The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-04-24
PRESIDENT OGDEN, OR
 THEORY OF THE CONFERENCE.

Quite likely the inorganic character of the conference has inspired the express sion of doubt concerning it's serious pnr- pose Intimations have not been want ing that 1t is only a junketing affair a sort of fad which the imaginations of certain very good people have translated into a supposed vitality and force, sol emn fancy that affords a sober excuse for an affair primarily social, incidental lv educational Suggestions of this na- tllre originate quite beyond the circle that have personal knowledge of the facts. Certainly the social environment of the successive meetings has been important and usefuI as if has been delightful yet it is completely subordinate and mel dental.
 Nevertheless, the inquiry is legitimate: aWhat is the theory of this confereneeY The reply Is clear and sharply denned' .rhe conference exists for the advance ment and promomtion of the education of all the people,
 It is fundamentally impossible to hold the Southern Education board and the General Education board officially re- snonsible for the conference. In full and complete sense they are only ac- eountable to the donors of the money by which they are supported. In very broad and positive sense they are re- sponsible for their action to intelligent public opinion. In a sentimental ana sympathetic sense they are so interesting to inc conference that this discussion demands reference to them, and the pro- gram would be incomplete without some account of their doings And yet 1t should be positively understood and in sisted upon. until the Interested puphc comes fully to understand, that the con ference and the boards are absolutely and entirely distinct.
 The Southern Education board carries on crusade for education Its organi- zation is comprehensive and actively cov- CTS the larger part of the country from the Potomac to the Rio Grande from the Ohio to the gulf. It's large expenses are privately defrayed. The General Educa- ton board administers such funds as may come to it for the assistance Of ed ucation. In this connection they cannot be considered separatey-their work is a unit; they are the halves of a complete sphere; they are interdependent, sub iectively and obiectively Seven men are members in both boards. The program indicates the part that reports of their work will occupy in the exercises
 At the office of the General Education board in New York, under the direction of Dr. Buttrick, vast amount of infor- nation is being accumulated and tabu- lated concerning schools and educationa. institutions in the various states covered by the operations of the boards. From the bureau of information, under the dl- rection of Dr. Dabney at Knoxville Tenn, a great mass of popular and sta tistcal literature has been circulated to the newspaper press and 10 individuals Assistance has been extended to various schools and institutions, divided nearly equally between the races. Various summer schools for teachers have been encouraged and assisted, none entirely supported Certain counties in several states have been encouraged to improve the public schools by subscription and local taxation by the duplication of funds thus raised by the General Edu- cation board.