The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-01-22
WILLINGHAM FOR
 SUPERINTENDENT
SECRETARY OF EXAMINING BOARD IN RACE FOR POSITION AT HEAD OF STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

Montgomery, January 21.-(Special)- H. J. Willingham today announced his candidacy for the office of state super intendent of education, subject to the action of the primary of the democratic party. MT. Willingham Is secretary of the examining board of the Alabama de- pertinent of education, an officer of the Alabama grand lodge, Knights of Pythias. Mason and Odd Fellow and for years active in school and educational work.
 MT. Willingham went from Shelby county, where he grew up, to Lineville, Clay county. to take charge of the in- stitute there. In seven years he had an attendance of 300 in a town of 400 inhabitants. After that he went to We tumpka, where he became principal of the district school and held 1t seven years before accepting service at the capital. He is member of the Baptist church and has a large following of friends in all sections of the state. Of his own ambition he says:
 ''The office of superintendent of edu- cation is in many, respects one of the most important in the state. It's in fiuence reaches every home Its power for good can hardly be overestimated. Involving as it docs for the most part the education of children it ought to be, as far as possible, non-political as well as non-partisan and non-sectarian.
 For more than half a century the state of Alabama has maintained an or ganized system of public schools. Each administration has made commendable advances upon the preceding. Educa- tiona1 work is simply a growth or de- velopment whether of state or of an individual
 'If elected l shall do my utmost in the making of whatever advances our conditions may warrant. Cur system of schools as now organized for the promo tion of public education is fairly com plete in so far as may be said for the system itself. The one weak feature In the organization, the part which ought to claim the immediate and the earnest attention of the state is the rural schools. Until they are greatly improved they will fail to provide that measure of educational opportunity which ought to be in reach of every boy and girl g. large majority of whom must always depend alone on the common schools for their education In fact, unless the com mon schools be greatly improved they cannot even prepare for entrance those who want to attend the institutions for higher education throughout the state.
 During years past there has been ceaseless moving to town for educa- tional advantages. For the first time in our states history it appears that the tide Is about to turn. The present high prices of life's necessities make life a burden for townspeople who have to buy all they use People in general ara now realizing that the farmer is, at last coming into his OWL By improved methods he is growing larger surplus. That surplus is bringing prices almost unheard of. All that remains for mak- ing his happiness complete is the es- tablishment and maintenance of schools for his children in the country Just as good as those in the town. The next administration should devote itself to the improvement, the development of these rural schools.
 'Whether I am elected or not the next four years will bring more real improvement to the rural and village schools than has been possible with any administration in the past The work done in former years has prepared the way for it. The time is ripe for it. All interests have apparently combined to that end
 "When these schools of the masses are brought up to that standard of excel lence which is justly their due, then all the higher institutions will so forward to greater usefulness than they have ever known before.'