The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-03
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

You never know when something
 worth while is going to be staged at Rotary lunch'a and that is why the
 attendance record is so high
 Things may drag along for awhile ! with the ordinary routine matters, and | it looks as if the hour will prove dull ! one. and then up rises stranger at the speakers table, and the president says: T regret very much, but we
 have only little time left, but those
 present will be glad for you to use it."
 Morris Bush arose towards adjourn ing time on Wednesday and, turning to a distinguished gentleman at his right, saying, "Dr c. c. Claxton, we have eight minutes at your disposal; be good enough to bring before us the educational situation in Alabama" This was the order the United States com- missioner of education got. It was l enough to feaze him, but it didn't. He got going quick, and from the start he had his audience going with him. In the first place, he looks very much like a high-class actor, trim fig ure, we'll modulated voice and wonder full grace, and an easy manner in speaking that is most restful, until he wishes to arouse his hearers, then he becomes dynamic and sweeps all be- fore him.
 I do not know whether this is the proper setting to stage an educator or international note, but I have to report men and things as they appear to me. and I hope he will pardon the liberty I have taken in making him out in looks a matinee idol. I am sure, how ever, that if he had taken to his tronic art that he would have been the despair of the feminine theatre goers. Now, hold that it is no crime for a man to be good looking, and especially is this true if he have with his physical attractiveness an intellec- tual cast of feature.
 It was not necessary for him to tell us that he was southerner. It was betrayed in his tones and one reared in this climate could detect certain col loqualisms. He is proud to be a Ten nessean, and is another man from Dixie | occupying high position in Washington until those on the other side of the Mason and Dixon line are restive under
 the influence which the south has in the present administration.
 I wish everyone in Alabama could have heard his rapid resume of the educational status as it now is and what he hopes it will be after the survey which his department is mak- ing will be given to us in May. Few people outside of the educators realize l the importance of the commission created by the legislature. Sid Bowie has place of tremendous responsi- bility and opportunity and he and his 1 colaborers are going to meet it with
 faces towards the future.
 1 I had just come from the community
 meeting at the First Methodist church where I had listened to Dr. Phillips
 as he told of the educational needs
 of Birmingham and Jefferson county. 1 He took a wide sweep and related his I subject to every form of community work and service, and gave some in 1 teresting data of what was being done l to reach the foreign element with night | schools, and to see that the strangers within our gates should be made into good citizens by being thrown into
 close association and cooperation with
 the native Americans. It was really a strong presentation of subject
 which does not rest as heavily upon us I as it should.
 I was therefore in tune for the mes 1 sage of Dr. ClaXton and every shot out of his quiver went straight to my heart and set my fancy to visiouing big
 things for Alabama in the future. The
 world owes much to its dreamers. The
 people without vision." I take off
 my hat to the seers who, looking down
 the centuries prepare paths for us to f climb out of the valleys into the noun
 tains. Many men see things but have
 no power to tell them, but Dr. Claxton
 is both seer and a prophet.
 | I will not attempt to tell with what
 graphic power he set forth the un- touched wealth of Alabama in denying
 the charge that it Is poor state He
 had taken the trouble to get up the data in Washington as to the value of
 the lands. both cultivated and uncult,-
 vated; of the mines, giving the wealth
 in iron, coal and fluxing materials; of the vast resources in soft and hard | woods; of chances to increase the fer tility of the soil by proper methods. He grew eloquent in his presentation
 of cold facts which ran up into bu- lions.
 He drove home the tlesson that no
 people with such treasures at their doors where iron could be converted
 into steel out of Alabama's backyard;
 where cotton mills could be run with The cotton picked right up to the
 place of manufacture; where every thing which nature could bestow was
 at hand ought to be ashamed to plead poverty when the crying needs of edu. cation were being pressed upon them,
 but should be ready to see to it that
 the legislature met the conditions of fored the state bv the national gov ,r;,- at,;I