The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-31

toPNCtSe'ff present chief executive. the Hon. B. B. Conner takes his greatest pride, at this time at any rate, in the fact that he has been able to aid in many ways the improvement and advancement of the school system in all it's departments. He will probably hand down to posterity with no greater pleasure anything that has come to him than the fact that one of the buildings at the university will bear his name To the writer he said after his return from the meeting of the trustees of Tuscaloosa this week: "The Conner administration stands for three things. Always remember that. They are educa- ton, temperance and states rights. When ever anything less is said about it the whole truth is not told.''
 The great work that the governor has been able to do in the interest of the educational institutions of the state from the highest to the lowest is recognized by the officers of the educational depart ment and by the heads of the various schools in all parts of the state Cover nor Conner has stood right by us in every effort that we have made for the ad- vancement of the schools and the bet torment of the educational facilities in every department and under all circum- stances,' said State Superintendent of Education Harry c. Gunnels this week. T have no hestancy in saying that at all times the governor has shown his sym pathy for the difficulties and the prob lems we have had to face, and throw the weight of his influence whenever possible towards the solution of difficulties that constantly come up. He has never been too busy nor too tired to go anywhere at any time if by so doing he could pro- mote the betterment of the work that is being done under the supervision of this department
 Legislative Work.
 "The present administration will have much to look back upon in a congratula- tory way when it has worked out to de- velopment a number of enterprises that are now little more than in the beginning The legislature was especially generous In the matter of appropriations, and in the main, wise, with regard to the laws en- acted There does not seem to be any question but what the failure to pass a compulsory education law, and an act for better supervision was a mistake. However, with the statutes already on the books, and the officers of the de- pertment alert to the best advantages, it is confidently believed that there will be no backset in any of the progressive ideas inaugurated during the recent past
 Superintendent Gunnels is not apprehen- sive of the results with regard to the omission of the minimum term act from the new code. The constitution is very plain in it's stipulation that every school in county must be run as long as every other school, or practically so. It is ths opinion of MT. Gunnels, and by the way, also of former Superintendent l. w. Hill, that with the constitutional provision and the county board laws it will be an easy matter to prevent the injuries that would naturally follow a failure to make the school terms as long as possible.
 II recall now said MT Gunnels, that in discussing the educational laws with the members of the code commission and the code commissioners Hon. J. J. May field, it was agreed that the minimum term law was repealed by the constitu- ton and the redistricting act, and conse- quently should not be included in the new code. In talking of the matter few days ago it slipped my mind for the moment, and that accounts for the fact that we made mention of it.
 Agricultural Schools.
 Though it does not seem possible that the Davis bill for the benefit of the agrl- cultural schools will pass Congress at this session, it is nevertheless a fact that the good work done in it's behalf must certainly bear fruit in the future. Com missioner of Agriculture Wilkinson, who appeared before the agricultural commit tee of the house in behalf of the measure. IS sanguine as to the future, and will keep up, along with other men who think as he does, the good work of promoting interest in the essential features of the measure.i
 This bill would have brought some thing like $4OO, GOO a year to the Alabama Agricultural schools, and those schools teaching industrial arts in the cities. However the needfu at this time is not so much money as propaganda. Educa- tiona work will bear golden fruit in the future If it is properly placed and is pursued with an essential amount of per sistency.
 Boys Farm Clubs.
 Commissioner Wilkinson is greatly in- terested in the fact that among the ap- propriations made this week by the Gen eral Educational Board is sum of money to be devoted to campaign work for better conditions among the farmers who have no adequate arrangements Tor