The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-04-16
To the States of the Union for
Training in Trade and In
duStriaI Subjects

| WASHINGTON, April 15-There was
submitted to the entire membership
OF the Chamber of Commerce of the
United States-whose affiliations in
clude, besides the leading national or
CARNATIONS, local trade bodies in every
state and many foreign cities-the
question OF federal aid for vocational
education. II went forth in the form
OF referendum. the fourteenth which
the national chamber has sent to its
members bearing upon questions of
Importance and immediate interest to
business men.
Accordingly. commercial organiza-
tons will have an opportunity to vote
for or against report Of special
committee, of which Frederick A. Ge-
Ter, machine manufacturer. presi-
dent OF the Cincinnati Milling Machine
Company. is chairman, which recon-
mends:
Liberal federal appropriations for
promotion of vocational education in
the United States.
That federal appropriations should
be allotted among the states upon a
uniform basis and should bear uni
form relation to appropriations made
by the states for like purposes.
The creation OF a federal board, to
be representative Of the interests vi
tally concerned and to be compensated
sufficiently to command great ability.
That the federal board should be
required to appoint advisory commit
tees Of five members each, represent
ing industry. commerce, labor, agricul-
ture, homemaking and general or vo-
cational education.
Slow Development.
1t is the opinion of the committee
that the federal government should
at once extend its aid to the states
for training in trade and Industrial
subjects just as it has with great sue
cess and national benefit for many
years assisted the states in agricul-
tural instruction. The committee be.
lieves. too. that the federal govern.
ment should lend its aid to the states
for further vocational education fol
agricultural pursuits.
Without the assistance Of federal ap
preparations, and the impetus which
will come from such appropriations
the states can themselves develop vo
cational education only very slowly
The industrial welfare of the coun
try, however, demands all haste tina
is consistent with care. The fedora
commission on national aid to voca
tional education, appointed by thu
president in 1914, reported that only
eight states had established systems
for vocational education, and that thu
systems have not yet reached one pei
cent OF the workers who need indus
trial training. The urgency Of the ne
cessity that the United States as a ma
ton should be industrially efficien
in its shops and factories as we'll as
on its farms, appears to leave no re.
course other than prompt action b,
Congress.
Only Financial Assistance.
No suggestion Is made by the com
mittee that the federal government
should do more than extend its finan
cial assistance and the encouragement
which will flow from its appropria
tons and its example. The admins
tration OF the schools would remain
wholly in the hands Of local authori
ties and the instructors would be mu
nicipal or state employees. and not fed
eral employees.
In this report the committee doe.
not have in mind the higher instruc
ton already given in technical sub
jects by many excellent institutions
both state colleges and institution:
supported by private endowment. MOI
has It in mind agricultural extension
work. for which the states and the
federal government are now spending
comparatively 100000 or more {
year It has in mind instruction OF ;
vocational kind for the great number
OF children who now leave school a
IA years OF age and go to work. 4
is in the training Of this great bod.
OF workers that federal aid is impera
lively and Immediately necessary.
In order that the assistance Of thu
federal government may he effective
relation should be established be-
tween federal and state appropriation.
and provision should be made for fed
eral administration for the part thu
United States should take.
Consequently, the committee-whicf
in addition to Mr.. Geier, is composed
u OF A. iB. c. Dohrman. a merchant Of
l,San Francisco, and chairman Of tn,