The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-16


 condemned.
 Mere Theorists
 There is still another class who arc humbugging you and yorr parents in this matter. Ex-presdents, foreign ann bassadors, editors. ministers and business men urge the claims ot higher school! ing. They have had no experience with college men in business and it is ridic- ulous for. them to assume ie know what they are talking about
 Then there are the cowardly business men, who are afraid they will be os- tracized from society If they say a wore against higher schooling. some of whom will even lie outright on this subject, while others are evasive aus. non-commit tai You can see from their letters print ed in my book that they are not frank and honest. but that tl.ey are afraid t3 say their souls are their twn. and hence answered by questions with silly non-com- initial trash Thus you will see thu. you are besieged on all sides by people who seem determined to hdmbug you in this matter of higher schooling.
 My Advice
 My advice to you boys is, stop whore you are, hustle for a joh make good. The men who have succeeded are tha men who began their lfe-Worll early. I admire these parcel boys o' their bicycles, alert. energetic and attentive to business They are the kind of boys that every business man has his eses open for, and if they have brains comhlaod with energy and loyalty they are sure to get along. Of course, if these boys have nothing in them they will fall into tue position where they naturally belong and will become mere cogs in the wheel Of industry High CT schooling is not going to make them any better
 Colleges Afraid of Criticism
 That the college professors recognize the truth of the facts heie presented Is shown by the fact that not one of ,he colleges has asked me to address its stu dents on the subject. Why is this? Do they fear the light? Are tiey afraid that their students might approve of my loglc and follow my advice?
 Every professor thinks he is entitled to express any views ttat he sees ft or to invite any person to address his classes. If he Is criticized, he cries out that his academic freedom is being, abridged He declares tiat all should be heard, that the truth rnay be known. This seemingly applies le every one ex- eept the one who doesn't favor higher schooling. The socialist the anarchist, the free-love advocate, fove all been in- vlted and permitted to address the stu dents at some of our universities and col leges. ~.
 If they are so sure of theic position why not allow me to present my side of the question that the students may have tho truth from all angles? Flfty-six years in | business, an employer of several thousand men, and an Investigation covering sev eral years should qualify me to give some Information that might be worth white to the boys who intend starting In busi- ness
 The whole action of the college crowd indicates that they are fearful of the rec suit on their school. None Of the hig'ier schooling men have invte1 me to address their meetings to present the value of their work as I see t. Theil plan seems to be to ignore or repress any known unfavorable criticism. Is this policy of wise, honest and truthful rlen, men. who | claim to have the pubic welfare n mind, or is 1t the tactics of those who wish to continue a gigantic humbug and defraud the public?
 | Very few of these. so far as I know have honestly and thoroughly read my book, or have given it any consideration | In connection with their work. As con elusive evidence of the utter want of prin- | ciple In these men, l will state that a | number of college men were asked if trey
  | it first was published. Many of them answered to the effect that the book was utterly unworthy of consideration, ana condemned 1t by saying all sorts of dis | agreeable things about the book and my self. Still not one of them had read l the book as they admitted at the samc time, which proved absolutely their utter lack of principle, as well as common sense.
 Sharp-Practice Men | As you grow older you will discover that there are many varieties of sharp practice men, and each of which has it's own way of bleeding and eefraudng the people in order to make their money, that Is, to steal your money. The man who picks your pocket, the man who robs you, the burglar who enters your house, or the trusts that are mulchting 1 you on every side are ali de ecidedy vici- ous, but they are Insignificant thieves compared with the man who induces you to spend your money and eight Of the best years of your life in acquiring some thing that will be of no value to you. You can overcome the loss of the money, but you cannot afford to be robbed of the years which should be employed in lay | ing the foundation of your future career and in fitting yourself ta support your self and family.
 The Object of This Address | I am writing this, not particularly to attack higher schooling. but to wake uI the boy who thinks he must spend his money to get it, and to encourage tha boy who has been unable 10 avail him. helf of it. l want to encourage them to go ahead. learn their trade read good books. cultivate good habits, secure in the thought that these, not higher schooling I them to understand that is is the man who knows the busniess frcin the ground up that is in demand, act the college graduate. want to impress upon them | that the eight years of hieh school and college training are waste of time and money, so far as business is concerned Instead of being discouraged because they can not have 1t. want them to congrat. ulate themselves.
 A Natural Request l Ina