The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-20
BENNETT SPEAKS FIRE PREVENTION
 y-- Addresses International As sociation at Milwaukee
 < HENLEY ALSO SPEAKS Both Authors Compare Fire Losses in United States With Europe and
 Offered Suggestions for
 Preventing Fires


 Milwaukee, Wis, September 19-'fife Prevention by Education. Rather 'i'an Legislation,,t was the subject of two pa l perg by A. V. Bennett of Blrmills hei'' Ala. and II. e. Henley Of st' Louis' which were read and featured the nrst 6ar of the International Fire Chiefs con vertion today.
 Both authors made comparisons of hre losses in the United States as against those in European countries and offered suggestions along the line of prevention, II oluding proper buildings, education Of children and punishment of persons re- sponsible for preventable fires.
 Chief Bennett said:
 "The fundamental principles on which all radical changes for the bet terment Of people are made are nee essarily based on education, because only by education do we understand the necessity of the change and where
 in we are to be benefited.
 Education was the medium em- ployed by our Savior in establishins the Christian religion of today; 1t was also the means by which our entei prising railroad managers improved and increased the corn crop in the middle west. It has been proven by criminologists, after repeated failures of drastic and cruel legislation, to be the only solution of the problem of the criminal youth.
 "So, in order to accomplish any marked improvement or decided ref ormation. 1t is first necessary 10 edu- cate those to be benefited as to the reason for the change and the bene- ficial results to be accomplished.
 The bane of American civilization in political economic and social life is that educational methods do not keep pace with legislative. We legis- late along concrete practical lines ano we educate too much along abstract or theoretical lines. In educating the rising generation to think. we cling to mediaeval methods, expend youth full energies over dead languages and in the dead past, while in Legislation we make laws that touch the very life of the home and the citizen. Our laws are formulated to reach the vital wei fare of people in real affairs; in the school there is little that brings the child in touch with real conditions. We give the child too little conception of it's relation to practical things, while legislation is for practical things exclusively. In short, we legislate in the concrete, while we educate in the abstract.
 The sooner we bring our children in touch with practical conditions, the more clearly will be their vision and the greater their ability to grapple with the great questions of the day which are so intensely vital to their welfare.
 Is Serious Situation
 All thoughtful men will agree that our country today is confronted with a problem that requires our most serious consideration. It is estimated that America loses over s2sy,U00,000 annual ly by fire-about s3 per capita-while the nations of western Europe lose about 30 cents per capita. America, by reason Of her want of care, want of educational training of her citizens along one of the lines of her greatest needs, loses 1O times more property by fire each year than the less progress sive nations of the old World.
 This deplorab ble state of affairs is a reflection upon the intelligence and foresight of our people. 1t is d pen ny wise and pound foolish policy to develop property and not preserve it. to accumulate wealth and not pro- tect it. It is like trying to hoard up water by pouring il Into a sieve.
 We Americans are the greatest money king people in the world We have the reputation at home and abroad of wor- SflFplUR tne diUllgnlS uOlfdf, ana yet this largely preventive. permissive waste of our wealth is on the increase instead of the decrease. This condition is one of tine unsolved anomalies of American life, that a nation of such keen and intelli- gent individuals should be so negligent in so important a matter.
 Our national government is making rapid strides in the conservation of the undeveloped resources of our country. We are conserving, preventing loss. injury. and waste of our minerals. forests, our waterpowers: we are retaining great areas of arid lands and extending the strong arm of the government info thea methods Of canning and preserving our food, the slaughtering and preparing for market our meats.
 The government not only is demanding pure foods and drugs, but that the labels on cans, boxes. and bottles shall speak the truth for the protection of the eiti- zens. Why all this? It means a | the last analysis the promotion of the welfare of the citizen. Health gives wealth; health gives energy, force and power. It is the physical, mental and moral forces in cit i7enship that have given America such splendid manhood and noble womanhood
 Power in wasted water utilized, power in arid lands, power in fields or forests miEes or minerals, utilized by an edu- cated people, give the nation the balance of trade and means of diversifying and doubling of our merchantable products the building up of our waste places, and enhancing the tangible values of property in our country.
 Need of Education