The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-01-19
BUSINESS MEN FOR EDUCATION. Would Improve Laws of
 Alabama. CALL FOR STATE MEETING Great Good from Conference in
 Birmingham. Discussien of County supcrintendents and otAer Matters Leads to Ae- tion for Arsusing PnBiie
 Intefcst.

Bifmfngham, Jan. 1e..--(Special. ) )-- Following meeting of business men held here today. 1t was announced that . conference for education in Alabama win be called at an early date.
 J. D. Moore. president of the Moore q Handiey Hardware Company of this city, was selected to preside over such conference, while Sidney I. Bowie of Birmingham. and Judge William H. Thomas of Montgomery were appoint ed to prepare the caii and arrange the program. State Superintendent q Education Harry c. Gunnels. was held at the Hotel Hiilman from 1s to 2 ?. m. to- day. It was presided over by. Gen. Rufus N. Rhodes, who assumed the chsirmanship at the request of Mr. Gunneis. Hervey ". Laird of Mont gomery was elected secretary.
 The following were present: Gen. Rufus N. Rhodes. Birmingham; Major W. W. Screws. editor The Advertiser: ]: former Congressman S. J. Bowie. Bir- mingham; J. D. Moore. Birmingham; Rev. F. P. Culver. Birmingham: Prof. Joel c. DuBose. Birmingham; Judge William II. Thomas, Montgomery; Mayor George B. Ward, Judge Dan A. Greene. Birmingham; Befton Gilreath. capitalist and coal operator. Birming ham: Geo. M. Cruikshank, pr. !. H. Phillips, Superintendent of Birmingham tendent Of Jefferson County. and oth- CTS. s s3
 More Atteation te Edaeatioa.
 Tn speeches by several persons it was found that there was agreement to the proposition that there is need for more attention to school affairs on the part Of the average citizen.
 ~e uaA to know that many county superintend- ents do not visit the country schools and that there Is no law by which the State Superintendent can force them to do so Astonishment was also ex- pressed on receiving the information that while the teacher can be forced to hold a certificate of merit, no show ling of efficiency can be demanded of the County Superintendent.
 It was shown that because they are elected by the people and are thus in politics 1t hes been impossible to se- cure the passage of law requiring efficiency. Efforts to pass bills along this line were defeated at the recent sessions of the Legislature.
 Mir GunneIs. Mfr. Bowie and all the ppeakers argued the importance of bet ter superfntendence of the rural schools 90r in most cases with hired snperin- tendents little trouble Is found in the cities. %
 A state-vyiae HEeetimG.
 After the speeches Mir. Bowie moved that as there seemed q general belief in the good of a general State Confer snce in the interest of better attention to schools, committees of five be named to formulate plan and issue
 On the.adoption of the motion chair- man Rhodes named Mir. Bowie, Chair man: Messrs. Thomas, Screws. Gil- reath and Moore. By unanimous vote Mir. Rhodes was added.
 This committee met at o'clock and selected Mr. Moore to be the chair man of a general State Conference. Messrs. Bowie and Thomas are to pre- pare the call. suggest program and report back at a meeting later of the comrnittae upon which the duty of working out the details was placed.
 The object Of the conference is to arouse interest on the part of the gem erai public in needs that are recogntzed to exist with the present machinery for education in the State. Over and above all other necessities is that of competent rural supervision, 1t is said. With an aroused public sentiment the leaders hope to secure legislation that will make such supervision possible.
 Alabama has done much for the schools lately, 1t was pointed out. More than half the tax income of the State go6s to the educational institutions. The average salary of County Super intendents is about S1.000. and 1t Is thought that they should be made as efacient In the country as they are in the city.
 The address of Superintendent Mcs Adory of Jefferson was in the nature of a history of the development of the oflee of County Superintendent He urged the necessity of competency. The Superintendent of Jefferson must give his whole time to the schools.
 After the meeting Mir. Gunnefs ex- pressed qualification at the outcome. He believes great good win result from it.