The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-07-14

tlnue US opposition to the republican party.
 If the election were held tomorrow Hughes would lose New York by a very decisive plurality and the situa- tion is not likely to improve from the republican point of view On the con- trary the defection is already fast spreading.
 DR0PosED amendments to the j. constitution of Alabama have never been popular with the electorate but the school tax amendment to be submitted to the voters for ratifica- tion at the general election in Novem- Der will probably For Betterment win. It would be a of Public Schools grievous reflection
 on the intelli- gence and public spirit of the state were it defeated.
 Illiteracy in Alabama will never be removed until counties and school dis tricts are authorized to tax themselves for school purposes. The tax proposed is small-3 mills for counties and 8 additional mills for such districts as desire school facilities over and above those provided by the counties.
 There is scarcely county that would not avail itself of the provisions of the amendment. Sydney J. Bowie, who has long been an earnest sup porter of this measure, enunciated a great truth when he said the taxpayer should not look upon a special levy for schools as burden but as an invest ment.
 Alabama's large percentage of il- literacy is due to the inadequacy of her rural schools, and such made quacy is due in turn to the limit placed by the constitution on local taxation for school betterment. Let the people ratify the proposed amendment and every village and every remote com munity will, in a comparatively short time, have a sanitary school house and full school term.
 Incidentally it is good to know that Jefferson county and the city of Bir- mingham would be in a position to benefit very materially if the amend ment is adopted.
 Superintendent W. F. Feagin of the state department of education is or ganizing an active campaign for the amendment, and it should go without saying that he will have the hearty cooperation of the illiteracy commis- sion and the Alabama Educational as- sociation. The majority for the amend ment should be overwhelming. It will be if every friend of education will work.
 1r GEN. LEONARD WOOD M commanding the department of the east, says he is not criticizing the National Guard, but in quoted re- marks which appear from time to time it is evident that he is disappointed ir the length of time it takes to get a large body of militia to the Mexican
 border. In spite Mobilizing the of rush orders the National Guard general says that less than 50,00( guardsmen out of a possible 13O,00( have reached the frontier. Several weeks ago when the Ma tional Guard was ordered to mobilize the response was eager and it was said by government officials that tho entire organized militia would be n service on the border within a fort night. But at the rate mobilization is proceeding it will be autumn before all the guard units are ready for pa trol duty.
 Now that the tension between the Washington government and the Mexican government has relaxed Gen eral Funston's demand for troops k not so urgent as it was; still, mobili zation should not lag.
 General Wood and other army off cers have expected too much of th National Guard in the matter of be ing ready for a war footing on brie signal Never has the militia beel as highly efficient as it is at the pres ent time, and after it has been fev months under the army reorganiza tion act, with each man on a pay basi the year round, it will be comparabl in all respects to the army of regulars It may be many years before thu