Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-24
ILLITERATES IN SOUTH
REPORT OF INTEREST IN WORK
OF EDUCATION.
Mrs Martha S. Gielow Addresses
Large and Representative Audi
ence at Rauscher,s Yesterday.

| Upon the invitation of the trustees Bishop
Henry Y. Satterlee, Rev Dr. Randolph H.
Mckim, Rev. DR.. w. L. Davidson, Prof. W.
J. Spiliman, Judge Seth Shepard, Mrs.
Samuel Spencer, Mrs. ]. .Lowrie Bell and
Gen. A. w. Greedy. large number of per-
sons interested In the movement inaugu-
rated by the Southern Industrial Educa-
tional Association gathered in the large
ball room at Rausehers yesterday to listen
to the report of Mrs. Martha S. Gielow,
president general and to other prominent
speakers. Judge Seth Shepard, on behalf
of the trustees. thanked those in the thor
oughly representative audience for their
presence. and introduced Archdeacon Will
Jams, who. after Offering an invocation,
read letter from Bishop Satterlee, who
expressed his deep and abiding interest In
the work of the association and his sincere
regret that pressing official duties rendered
II impossible for him to be present.
Archdeacon Williams then stated that ne
shared with those present heartfelt con-
Germ for the success of 80 worthy a cause,
and introduced Judge Seth Shepard, who
said that the association had been organ
lied and Incorporated to promote practical
and industrial education among the tmpoy-
erished illiterate white children OF the
south. These people belong to the nation
they are the backbone of the AngloSax
race. the real Americans of this country.
In the Appalachian region, extending from
West Virginia down through the gulf
states, out to the door of the west, are two
million mountaineers, who by reason Oh
their remoteness and inaccessibilfty, are al
most entirely shut off from the light of CIV
ilization and education of any kind
Judge Shepard paid high tribute to the
labors of Mrs. Gielow. who has, he SAID,
given twelve years of earnest self-sacrlhc-
Ing work to the cause.
Mrs. Gielow's Report.
Upon taking the platform Mrs. Gielow
voiced her appreciation of the loyal support
she had received from the trustees and her
pleasure in greeting so large number OF
earnest and sympathiZing friends OF the
movement At fifteen years of age she
spent two years in the mountains OF rem
nessee and 1t was then that her attention
was first called to the appalling condltlons
among the mountaneers, to the amehora-
ton of which she is now giving her every
power of heaart and BRAIN
She gave an interesting account OF heI
early experiences in the mountains ABOUT
sixty miles from Chattanooga. She salo siie
attended the meeting where the old preach-
err said II amt er dedicated man, put l
reckin' I'm the onliest one here that KIN
read this book"-the Bible.
Mrs Gielow has lectured ail over cne
south and In nearly every state IN the oiliolt
and has had ample opportunity to opserVe
the vast difference in educational facll.les
provided for the whites in the soutn anu ~
other sections. She gave vivid picture Oh
annealing conditions in the southern noun
tains and said that recent reports nau
shown IA per cent of native-born white INT
crates in Alabama, 10 per cent In the noun
tains of North Carolina and II per cent IN
7 Louisiana The startling statement was
made that there are 27O,ooo more illlterate
whites than there are OF negro voters In tle
south.
Mrs. Johnston of Alabama has esta blished
a reformatory and industrial school in that
state which Mr.. Ogden pronounced the pest
In the country, and Ihomas Neison lase
was quoted as saying that the greatest
danger of the south today is the lack or
schools for the native poor whites
Mrs. Gielow then gave an account OF the
modest beginnings of the association, which,
incorporated only three months ago by de-
voted band of eight persons now numbers
membership of 200. who support the move
ment in every section of the Union The
first activity of the society was to appeal to
900 camps of the Daughters of the Con-
federacy and set 1900 southern women to
thinking. Then the appeal went to over
1000 camps of the United Confederate Vet
Grams She had plead with the trustees of
the great educational funds for help. but
they could do nothing, as their generosity
was limited to colleges and normal schools.
Appeal for Aid.
'And so we ask your earnest assistance"
said Mrs Gielow America needs her
nountaineers. her own American citizens.
Let us at least give them the same chance
we give the AIaskans, the Filipinos. the
Porto Ricans, our negroes, the heather
abroad and the millions of immigrants who
come to our shores.
Gen. Stewart L. Woodford, ex-minister to
Spain, who gave an eloquent address in be-
half of this movement. said: This was a
crusade greater than that of Joan of Arc,
the results of which will benefit the entire
future of this republic Rev. DR.. Howard
Duffield and Bishop Brown af Arkansas and
ma n "
with US for this cause"
She said the hearts and purses of the
generous people of New York were openino
to the earnest appeal OF the association.