The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-08-11

Charles S. Barrett of Georgia, national
president of the Farmers Educational
and Cooperative union, was the princi-
pal speaker at the first days meeting of
the state organization. He urged upon
the farmers the Importance of organiza-
ton and spoke optimistically over the
results which would come when the farm
ers stood together and demanded their
full share of the products they gave to
the world.
The meeting was held in the courthouse
and probably 200 farmers from over the
state are in attendance. The two ses-
sions yesterday were open to the public,
but executive meetings will take place To-
day and tomorrow. o. P. Ford, state pres
ident, presided at the meeting yesterday.
The visitors were welcomed by Commits
sioner John r. Hornady for the city, w.
Blanks Everett for the Chamber of Com
merce John R. T. Rives of Inglenook
for the labor organizations and DR.. r.
F. Lovelady for the board of revenue.
The response was made by Mr.. Harvey.
Ben Davis delivered an address at the
morning session on labor and industrial
conditions and stressed the necessity for
closer organization on the part of the
farmers of the state and country. j. a.
Rountree, secretary of the Good Roads
association, delivered a talk on educa-
tional issues stressing the Importance of
adopting the proposed educational amend
ment to the state constitution
OSCAR WELLS SPEAKS
At the afternoon session, in addition
to President Barrett the speakers were
j. B. Hobby of the state department of
education, Miss Claudia Crumpton of
Montevallo and Oscar Wells, president of
the First National bank, who is chair
man of the committee trying to secure
one of the federal farm loan banks for
Birmingham. Mr.. Wells requested the
farmers union to indorse the claims of
Birmingham and the matter was referred
to a committee for action. 1t Is believed
that the report will favor Birmingham.
The first speaker was ]. B. Hobby, who
took the place of State Superintendent
of Education Feagin, who was too hoarse
to speak. Mr.. Hobby spoke on the pro-
posed educational amendment to the con-
stitution, the child's amendment, as he
was anxious to emphasize.
IF the people of Alabama will vote
favorable on this amendment" said Mr..
Hobby, sit will put no burden or tax on
anyone; merely giving each county the
right, anytime it sees fit, to levy small
amount on itself for schools"
He stressed the need of better schools,
longer terms and more teachers.
Some facts brought out about the pro-
posed amendment to be voted on in No
vember, which were mentioned by the
speaker, follow:
FAVORS TAX AMENDMENT
The adoption of this amendment does
not alter any provision of the present
constitution; it only adds new article,
allowing additional educational privileges.
The adoption of the amendment levies
no tax.
Even after the adoption of this amend
ment no county can levy a school tax
unless a majority of those voting at an
election called for that purpose favor it.
Under this amendment a county can
levy any amount up to mills, but
district cannot levy any tax at all unless
the county is levying as much as mills.
All funds raised under this amendment
will remain in the county and be ex-
pended by the county board of educa-
ton for the schools of the county or
district raising such funds.
No school funds which any county now
gets would be affected by this amend
ment
No official can be paid one cent for as
sessng, collecting or disbursng any funds
raised under the authority of this amend
ment
Mr.. Hobby in conclusion, read the
proposed amendment.
OSCAR WELLS SPEAKS
The next speaker was Oscar Wells, pres
ident of the First National bank of Br-
mingham. Mr.. Wells stated that his OBJ
ject in appearing before the farmers
union was to get the state organization
to indorse Birmingham as the logical To-
cation for the farm loan bank in this
section of the south.
1T will take time to smooth out the
Of pt,1ra SoiI Mr.
Wells. "The nearest approach we have
to it is the federal reserve bank sys-
tenn, under supervision of the govern
ment The new rural credits system is
the first venture in which the govern
ment has taken an actual part in the
investing of money in banking enter
prise. This was not a partisan meas
ure, the act being passed almost unan-