The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-01

 The movement to modernize the school system of Birmingham, and to get rid of the numerous unsafe structures now used for school purposes, was given addi- tional impetus last night when three events were staged in the two extremes of the city, and on the Northside of old Birmingham Enthusiastic rallies were held in Ensley and at Fountain Heights, while at East Lake the famous film "The March of Empire" was shown to a tre- mendous crowd, being accompanied by terse arguments that were thrown upon the screen from time to time
 Tonight the great educational film will be shown again at East Lake, while an- other rally for the school bonds will be held in Avondale. Friday and Saturday nights the film will be shown in the city hall auditorium at Woodlawn, and on the same night there will be a rally at the Ruhama Baptist church in East Lake. Saturday night there will be a rally at Wylam.
 The meeting last night in the audi torium of the Martin school on Fountain Heights was notable for two things, the large attendance and the enthusiasm in behalf of the school improvement move ment This section was without adequate facilities for years, and it was only after a long. hard struggle that the splendid building of the present was provided. Therefore the people know what it means to be without such facilities, and what 1t means to gain that which had been lacking. The spirit manifested last night was one, which if it could have been translated into words would have read, We have modern facilities, building suited for educational purposes where the lives of our children are safe and where their health is properly safeguarded, and we want every community in Greater Bir- mingham to enjoy similar advantages
 ANCIENT BUILDINGS
 The meeting was presided over by Pro- lessor Smith, principal of the Martin school. acting for the ladies of the School Improvement association. He first intro duced Commissioner Hornady, who show ed by photographic reproductions upon a. large screen just what the conditions are in dozens of ancient and cheaply con- structed school buildings about Birming- ham, and the vital importance of remedy ing conditions at the earliest possible moment was impressed upon the audience in the most vivid manner. Mir Hornady said that the only difficulty in the way of the school bond issue was lack of knowledge of actual conditions. He said that when he became commissioner of education he felt like many other men feel when they lack information about actual conditions, and he had no intention of asking for an immediate bond issue to meet the situation. Moreover, he said that he was of the opinion at the outset that $1,000,OG0 would be ample to meet the situation, despite tht fact that the school authorities had asked for $1 500, GOO five or six years ago when the needs were nothing like what they are now.
 However" continued the speaker
 when I went among the schools of Birmingham and saw the conditions with my own eyes, I felt that there should not be moments delay, and a full and careful investigation both by the city commissioners and the members of the board of education resulted in a unanimous call for a bond issue of g, ,000, ,OOO, the opinion being that every dollar of this sum would be required to meet the demands. Not thing except the most urgent repairs had been done for six years, with the exception of the addition of eight classrooms, and the personal investigation of those charged with responsibility for the safety of the school children demonstrated beyond a question that a wholesale overhauling was imperative, and now the facts are being put before the people, that they might provide the remedy
 The speaker declared that if the voters of Birmingham knew the actual condi- tions there would not be a negative vote cast against the bond issue on June 5; that monetary considerations would not be permitted to stand in the way of providing safe buildings for Birmingham children and giving them the educational Opportunities to which they are entitled.
 BOND ISSUE INDORSED
 Following the address by MT. Hornady, there were a number of impromptu ad- dresses by well-known citizens, all ot whom gave the most cordial indorsement to the school bond issue, insisting that it would be a disgrace for this city to refuse to provide safe, sanitary and adequate quarters for the thousands of children who must go to school, regard less of the dangers that may surround them in obsolete and rickity old build ings President Finder of the Board o1 Trade declared that favorable action on this vital matter was imperative; G H. Crane provoked loud applause by saying that those who enjoyed safe and adequate school buildings were the most enthusiastic III ldNOI Ol SlFlH6 d'l tiis children of the city similar advantages and J. H. F. Moseley expressed the con viction that the needs of the schools | were so great that the bond issue should have been larger. Dr. Elkouri stirred | his hearers by the earnestness witt which he advocated making proper pro vision for the children, and the othel speakers were roundly applauded. Dr
 Elkouri also spoke in favor of the adop l tion of the auditorium bond issue ant
 several spoke in favor of the municipa | light proposition.
 1 At Ensley there was another rousint meeting at the opera house, the speaker I being S. J. Bowie, Ben Davis and others | J. A. Dupuy presided and gave his cor dial indorsement to the school bond prop osition The other issues also came il for favorable mention during the even l ing. Stereopticon views of the schoo were displayed by MT. Bowie, who mad a powerful appeal in behalf of the thou sands of children who now have to pu 1 up with almost intolerable conditions and in favor of making adequate provi l sion for those who must come int
 school as the compulsory education lav
 becomes operative.
 l Taken all in all. it was a great da. ] for the school bond issue and the con viction grows that the bonds will be au l thorized by an emphatic majority
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