The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-08-19

Secretary of War Newton D. Baker says:
 'The most useful thing high school boy can do is to finish his course, be- cause the nation, in the next years will need all the trained men 1t can find.
 Tt follows that a boy should be training himself for a productive ca reer, at the same time keeping his body especially fit for military serv- | Ice which he may be called upon to perform when he is old enough.
 He should certainly be preparing | himself to understand the meaning of this great war and the reasons why America is fighting, and the kind of | peace We and our allies mean to es- l tablish,"
 Secretary of Navy Josephus Daniels | says:
 ITO boys who are entering the SC nior year of high school this fall, I would say that they are finishing their l school days in what will be the most ! momentous year of the present age, for the United States and for the world It is time to think seriously and work earnestly. Boys too young for military service now should be study ing and training when practicable so that when they become of age they will be better trained if called upon to serve than their elder brothers were. But let us not forget that boys still need to play and must not be all lowed to mature too fast and let ath- letics and social activities be not over looked this year, if our high school boys are to receive normal and well rounded development to fit them for the difficult years before them'
 Gen Leonard Woods timely words to boys is:
 Every boy should finish his school course We shall secure more men under the draft than we can arm at the present time.
 The individual obligation on the part of each and every citizen for service is manifest, but the boys should remember that they are now serving in the best possible way by preparing themselves to serve more efficiently when the time comes. What we want now is for the boy in school or college to finish his education in order that we may have each year a dependable output of well educated and well trained young men Tt is great mistake for partly edu- cated young boys to rush to the colors now, We don't need them It is very important they should finish their edu- cation"
 Colonel Tillman of the United States Military Academy says: The importance of completing the high school is greater this year than ever before for the great majority of boys; only the most urgent conditions should withdraw any boy from school. In jus tice to the government as well as to themselves they should finish their courses.
 ''The public defense, when necessary. Is the paramount duty of every citizen in the country; each should be prepared and ready to do his part and the majority of high school boys can best make this preparation under present circumstances by finishing their courses, while at the same time informing themselves as fully as possible, of current events, and when possible learning some of the elementary duties of the soldier.''
 TESTIMONY OF OTHERS
 Postmaster General Burleson hits the keynote when he says:
 It Is of vital importance that there be no 'slachers' in education. The comple- tion of the high school and college courses is woll nigh imperative at this juncture of our entry into world affairs. Noth- ing except the country's call in the de- fense of liberty should prevent it.
 And a college president of eminence puts 1t squarly up to the best there is in youth when he says:
 The boy who can continue within the schools and fails to do so now commits folly that only escapes being criminal because of lack of understanding"
 PREACHERS TESTIMONY
 pr. J. B. Gambrell, president of the Southern Baptist convention. says:
 General Lowrey of Mississippi the founder of Blue Mountain Female college. said to him Immediately after the Civil