The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-05


 The features of yesterdays sessions of the Alabama Educational association were the addresses delivered at the Jefferson theatre last night by Governor O'Neal of Alabama and former Governor Charles B. Ayeock of North Carolina, the pro- ceedings being suddenly marred by the death of Governor Aycock.
 Governor ONeal spoke on Some Edu- cational Problems" and Mir. Aycock got we'll into his address on Universal Education, Its Necessity and Benefit
 The meeting last night was opened by several selections by the High School Glee club, whose work was roundly ap- plauded by the packed house. The doors were thrown open early and long before the time of the first address the theatre was crowded to the doors by the throngs of teachers who clamored for admittance.
 Governor O'Neal, who was warmly re- ceived last night, said:
 Governor O'Neal's Speech
 "The exacting duties of official life furnish but little opportunity for that N--~ theme assigned to me tonight so manifest ly demands. Moreover, il seems solne- what presumptious for a member of the laity to undertake to discuss subject with which this splendid body of educa- tional experts are so much more ia miliar l assume, therefore, that the honor and privilege of addressing you to- night has been accorded to me because I I a a " ercise some influence in securing those re- forms which our educational system so impera lively demands. Whatever may have been the motives which inspired your gracious invitation, l desire to ex- press my grateful appreciation of the honor done me. as well as my earnest desire during the course of my adminis- traitor to render efficient aid to the great cause in which you are engaged.
 Under our complex system of civiltza- tion all professions have a necessary and important part to perform, but there is no profession which can exercise so pro found an influence on the future or the state it's growth and development than that in which the members of this asso- citation are engaged. Other professions may affect our present, but you by the training you give the boys and girls ol the state can largely shape the course of our future The character of that body of men and women who will in the future rule the state will largely depend upon your influence and the training which they receive at your hands.
 'The lessons of history and the eX- perience of ages teach us that it is only by the process of education that the peo- ole can be advanced in civilization and prepared for the highest forms of safe government; that educa ton must con tinue 10 be the chief duty of that state which expects to heed the demands of the present or the ideals of the future or whose institutions are founded upon the rights and fortified by the virtue and in telligence of its people.
 Eucational Progress
 That the progress of Alabama and other southern states in educational de- velopment has not kept pace with the more prosperous states of the union Is unauestionably true, yet it is manifestly unfair in criticising the illiteracy which may exst in our borders, or the amount of our school revenues as compared with other states, to fail to take into consider ation the loss of wealth and wealth pro- ducng power which we sustained as a result of the civil war, and the increased burden occasioned by the necessity of building and equipping system of schools for two separate races. The per capita wealth of the southern states as compared with other states in 1860 was greater than the rest of the union. In 1860 the total wealth of the United States was, in round numbers, sixteen billions Of dollars, and of this amount ten southern states had five billions, or about 30 per cent. Between 1860 and 1870 the southern states lost in property over $2 263. BPS, 499 or 4 per cent of their total wealth.
 The decrease in per capita wealth in Alabama was from s514 in 1860 to $2)2 in 1870. The per capita wealth of New York in 1S6O was s475, as compared with $5l4 in Alabama, and yet in 1870 Alabama had only $202 as compared with $14S3 in New York. In 1860 only N southern states had a per capita as small as New York, and yet in 1870 the per capita wealth of New York was three times as great as that of the wealthiest southern state. or five times greater than that of Alabama.
 Tn 1870 the total wealth of the country had increased to 5000, ,O0O, 900, and of this amount the 10 southern states had but little more than $2,50o 600 900, or S1a per cent. Not only had the south lost over one-half of it's property. but its public debt had been increased from $4S 800, ,000 in 1850 to $2oo. 0O0 in 1870. an increase of burden of 402 per cent. Tn addition it has been estimated our section lost one-tenth of it's male population by war, one-tenth of the men who were our leaders in every avenue of human endeavor. With the overthrow: with the appalling loss of men and the enormous immigration from our borders which followed the civil war ow- ing to the upheavai of social and economic conditions which followed in it's wake, es- timated at 2.5O0,000. we were further handi- capped by our struggle to preserve our civilization and to readjust our economic onditions-hampered as we were by hos tile federal legislation and bitter sec tional animosty. With our cherished n- stitutions. social political and economic overthrow; with the appalling los sof men and money: the destruction of credit and tho crushing burden of debt; with both tapltal and immigration stunning our bor- ders. it is not astonishing that we were impoeerished and that our economic de- velopment was retarded. Even as late as 1900 only three of the southern states had regained their per capita wealth of 1S60 Even in 1904 1t has been estimated that to raise a given amount or revenue for each child of school age the burden for the south was three times as heavy as the balance of the United States. These are the economic conditions which ex plain why our revenues for educational purposes have been less than our sister states of the union. l am gratifed, how ever. to say tonight that since the com mencement of the last decade the south has made marvellous progress in wealth and population. and in the last half of the present decade bur development has increased by leaps and bounds. and that the day is not far distant when the south will regain her former material suprem-