The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-04-12
REVIEW OF WORK OF THE EDUCATORS Laird Writes of the Meeting at
 PinehurSt ALABAMA CONSPICUOUS Women Take Lead In Movement to Improve School Conditions In
 Rural Districts of
 State.
BY HERVEY w. LAIRD.

Pinehurst, N C.. April 4-(Special)- most in the clouds and on the crest of the Atlantic plateau where the passing breezes are burdened with the health giving ozone from the pines, the tenth annual session of the conference for edu- cation in the south has assembled. Scores of men and women from the states of Dixie are here, fired with a zeal for bet ter education and more education of the better kind. working with associates of the north and east to devise means whereby every child, white and black, may be provided with the sinews of the arfare of life the knowledge to know good from evil and the training to right fuly use that knowledge The attendance is large and more nearly representative of the whole people than ever before, possibly.
 As if l were writing from my station at Montgomery, and because the general features of the conference are covered by the old reliable IA P.,' l shall deal more particularly with Alabama men and women and those things that make for the benefit and interest of the state. Really, one has to go away from home today to find out what a great state and a great people we of Alabama possess. Patriotic pride swells in our hearts when ull along through the events scheduled for the session men and women from the state ot J. l.. M Curry, whose name is spoken almost with reverence, appear as speakers and teachers.
 Murphys Paper.
 Early in the session of Tuesday, when 1t was found that MT. Robert C. Ogden the president, would not be present, a paper by pr. Edgar Gardner Murphy, whom all Alabama loves. the secretary of the southern education board, waas read In which was review of the work dur ing it's ten years of effort Weak from a recent illness. MT. Murphy could not bear the task of reading the address and passed it into the capable hands of Dr. Edward A. Alderman, president of the University of Virginia, who presented it at his request.
 MT. Murphy was called out by Dr. s. c. Mitchell of Richmond, chairman of the executive committee, who paid high tribute to the services of the distin- guished Alabamian, who he said is pre- eminently a publcist and statesman.
 Mr. Murphy said 1t was a rare privilege to be with his associates particularly pleasurable at this time. because it seemed to him in some measure a coming bea; 10 the work after his illness. He was given a warm and cordial reception
 Alabama women.
 feature of the paper of Mr. Murphy was q tribute to the school improvement movement in which Alabama has taken a leading part Out before the reader could be seen the man whose active brain had conceived the idea for Alabama and at least two of the women who had helped him to inaugurate it. That man was former State Superintendent Isaac w. Hill, those women were Mrs. J, D. Mat lock of Birmingham and Mrs. Erwin Craighead of Mobile.
 Almost three years ago MT. Hill went to Selma, where the state federation of Womans club was in session and asked to be heard. Alabama needs school inn provement york; he told them, and those good women sat up and took notice. You women can bring it about" the speaker continued. twill you help?'
 Well knew Hill the women with whom he had to deal 1t was no surprise to him when the response came quick and hearty. Here are we; what wilt thou that we should do?" The appointment of school improvement committee followed on the heels of which came the organiM-