The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-05
LOCAL TAXATION FOR RURAL SCHOOLS
STRONG APPEAL TO PEOPLE OF ALABAMA FOR EDUCATIONAL AMENDMENT TO CONSTITUTION

Congressman Richmond P. Hobson has just issued an appeal to the people of Ala abama for change in the organic law affecting the educational system. He points out the fact that Alabama is deficient in local taxation for the support of rural schools and that the only remedy is in constitutional amendment.
 Following is Congressman Hobson's ard to the people of Alabama:
 My Fellow Alabamians--I wish to en- list your cooperation in movement of supreme importance to our state, that of improving education in the country districts.
 Under our present system Alabama has dropped to a class by herself be- low the bottom of all the states. Com parative figures. compiled for the yea rs 1906-1909, show that Alabama s total funds for public schools are less than half the funds of Arkansas, are over $1 000,000 less than the funds for each of our neighboring states of Louisiana, Mississippi Tennessee and Georgia. The figures show that we devoted but s2.39 for each child of school age for the year 1908, while the average for the nine other southern states was $3.52, nearly 50 per cent more than for Ala . bama; the average in the United States being Sl2.89, over five times as much They show that on education we spent but 13 cents per $10O of our real prop erty. while the average for the nine other southern states was 21 cents, or 61 per cent more in proportion to wealth, and for the whole country it was 25 cents, nearly twice as much The figures further show that Ala bama's great lacking Is in county and local funds, the very funds which in the raising create interest and local pride the total funds from all county and local sources in Alabama being but B per cent of the total while in the other soutl ern states this average is over 72 per cent. These astounding figures show how our system in Alabama is ifn- poverishing our country schools and sapping their vitality. and is thus striking at the very root and founda- tion of our prosperity and our great ness.
 The consequences are already ap- paling Deaths from typhoid fever, dysentery malaria, hook worm disease, anaemia and similar diseases resulting from ignorance have gone up to nearly double the average for the rest of the country. Our farmers have been selling their inheritance to outsiders, parting W1tn DTlc6ltSS lTOn IduuS, COdl l6nuS, timber lands, for a mere song, simply because they do not know any better Unless the standard of educa tion IS raised among our farmers, they will soon be dispossessed of their farm lands, and thus complete their disin- heritance by outsiders who possess an education.
 No time can be lost. The boil weeviI has crossed the state line. If we would avoid incalculable loss and heavy depreciation of our already deprsci- ated farm lands, our whole system Of farming must be Fundamentally changed.
 The Panama canal will be opened in a few years. and the eyes of the world will be turned upon the south. We must hasten the work of education among the masses of our people, If they are to be prepared to reap the ben eft of this great world event, which will open up new era for the south.
 The close proximity of power, both coal and water power, to the raw ma terials of manufacture, cotton, iron and timber, is sure to make our state the greatest manufacturing region of the world Producing as Alabama will, at minimum cost the finished product of the worlds staples of clothing and ma terials of construction, and holding in the former, as the south will, world monopoly of a prime necessity of hu- man life, there lies before us a future of possibilities of wealth and power beyond the dreams of men.
 If our own people are to measure up to these possibilities. and are to re- store our state and the south to the commanding position befittins our Anglo Saxon blood. and if we are to fulfil our destiny and cause. southern ideals and devotion to principle once more to become the determining factors in moulding American institutions, then we must hasten the proper education of the masses of our people who live on the farms. tft
 Unfortunately the constitution of the s.ate now stands in the way, for bidding under all circumstances our country school districts from levying taxes for school purposes. Towns and cities can levy such taxes to preperls- educate their children; but the farmers are forbidden the same right, though this right Is a fundamen tai part of the other state in the union, no other civ ilized community in the world has such an iniquitous law. Our rural schools being deprived by the constitution pf any adequate vital support, are, neces- sarily, In lansuishing conditlon.
 ask your hearty o-operation in the effort to remove this first great ob- stacle Win you not confer with your members of both houses .ofUthe legisla- ture, in person or bx letter., and ask the to use their influence to have n proper amendment authorizing local