The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-02-23
Manual Training
 Schools Are Urged

practically paralyzed. America Is turn ing to the trade school plan, we will soon have the trade sch ools everywhere through the country where the future artisan will get his training. What can you men who are here tonight do with your hands to earn your living? We have made civilization with our hands, yet think of the thousands of men today who would be utterly help less if they were in such a situation where they would be dependent for a livelih ood on manual labor.
 The old Hebrews knew the value of practical hands. they knew what q trade was worth-men, Christ was a carpenter.
 We must raise manual labor to an educational basis, we must honor, the dignity of hard labor. We must ele- .Xate 1t with direction and teach the boys of today to take crude material and turn out finished product Co., lumbus Ga., already has splendid school of this kind. In the new high school Birmingham has such a de- partment: 250 cities of this country all ready have such schools. and the fu- lure of the South depends on educa- ton In the trades.
 "The reason for the institutions Is that today there is no collusion between mental and manual training. It is the greatest movement of today. Litera- ture for emotions. history for inspira- ton, and now the modern demand is for the educated work of the hands. It Is the greatest step of-modern prog ress, to have the boys mind not only wei, trained, but fit him to stand on his two feet and make his living.
 There is something beside having good food and good clothes, we must learn to make them, to handle them. "A boy starting today can in five or six years become a strong, fitted man. a factor In the worlds work, not only by his wits, but with his hands, the two tools God gave him to make his livelihood with.
 'The great advantage is to the boy who does not find in the college of to- day the thing for which he Is most fitted. Finding that excellence for him Is not in chemistry, literature. math- ematics, engineering and the many other sciences, he can turn to his work bench. his lathe. or his other tools and excel where others might not suc- ceed.
 q have seen boys in schools and col- leges who were not brilliant in the lab oratories and lecture halls. who were artists in the shops. Looked over their shoulders while the stood at the lathes and turned out works of art. Their minds united for other work; at the lathe, through their active, steady fin- gers guiding the chlsel that cut with the 1ncisive perfect stroke of the fin- gers guiding the work, his idea of beauty and art in the thing he Is mak- ing.
 Some boys can grasp nothing in the abstract others are hopelessly lost In practical work. some can do both to certain extent and the ones, well trained. who can do both, can do each better for the knowledge of the other.
 Face Question Now.
 This great question faces you to- day. the influence of this Commercial Club brought to bear with the City Council and the Board of Education can get these schools for Montgomery Look about you as we sit at this board the gohlets we drink from, were they made in Alabama? Was the snowy napery Of these tables an Alabama product? :? The chairs we sit in, where were they made? Can you not see that In spite or the fact that we have enough crude material in the South to be a nation independent of the rest of the world that we send away from home for all we have? It Is only because our bows are not trained. Think of the millions we send from the State for the foods, comforts and necessities of our daily life. and think what that same money would mean to our State and the South II II could be kept in circulation at home.
 The cotton conditions this year have been poor, many have lost their posi- tlons because of the poor crop. On that one staple, of the multitudinous other sources of Southern wealth, we have been depending. The men who have lost their positions are cut down to small per centum of their for mer value, they have no other work. they are good clerks. good this. good that and the other, but good only in one thing.
 we must teach other work. work that will demand the development of the other sources of wealth. the wealth that this great movement of the South ern Commercial Congress is striving for. We don't know enoug of manual work. If ever men buried their talents. the South is guilty. The concentra- ton on cotton is responsible for our present almost utter dependence on 1t. and the price of our bread Is fixed by men disinterested in us thousands of miles away. That Is why we have not developed as we should We need me chanical consciousness, industrial efi-. ciency; we need the ability to use ma l. chinerv. From the cradle we sleep in as babies. to the collins we are buried in. we send away from home to get them.
 Head work and hand work combin- ed Is our new gospel. The nigger and the mule have been the blockade of the South's advancement. We have every thing but trained men,"
 As Dr. Thach took his seat q storm or applause rang through the room that swelled and died minute after minute. There was not a man present who was not keenly in sympa thy with the great idea At last when the noise quleted, F. P. Glass arose and moved that Dr. Thach be given a rising vote of thanks: "Gentlemen.'. said Mir Glass, i've have just heard the best speech that has been delivered in Montgomery in the last ten years"
 That MT. Glass voiced a general sen timent was shown by the thunder of approval that greeted the suggestion.
 Following, and preceding Dr. Thach, many talks were made about the club and Its work, It's past and it's future and speeches advocating the idea pre- scented by the President of Auburn Congratulatory telegrams were read from Congressman Hobson and Sena- tor Bankhead,
 The other great talk of the even ing was "The Call of Today" delivered by Managing Director Dave of the Southern Commercial Congress. MT. Dave said:
 Dave Speaks
 "Gentlemen: I arise to say good bye to you; you men of my home It is a wrench to say goodbye to the earnest workers I have stood shoulder to