a more compact body. He thought that the organization ought tn have the franking privelege and the suggestion was made that this matter should be taken up in Congress The largest good of this conference, said President Ogden had been to bring the large, broad-minded men of the South Into closer communion. Strong organIza- of the organization. and he hoped to see the clements of the, conference placed upon an enduring basis independent of any personality.
 Officers Elected.
 The following. officers were reelected: l: President. R. C. Ogden of New York; Vice-President. Edgar Gardner Murphy, of Alabama; Secretary. Dr. B. J. Bald win. of Alabama: Treasurer. William A. Blair. of North Carolina: Executive Com mittee. B. B. Valentine Virginia; Robert B. Fulton. Mississippi: B. c. Caldwell. Louisiana: John B. Knox. Alabama; c. B, Gibson. Georgia; D, F. Houston. Texas. R.. H. Jesse. Missouri: P. Glenn. Florida: g.. A.. gMynders, Tennes- see; pr, D. B. Johnson. South Carolina; c. H. Poe. North Carolina.
 The Executive Committee will an- nounce the next meeting place later Urgent invitations have been received from Columbia. s. C.. and Chattanooga, Tenn.
 President ogden graciousiy accepted the office. notwithstanding a statement made previously that this had been his last term.
 H. O. Murfee. of Marion, Ala, was ir1- troduced and he discussed local taxation for school purposes. He thought that each community should be empowered to tax itself for it's own good. Local taxa ton for schools is the doctrine of democ- racy in education. The government by whatever name which denies the people the right of improving their condition savers of despotism. The most complete development of every citizen is the great est blessing of government. s
 Hon. Walter B. Hill.
 Hon. Walter B. Hill, chancellor of the University of Georgia. was the next speaker and he was received with -ap- plause. He said that the right of local taxation has long ben recognized. but the exercise of 1t has been hampered by reso- lutions. Jefferson preferred. said he that local taxation for schools should be by districts rather than by counties Bishop Lawrence. of Massachusetts. was introduced, his topic being on impressions of the visitors during their stay in the South There is a strong sentiment of nationality in the South. he said Our impression Is that the people of the South are as one with the people of the North in upbuilding the republic. The people of the South are interested in the pro- gress of the North. We read the head lines in the papers that the people of the South favor lynchings and are not dis posed to give the black man justice We have discovered that the people of the South are just as earnest in the enforce ment of the law as the people of the North. They love the negro as well, If not better In the South emphasis must be first put upon the education of the white man. This Is hest for the negro. The educated white man will discover his safety lies in the education of all the people.
 Rev. M Cooper executive officer of the American Missionary Society, and a member of the conference. was next introduced. He said that he was en- amored with the beauty of the land. The principal thing. though. was the people. This nation. in all of It's de- velopment, rests upon the broad basis of the people. It is the purpose of the conference to stimulate one another to the uplifting of humanity. We believe in manhood in the elevation of the lowest man. The South and the North are coming to know each other better than ,ever before. The true lines of commerce are between the North and the South. The North and South are grasping each others hand and in the immediate future. with the opening Of the isthmian canal. they will be brought closer together than ever be- fore. In this work there is nothing like the common school.
 Bishop McVicar Presented.
 Bishop McVicar of Rhode Island, was presented. He expressed pleasure at being in Birmingham and for the warm hospitality that had been shown. He paid tribute to the Confederate soldier.
 Prof George Baker, of the chair of English in Harvard University. made a neat address and expressed pleasure that the North and the South were get ting together for the cause of educa- ton.
 Hon. Sidney J. Bowie, member of Con gress from the Fourth Alabama Dis trict was next introduced and spoIc on local taxation. The failure of the Legislature in this State to provide for local taxation for public education, he said. had caused an increase in illit- eracy from 1880 to 1890. The speaker 1 said that lllIteracy among the negroes had decreased Congressman Bowie 1 declared there was no place where the negro was treated so well as in the | .ennE NaFs