The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1918-04-04
STAMP OUT ~nIITEIIlCY.


secretary uf the interior Franklin
n Lane, aroused over the amount ~
niteracy prevailing In America. has
come out strongly In favor OF a bill
pending in the house which provides
for a modest Appropriation fur thu
bureau OF education to begin and con-
duct a vigorous and systematic catn-
paign for the eradication ~ adult o..
i~itcracy.
We take considerable pride In be.
lieving that We are AN educated pcu-
pie, but the facts In the case seem To
rcfutc this claim. as the war has
brought facts To our attention that
are almost unbelievable and that are
In themselves aocusatory There are
In tho United States tor were whrn
the census wa taken In 1900 5.5l6,-
1873 persons over 10 a who were
unable TO read or write in any Ian
guagc. There are now nearly 7OU. 600
men Of draft z in the United States
Who are supposed to be registered and
who a not read or write IN English
81 In any other language
over t6oO.o . Of the mllterntcs iu
this country were 20 years of age co.
more, according to the last census.
This figure equals the total popui1-
tion Of the states 81 Califni MIA. Ore
gon. Washington, Montana. Idaho.
Wyoming Colorado. Utah. Nevada.
Arizcgfa; New Mexico and Delaware
Tne percentage or nliteracy varies iu
the several states from ~ In Iowa 90
20 per cent In louisiana More than
10 per cent of IL was in thirteen
state Half OF the nltertes we're be-
tween 90 a;d "a y-'', OF age. II has
bcen estimated bv one ~ those con-
cerned with this problem that II these
five million ana "a half OF iIitcrate
person. were stretched IN q double
line nj intervals ~ three feet ana
were to march past the white House
at the rate ~ % milo- "a day. n Wouil
require more than two months for
them to pass Over - per cent are
white persons, and u these i,ioQ, Goa
n native born whites,
In addition TO their othor handicap-.
let us consider the lost productive
va.go % an iliterdtc. II this be but 50
cents y day which IL "A low estimate.
the country is losing $685., 600. 900 an
uua.iy through uliteracy This csti-
mate h. no dou1t under rather than
over the real iosSh The federal gov
eminent and states spend millions %,
dollars In trying 70 give Information
"a the people In rural districts about
farming and home-makinR. Yet g.
100000. or 10 per cent NJ our countr
folk can not read or write a word
They can not ead a bulletin on ayr,
culture, o farm poper a food plcdR"
a liberty loan appeal, "a Newspaper
or their bibles, nor can they keHi
personal or business NJ
uniformed democracy Is not democ.
racy. 4 people who can nat haze
means ~ access 20 the mediums OF
public opinion and to the messages o'
the president ana the acts ~ onEre
can hardly bc expected a. undcrstant
tn" run meaning % his law. % whirl
they ON must contribute On NE 90
proprriE or labor
Ther, are 200 oc0 mon vho can Oh.
read or write Vhn may Do, dror".
within our army y ith,u ,h, nest yet'
or uVo. Training cumIs for ~oldio.
are uut equipped for -chuol work an.
tbe burden OF seiching men 10 rca.
ths simplest English should u" Ice cp
upon tho officers rr others VA the
camps We should cm-iy % nistak'
of long standing by g.,in- -omo cdu
cstiien 90 aI pur men before they eu
Ger thu arWf. and continue the worI
at home 900 "a cflor' "a reduce ulite,
aoy o. Me lowest po,siblv point