The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-19

of goods and the scope of clearing house operations by reserve banks are under 
 The councils executive committee. J. B. Forgan, J. P. Morgan, D. c. Wing, L. l.. Rue and W. s. Rowe, met to- day preliminary to meeting tomorrow of the entire council. The governors are due here Wednesday. The reserve board has considered clearing house operations with great deliberation and is not ex- pected to direct all the banks to be- gin general clearlngs between the diff ferent districts at once. The views of the council and the governors may have  wrong it does to others. The stnte which is the combined strength of al, eltlgenship should represent the higher wisdom to the individual, and be an example instead of victim In the management and procurement of wealth.
 If wealth can thus be made the source of beneficial results, then sure- iy we cannot have enough of wealth, The habit of spending beyond the in come is bound to lead to bankruptcy, and to avoid this result we must be guided by well devised system and not upon haphasard.
 Education
 There is always desire to approve appropriations for the upkeep of worthy institutions. It has been held up to us as a reproach that Alabama stands near the bottom in illiteraoy. And this re- proach has been accompanied with the suspicion that our state has been nsg- gardly and has acted in neglect of one of it's highest duties.
 l~ tl,at 1.uy, Ia paying a larger percentage of It's money for education than any other of the southern states? Even more, our state Is paying larger percentage of the money used than any other state in the union. Of all the money applied to ele- nentary schools, the state pays "A per cent. over 50 per cent of our entire revc- rue goes into education, and having cS- ceeding the limit. we have reached a period when halt must be called. The localities should do their part. and when that is done Alabamas contribution to the cause of education, will be equal to tbat of any of the states. It is well to remind the people that 1t never had been contemplated that the state should bear thesentire expense of education.
 Democracy
 The national government has persist entity been encroaching upon the peroga- tives of the state. Due to this deplorable development. we have been losing gradu- ally in initiative and sef-relIance. We have surrendered more and more the facilities that are rightfully our own and have been depending on the general gov ernment for guidance. This is nothing but a confession of impotency which has been bred by the ignorance Of our own power for good. and our inability to vital izc it. I view with alarm the tendency .ttxxat (, l,,t1. n n state governments, and would like to awaken the latent abilities of our people. We must stand for ourselves and whnt We are, to accomplish the purpose of our lives The fate of a centralized govern- ment, depends for it's good, or i'll, upon the strength and power of one man, While of one man. while pure democracy re- lies upon the character of the average citizenship, what 1t Is able to create, what service it can render, and what devotion it may be capable.
 Legislative Responsibilities
 You have been liberal minded with your servants in the trust you nave ecnfided in them. The sole demand you have made is to obey and uphold tho constitutions Never has there in Alabama been assembled leSislo : ture so free and untrammeled as the present one The responsibility there-
  ing when used properly, and when ap- piled for maintaining human righrs and privileges.
 Your servants must recognize the additional responsibility conferred upon them by your unbounded eonfi- oence and for one, I feel as if ] might vouch for their desire to serve you de- votedly, conscientiously and faithfully.
 Currents of Trade
 My fellow citizens, we are now upon the threshold Of vast changes and history is writing it's record of mag nitude in war as well as in peace. Who can foresee the changes that the opening of the Panama canal will produce? Of one thing. however, we are certain, that with the meeting of the waters of the Atlantic and the Pacific new currents have been ere ated in our economic life. Alabainn, bordering upon tho gulf, must not lose the opportunity that Is beokon- ing her, but We must have part in the great future that belongs to her. With the port of Mobile to place us in touch with South America and the orient we will be awakened to a wider activity. The care of our only seaport becomes paramount duty to us. We must see that Mobile comes in possession of every advnr- tage to improve her harbor. which is tfc province of the general govern Eient. As to the service that our state may render is to see that our railroads and transportation companies recog- nize the importance which AIoblI. oc oupies, and cooperate to mako it our great gateway of wealth. I hope this co-operation will be yielded tp us with enthusiasm.
 Our Duties
 The moment of taking upon ones self the trust of responsibility is an event of solemn importance, and in the presence of the majesty of the people humbly bow my head before my Creator. with the plea in my heart, that under Ills guidance. may see the light of right and justice in the discharge of my duties. And while l am mindful and grateful for tho joyful acclaim of my friends. I am not forgetful to the great tragedy that is now enacted in the world, and which has saddened every human heart. But in the mysterious designs of providence, life arises from the ashes of destruction. saddsned as we are, we cannot deny to ourselves the joy that every American citizen feels, in living in land free from international jealousies and their conse- Quent bloody strife. The destruction that Is being wrought is tremendous. both materially and morally. When the time shall have run its course, the world will look to America for hope and guidance. To the rehabilitation of modern civlliza- tion, Alabama will have its share to con tribute with the hest of the states of our union. If we are to participate in the moral and material up-butlding of the great structure of modern life and mod = tIxnt ia f<S hn 10 and sn(