The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-04-03
.|L[|TERACY OF THE
 STATE MUST GO
 SAY EDUCATORS
Brilliant Addresses Deliy- cred Before Educational Association at the
 Capital
Fly L. S. BETTY

bt l<- ss ofJA
 Montgomery. April 2.-(Specai.) )-'lliit- eracy in Alabama: Let's Remove It." the slogan of the thirty-fourth annual con vention of the Alabama Educational as- scciation, furnished the inspiration to- night for several of the most brilliant addresses ever delivered before the asso- citation and brought to a close a day re- plete with unusual enthusiasm and actfv- ity on the part of the 1500 or more dele gates attending the convention.
 The second days convention of the asso- citation is the most successful from the standpoint of interest on the part of those in attendance that body has ever held. General and departmental sessions were held throughout the day, and de- spite the indictment weather, all the meet ings were well attended,
 The feature of the days programme of the association was the addresses to- night of Dr. Philander P. Claxton of Washington, D. C., United States com missioner of education. and Mrs. Cora Wilson Stewart. chairman of the Ken lucky iiliteracy commission. The subject of each speakers address was Hitter acy" The same subject was used by Su- perintendent of Education William F. Feaein, who delivered stirring appeal for it's removal from Alabama in present. ing Mrs. Stewart to the audience.
 Mrs. Stewart spoke of the work of re- moving adult illiteracy from the state of Kentucky in which she was one of the pioneer leaders in that cause. She told in an effective manner of the establish ment of moonlight schools in the noun tainous counties of the state. and of the success which finally attended the efforts of those who undertook to teach men and women, many of them standing on the brink of the grave, to read and write.
 Mrs. Stewart exhibited photographs of S0-year-old pupils who had been taught to read and write and she displayed to the view of the audience letters written by adult students after attending moon- light schools four, six and eight nights. I The woman orator said Kentucky has entered upon a campaign for the removal of illiteracy from the state by 1920 Next July and August, she said, 12O orators. including the governor of the state and the representatives in Congress and other public and prominent men, will make a speaking tour of the state in behalf of the cause.
 Makes Strong Appeal
 Dr. ClaXton, head of the national de- partment of education, had decided to speak on another subject, but on arriv- ing in Montgomery determined to use as his text the slogan of the convention.
 Dr. ClaSton made d strong appeal for compulsory education as the surest and most effective means of removing adult illiteracy.
 Don't let the next session of the leg- islature end before you have secured a law prohibiting illiteracy in your state.'' he said.
 The speaker declared that all states in the unior except five have adopted com pulsory education laws and said those states which did not have such statutes were the most backward in educational progress and advancement.
 Dr. Claxton declared that the northern states are now turning their attention to the removal of illiteracy, the increasing number of immigrants making it neces- sary to establish schools for the training Of adults
 The speaker praised the work in Con gress of Dr John W. Abercrombie in his efforts to secure the passage of a bill eO 5iNt tlAt NoliliibSSloHtI% or tuuCdIlpn authority to extend federal aid in the removal of iiliteracy
 In closing his address he made an ap- peal for education on the basis of it's economic worth to the state He said the difference in productive power be- tween an illiterate man and an educated man is on the most conservative basis s1Oo per year Estimating the productive power Of the 300.000 lliterate people of Alabama at that rate he said would rep resent an annual increase ill the wealth of the state of about s3O,000,o0O
 Second Session
 The meeting tonight was the second general session of the day, the first be- ing held this morning. Dr. Claxton was scheduled to speak at the morning ses- sion but didnt arrive in time to fill his place on the programme.
 The principal speaker at the morning session Was Dr. John Lee Coulter of the Peabody college of Nashville who spoke directly tc the teachers. His subject was Community Organization. He showed the importance of teachers as community builders end urged them to cooperate in all movements looking to the betterment of the community in which they lived
 The f1na, session of the convention will be held tomorrow morning. with the cleo ton of officers and the transaction of various business matters. banquet will be held for the teachers at the Exchange hotel tomorrow night.