The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-11
.ALbERTW|[LE HEARS
 POLITICAL POW-WOW
Watt Brown Announces as
 Candidate for Congress
STATE BOND ISSUE
Lusk Makes Attack on Present and O'Neal inistrations-Rayn. burn Speaks for the
 Bond Issue

Albertvile, January 10-(SpeciaI.) .)-The court at Albertvile this morning was the scene of one of the liveliest political meetings witnessed here in several years. when thesmd- winter term of the Marshall county circuit convened An unusually large crowd was present
 w. c. Raynburn of Guntersville opened the fray by making a clean cut and force 'fui appeal to the people of the county to support the state bond issue in the forthcoming election. He had facts and figures before him showing the condi- ton of the states finances and told his audience in an unpreiudiced way why the issuance of bonds was the best way to remedy the present serious condition. He also pointed out the fact that too large expenditures by the two former admin lstratlons was the cause of such conditions. MT. Raynburn was given close attention and frequently applauded. g WATT BROWN ANNOUNCES
 Watt T. Brown of Ragland was the next speaker, and in a short address, formally announced his candidncy for Congress from the Seventh district, op- posing John L. Burnett
 In asking for this high office,' said NIT. Bfown, T am not unmindful of the great honor that goes with 1t, nor of the responsibilities that inevitably follow no, am unaware of the fact that the public IS expecting, and not only expecting but demanding greater things of it's public officials for the future than in the pa st For thls reason you are entitled to know at least some of my views on the na- in
 whether they are in accord with yours and whether or not I am qualified to fill the hlgh position for which I am asking"
 MT Brown favored the government joining with the states in the matter of building and improving public roads and highways. and he strongly favored Joint action by the federal and state governments in aiding vocational and industrial educational institutions. and farm demonstration work MT. Brown pointed out the danger to the country Of continuation of the present drain on the rural population by which a large part of the best and abIest young people are drawn into the city be- cause of the greater opportunities. Vo- cational and industrial education, fos- tered by the state and the federal gov ernments Jointly, together with a still greater attention to the matter of farm demonstration work would result in the opportunities on the farm being grasped by the best young men and the influx to the cities would be stopped, he said.
 Rural credits was strongly advo- cated by MT. Brown, who dWelt mon the necessity for long time and cheap loans if the farmers were to pros per. Farm lands were the best se- curity in the world, said the speaker, and yet under the present conditions. due to the inflexibility of our financial systems, the farmers have great diff- culty in gaining any kind of credit. From the very nature of the agri- cultural occupation, system of credit which IS in every way adequate for the ordinary commercial needs of the na- tfon, will not suffice for farm loans.
 One novel part of MT. Browns plat form was his advocacy of a compulsory system of educational training for the men who are in the regular army MT. Brown points out that about 25,OOO of these men are dismissed from the army every year, having completed the term of their enlistment, and in spite of the fact that the duties in the army do not require more than two or three hours each day, they have gained no educa- tion or training of any kind which fits them for becoming more useful citizens In view of the probable increase in the army under the preparedness programme, the importance of this matter is con- sidered even greater than formerly.
 EDUCATIONAL VIEWS
 In regard to his educational views, MT Brown called attention to speech re- gently made in Kentucky by President Wilson along educational lines, in which he pointed out that there were 3OOO, 900 boys in the south in need of proper edu- cations MT. Brown called attention to his work of number of years along the lines urged by the President and spoke of his work which resulted in the estab- lishment of the Alabama School of Trades and Industries at Ragland in the Sev- enth district. This school, in a small way is a beginning of the work which MT. Brown hopes to get the government interested in. At such vocat tional schools, he says, the boys of the country who are unable financially to attend the higher institutions, can get an education and learn some useful trade or occupation, in return for their labor while attending the school.
 In concluding his address MT. Brown stated that he expected to conduct his campaign for Congress on a high plane and to base his claims for sup port not upon the demerits of his op- ponents but upon the merits of his own accomplishments and the posi- tions he took on questions affecting the interests of the people.
 Capt L. B. Rainey of Gadsden, who alcn candidate for Mir Rurunt 'S