The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-04
PEOPLES FORUM


To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
DR.. p. p. Claxton in well
rounded sentences and beautiful
phraseology has called our atten-
tior to the fact that in Alabama
higher institutions of learning we
have only one-third of our right
full share of college students; and
one fourth. in proportion to pop
ulation, as twenty states to the
north and west of US.
The writer knows far less about
phrase making than he does about
existing conditions. DR.. Claxton
deals rather with the ideal than
with the actual. / wonder If it
ever occurred to him to remember
that seventy seven per cent. of
Alabama's population is rural. and
that ninety per cent of the rural
school children never finish the
eighth grade? This fact is the
largest contributing factor in
bringing about the conditions to
which he calls our attention. If
we would change and have greater
number of students in our col
leges, we must first improve the
facilities for an elementary edu-
cation. The writer. being as in
ept at SMILES as he is at phrase
making, will suggest, however
that farmer who spent two
thirds of his money for harvesting
machinery. leaving only one-third
for preparation and cultivation of
his crop. would not have a "har
monious whole" system of agri
Il lNa hi xr
expect bountiful harvest. Ma
lures plan is first the blade. then
the ear after that the full corn
in the ear. AMI her laws are in
exorable; any deviation brings
disaster inevitably.
The greatest need today in Ala
bama Is outstanding agricultural
leaders who have consIructiV !
ideas. and who can make farming
profitable. Our congressman arc
racking their brains to devise
some plan that will induce men TO
go back to the farms, and there
is but one solution of the prob
lem: give the farmer All equal
chance to educate his children, an
equal chance for material pros
perity, an equal chance ut the
comforts of life. An industrial
system with the basic industry
dislocated cannot be rightly
termed a harmonious WHOLE" for
1t is only question of short
time before the entire system is
dislocated The buck Is passed
on to the farmer by every INDUS
try coming and going. If he sells
90 Nc f,-n1 G
Quoted from the price. and If he
buys a moving machine the
freight Is added to the price. If
a law Is needed for police regu-
lation, in order to prevent adul-
teration OF fertilizers. the farmer
is taxed five times as much as
the cost of the service and the
surplus passed on to Auburn, or
some other higher institution of
learning not one farmer In ten
ever sees.
sounding phrases Will
never make our schools better nor
put more boys in college. The
governor three mill tax will not
be voted by the people unless
there is more money given to the
elementary schools; and 1t is very
probable that the one-mill tax
voted ten years ago will be de-
feated when resubmitted. unless
there is more equitable division.
Why is it that politicians. news
papers, educational specialists"
and teachers harp on the necessi-
ty for higher schools and say
nothing about the elementary
school until it is necessary to get
the people to vote an additional
tax?
Right principles were taught
by the Master. and all things must
be adjusted, If we expect har-
mony, in accordance with said
right principles.
q. T. McELDERRY.
Talladega. Ala, May l, 1928.