Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-07-23
NOTABLE SPEECH
IS DELIVERED BY
ALVAN n. WHITE
c.oatrtendent of Public In
sanction Gives Remarkable
FIGURES In IIIiteraCy Among
Adults Of New Mexico,

., DISPATCH 10 MOANING JOURNAL
- civ. y. NJ, July 22.-Super-
SIM of public Instruction Avian
uVnpits this evening delivered the
n nm, Win" notable address at the
~ tbp summer session of the /
s s..,o Normal school here; /
'r There IS today no problem Of more /
rtanee. Or Of more far reaching I
u.5,erce I'm New Mexico, than the /
ui.,'inafion of the excessive illiteracy ,
gl,, me state According TO the /
n On3 States census report Of 1910 |
NV wore. in New Mexico, 1853 /
W55ii,'i5nals enshrouded i'm ignorance. |
.lu'' nersons who cannot read and
l. M. rapresented 20.2 per cent eff the
WIN nnpulqton ten years of age and
- compared with 1872 per cent
t9o0 a decrease in the percentage
arteracv i'm the last census decade,
iaraey To increased school factl-
wv and school attendance, of more
"a ner cent. Considering the
l~ school conditions, this is rather
nsrkable showing. However, today
~, d,rl, stain of illiteracy rests upon
now state and ranks her as one
ao six darkest states of the union.
r,5oy fine state is deprived of the in-
i.uioent efforts of this army of Hitter
IN army now more than 10000
.troro because ignorance and intel
isenoe both struggle to perpetuate
Themselves along the line Of cduca-
ron religion. and the general devel-
opment and advancement OF our
.nlondid new state. Today these so, GOO
ar more iluterates in the state TO
vbom the many avenues of usefulness
and progress have heretofore been
closed who have labored under TINS
handicap, await the magic touch OF
JncatIon TO become useful intelli-
cent citizens of a great state.
Alarming Condition.
Whom we consider that we have a
comhined percentage of illiteracy of
ZAP percentage Of 149 among ma
five whites. 81 per cent among for
dgn-born whites, 81.7 among IN
daps. and t4.2 among negroes, we
~ once understand that this constl-
mites am alarming and deploraole
condition. and that some organlze0
campaign must be inauguraied by the
educational forces TO stamp out mt
eracy In New Mexico. before our Mex
census is taken in 1920.
W. Mood to- educate the illiteratt
mother. not alone for her own SAKE
hnt for IL, sake Of the child and fol
the benefit of the state.
W. need to educate the illiterat'
ftbor MOI alone for his own sake
NM for mo sake of increasing hi
eorninq canacit, SO that he can built
hotter home ont here on our west
arm nlains ar i'm our fertile valleys
MAT he NAV have more home com
forts ana ,ote a more intelligent bal
io ca 9e IN helm maintain bette
go,ar,,,srt for the state.
W. nced to educate those under 2
ware N ooe and those over 2t year
Of age. for the perpetuity of our fire.
Institutions depends upon the intclli
genee and virtue of all the people.
only n Near Citizen.
An alterate is a near-citizen Tn
censns ronort shows that New MeXic
had in tQtO q4627 males of votin
age and that of this number Their
were tGe24 iliterate males of votin
are ar u norcentace Of literate Not
ems of nj Tndnr such "a condition
Bt amy yvonder that we have in som
regions of New Mexico the "poliuct
boss?" Early in the beginning Of on
experiment. in f-government, W
come Ia know that our republic coul
no moro ,pdure one-half educate
and -baIf ignorant than ii Wa
nogsiblo far II to endure one-half fro
and ono-balr slave. In other word
our government is based on the int
lgcnco and the integrity of the pee
pie Tho people are the source an
foundation of all political authoH
in a government bv the people; Il
overv dav life thought. and ideals
the peoplo mould the fundament
laws of tbe state and the nation pu
he opinion which is the sum total
what mon feel and think on Wit
questions IA finally moulded into Il
laws of our Land. ours is a COVER
ment In which the people make al
unmake orr municlpaI our count
our state ana our national polci
and government in which the peop
sre f n.y. a ,,''''n nonrt of appeal ON
political questions. 1t can therefor
be seen Now imnortant il is that Il
only all the youth shall become W.
'' NHN NN"N'' t.tt.. ,,,l