The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-24
ID HELP COLLEGES WOULD CONTRIBUTE 10 GROWTH 0F CITY John Shelby Points Out the Needs for Better Educa-
 tional Facilities Here COMMENDS COLLEGES FOR WORK THEY DO Birmingham Should Get Behind How ard and Birmingham and Help
 Them Do Greater Things
 for the District

John E. Shelby believes that Birming- hams opportunity to give financial as sistance to her two colleges Howard and Birmingham, is a greater opportunity than many realize. He believes that Bir- mingham should rise at once and con- tribute $2Oo0O0 to the two institutions
 MT. Shelby, in a letter to Frank Willis Barnett, associate editor of The Age-Her- aid, approves the suggestion on behalf of the two institutions. His letter follows:
 Some one has said: What is the mat ter with Birmingham?
 T say nothing Birmingham is fast becoming the greatest city of the south, and in our rush after the almighty dol lar we must not forget to take care of the education of our citizens.
 'One of the greatest factors contribut- ing to the growth of the city is the train- ing of minds that are capable of accom- plishing greater results. There never was building erected in our city that wasn't first created in the mind of some one, vision backed up by the courage to accomplish the result Everything that we say, everything that we do, ev- erything that we know, comes as a result of thought force, and who knows what the possibilities for this immediate dis trict may be in the future by the more efficient training of the mental faculties of our present generation. Looms that weave tapestry, giant cranes, magniff- cent lenses that magnify the farthest star; good roads, modern farming cleo tricity, iron horses. All of these things are but the dream of the man awake. They were first but a vision of man S imagination. They have been brought into reality through development of men tai forces. The opportunity of assisting our two colleges, Howard and Birming ham, is an opportunity deeper rooted, reaching farther than any of us can realize today if we will capitalize it.
 THE NEED FOR TRAINING
 "Not long ago I had occasion to stand in front of one of our big industries and watch the men file out. Did you ever try it? It would be good object lesson for you. There were thousands of them I took particular notice of the faces saw. There were men young, ambi- tious erect, hope written on every feature of their faces. They were happy and contented They were off for a little bit of pleasure for the evening. It would be difficult to make them realize that 30 or 40 years from now would find them still loiiOWihe oOiuc Hituldl ldSk TOT a mere pittance, and yet, all amongst the surg ing crowd I found men 60 and even 70 years old, shoulders sagging. They were tired-just machines, hut nearly worn out. began studying what was the matter with the old men, and came to this conclusion: In early youth they dis covered they had muscles that were cap able of earning from $2 to $4 day, which was sufficient for their immediate wants. They had little or no education, and no training for any particular task. Days went into weeks. and weeks into months, and now instead of being delighted to have the boss come about to see their work-how adeptly they accomplish the task-they hope he will hurry by and not see their pitiful efforts to accomplish what the younger men can easily do
 HELP THE COLLEGES
 "We are glad to use these men
 in the mills and we have to have
 our labor, but what Godsend it
 would have been to them to have
 had real opportunity for a real
 education that would fit them for
 something better than mere man. ual labor. We have the nucleus for such training in our two coI-
 leGes, hut they are very much in
 need of assistance. We should be
 proud of what they are. but not
 satisfied. We should lend our
 financial and our moral support to
 the cause. Two hundred thousand
 dollars is all they want and $2OO,-
 GOO should be easy for us to raise.
 "In my work with my organixa-
 ton I have long since ceased to
 sec the company. I can only see
 weighed in the balance a man in
 trOuble-a man who has come for
 help because of lack of knowI-
 edge of how best to manage him.
 self and his affairs. great deal
 of which could have been elim-
 mated by properly training the
 mental faculties of our younger
 generation.
 "I say let's take the lid off, and
 cut the purse strings and do some
 thing practical to help those who
 are really anxious and sincere fn
 desfrfnE to fit themselves for bet
 ter things. and fit our colleges to
 take care of all who seek entrance. "JOHN E. SHELBY.'