Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1922-04-07
TOWNER, IN SPEECH,
MAKES STRONG PLEA
FOR BETTER SCHOOLS
Tells Teachers lIliteracy in U. S.
Has Become Great Ma
tional Menace.
GOVERNMENT TO HELP

Ilitoracy and even absolute igno-
rance 60 general and widespread
throughout this country that they
have become a national peril and
danger threatening even the future
safety OF America and its overthrow
aa the leader Of all the other nations
= the earth is the problem the people
of the United States are confronted
with and one which they must solve.
according To Congressman Horace Nj.
Towncr Of Iowa. who was the speaker
last night at a meeting In the Audi
torium OF the High School held un-
der tho auspices OF the Primary Teach
trs Association.
lie said Il is the desire OF the Fed
orai Government to aid and ASSIST
the states Of the Union in their ef-
forts to educate their citizens and
that this ia In reality the purpose OF
the Towncr- Smith bill now before Con
rress. the much discussed law Of which
he Ia the creator. His address dealt
with the governments desire To do all
% can TO promote better education
throughout the country hut he caused
some a appointment among his audi
tors hy his Studious avoidance of any
direct reference to hts own bill Or to
ncr any extended explanation of il
IN detail His time was almost entire
Is in relation To the necessity for Fed
cral assistance for the schools but
he ala not have much to say about
tho manner I'm which tho schools Of the
country are going 10 be affected should
his hill be enacted into law. Neither
did hc SAY what the states would he
required to do under the provisions
- this hin except to declare that there
- nothing IN the measure that would
take from the states any OF the au-
thority they now exercise over their
own internal educational problems.
The meeting was largely attended.
Ou the platform with the speaker wae
Miss Clara Mendenhall. president OF
the teachers association, who pr6sid-
"a and introduced Congressman Town
sr. and DIR. II. V. Holloway. state
Commissioner Of Education and David
\ Ward, superintendent of the public
schools ot this city. The High School
orchestra furnished music.
After Miss Mendenhan had intro
duced Congressman Towner he launch
od Immediately into his subject. first
stating that he felt justified in prsis-
ing the people Of Delaware for tho
step~ they have taken in the last few
years FOR the advancement of educa
tion In this state. The people have al
ways thought IL proper for the state
10 be interested in educational mat,
tsrs. he said. as this was properly q
matter for the state authorities bu
that Il is not time for the nationa
government to take a hand despite tn,
TACT that the nation has always beer
interested in tho proper education q
its citizens. AS far back as 1855 N,
ANvernment donated much Ian,
throughout the Northwest for schoo
purposes and from that time on IN
government has spent millions OF dol
lars for the education OF all it's peopl
and this In itself is sufficient evidenc
TO show that the nation has Away
manifested the lSecncst interes; in ed
1,cational matters. Los; year this coun
Try spent for education. aside fror
that expended FOR the care OF the dis
abled .x-service men about S65. 900,
600 and including the moneys spen
Cor the war veterans the sum amount
ed 20 over 100000 .OoO.
Department of Education.
Practically every other nation o
earth. with the exception Of the Init
ed States has considered education {
sufficient importance as to create
department OF education. Congress
man Towner said. and TO make il
primary part OF the governmental ma
Chincry. Most Of them have Feders
commissioners Of education. He sai
the activities OF this government an
not correlated but IL is very easy
bring them all together and that
what IL is proposed 10 do as the fir
step in the creation Of a departmei
81 education IN this country. This. /
explained. would not take any autho
ity from the state rs some suppose
would. The states would not lose COZ
troll Of its educational affairs.
The purpose OF the Towner-Smit
bil is to enable the Federal govern
ment 10 aid and assist efforts OF Il
states to educate their citizens,
bring them closer together TO mai
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