The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-22
MANY INTERESTED
 IN THE MOVEMENT Alabama Library Association Organized in Montgomery SUPT. HILL MAKES SPEECH pr. Thomas M. Owen, Who Suggested the Organization, Is Elected to
 the Presidency at Meet
 ing Held Yesterday.
SUPT. HILL MAKES SPEECH

Montgomery, November H.-(speelal)-
 The Alabama Library asscoaton was or
 ganized here this morning, at a meeting
 held in the assembly room of the Carne-
 gie library building. Dr. Thomas NJ.
 Owen, director of the Alabama depart
 ment of archives and history, one of the
 men who suggested the organization, was
 elected to the presidency.
 Representatives were here from Birm-
 ingham Mobile, Selma, Union Springs and other places A constitution present.
 ed by pr. J. H. Phillips of Birmingham;
 Miss Laura Fillmore of Montgomery and I. w. Hill of Montgomery, as a commit- tee was adopted The annual meetings after this are to be held at the call of the executive council, the dues are s1 per year and life memberships $1O. The ob- ject of the association is to promote H. braries and library interests in Alabama Five members shall constitute a quorum for business Amendments may be made to the constitution by a three-fourths vote if notice Is given through the seere- tary to the members at least twenty days l ahead.
 The meeting was called to order at 10 o'clock this morning by Dr. Thomas NJ. Owen, director of the Alabama depart ment of archives and history. Prayer was | offered by Dr. John A. Rice, pastor of the Court Street M. E. Church, south, and the greetings of the state were pre- sented in a happy speech by Acting Gov 1 ernor Cunningham. Hon. Phares Cole | z tl,a I bra " association delivered the address of welcome To these addresses Dr. J. H. | Phillips of Birmingham made response, speaking the gratitude he felt at the in- | ception of the movement. List of Members.
 The following were then enrolled as members:
 T. M Owen, director of the state de- partment of archives and history; Will liam M. Dingley. treasurer and librarian of the grand lodge of Alabama Masons; Thomas Vickens, Phares Coleman, pres ident of the Montgomery Library assoei- ation; pr. John A. Rice, pastor of the Court Street Methodist Episcopal church, south; Rabbi A. J. Messing, Miss Laura Elmore, librarian Carnegie library; Miss Lucille Virden, Acting Governor R. M. Cunningham, E. A. Holt, c. l.. Floyd, Miss Tocco Cozart. General J. w A. Sanford, l.. L. Dix, secretary r. M. A. A.; Miss Rose Steiner, Eliza M. Bullock, principal High school; l. W. Hill state superintendent of education; J. M. Riggs, librarian supreme court, all of Montgom- cry.
 Mobfle--A. c. Harte. secretary Young Mems Christian Association; Mrs. F. H.. Happer, librarian Young Mems Christian Asaociat tion. Miss A c. Moses.
 IJnionn Sprngs-Miss M. Norman. Birmingham-Dr. J. H. Phillips super intendent of the city schools, Professor J. C. Dubose.
 Auburn-Dr. c. c. Thach, president of the Alabama Polytechnic institute; Pro- lessor George W. Duncan. Seima-Miss Matte Bibb and Mrs. Kate Jarvis.
 Montevallo-Miss Sara Callen.
 Tuscaloosa-Dr. Herbert A. Sayre. pro- lessor of physics and astronomy and chairman of faculty committee on library, university.
 | Eufaula-F. l.. Mccoy.
 | Demopolis-W A. Mcleod. The Officers. | After the enrolment of members the | following were elected officers: | President, Thomas M. Owen, Montgom- cry first vce-president. A. c. Harte, Mobile; second vice-president, C. C. Thach, Auburn; third vice-president, H A.Sayre, Tuscaloosa; secretary, J. Riggs Montgomery; treasurer. Miss Laura Ell | more Montgomery.
 | Executive Council-J. H. Phillips, Bir- mingham; Douglass Allen, Jackson; c W. Daugette, president of the Norma school at Jacksonville; Miss Sara Caller of Montevallo and Miss E. M. Bullock oi Montgomery.
 Mir. Hill's Paper.
 The first paper was that of State Su perintendent of Education l. W. Hill, or | "Libraries and the Public Schools" H. said:
 Alabama was admitted into the unior in 1s19. Her population was sparse. Th' dominent element of her citizenship wa: wealthy, and private schools and acade mics were established for the education | of their boys and girls No provision was made by the state, except in Mobil county, for the education of the poore classes of her citizenship until 1854, whei the Hon, A, B. Meek, editor, poet, orato and statesman, introduced a bill int the legislature, which was enacted int law, providing a system of free publi schools for the state. Many of tn wealther class were prejudiced agains these schools from their beginning. The. were called poor folks schools
 "Just as the schools were being firml. esta blished the great civil war broke out and they were forced to close their doors After the war came that nightmare o reconstruction. The schools established for the people were made the means o | robbery and oppression of the people b, the 'carpetbag regime.' When the peopl came again into the possession of thei own in 1875, the public school system O | Alabama was again started on a caree | of usefulness.
 Always Meet Same Answer. 'In my work for these schools owe | the state, I am sometimes met with ex pressions like these: MT Hill, I am glat to see you here, but I am against you | work When asked why the answer al most invariably received Is. I believe fl education, but think every man shoul, pay for the education of his own chil dren,' I know at once that the speake | belongs to one of two classes-the clas that still remembers the dark days o reconstruction, or has had the prejudice of those memories instilled Into him. these opponents of public schools in this the beginning of the twentieth century would think for a moment they woul, readily see that the policy of the stat is to educate all of her children. an, that she requires not only the individua citizens to assist in the great work, bu also corporations and everything of valu which receives the protection of the gov ernment The ante-bellum school is thing of memory to our older citizens The public school has come to stay. ant while it may not be all that 1t should b | 4<