The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-04-08
GOV. BRANDON'S PROGRAM

The presence of Governor Brandon at
sessions of the Alabama Educational AS
ISOLATION, and his address before the citi-
zens' conference on education were in line
with his repeated assertions that he be-
lieves education to be the foremost duty
of the state. There is every indication that
the governor will translate his earnestness
and enthusiasm in this cause into an actual
legislative and state program which should
begin to bear fruit even before the expira-
ton of his term of office. Legislative pro-
cesses move slowly, but their pace can be
accelerated by an alert and energetic execu-
tive who will have no patience with un-
necessary delays. The fact that a recess
committee of the legislature is devoting
its time to a study of education needs and
Of plans for financing such needs is suffi-
Gent proof that the coming session will
have this question prominently to the FORE
front of the matters subjected to its con-
sideration.
Some of Governor Brandon's views as ex-
pressed Friday in Birmingham are worth
wide publicity, such "The states first
duty is to deveop its men and women. Ed
ucation is the most important question be-
fore the state of Alabama today. 1t is my
desire that Alabama be second to none in
giving it's people educational advantages.
sincerely desire to take the people in conf
dence in this great question of education
and attempt to work an adequate program
for educational development. Education
is the mos valuable asset to any state, and
all forward movements along educational
ebo h. cd Of hos
sentiments are not new, but they gain i'm
measurable significance from the fact that
they are held and uttered by man in po-
sition to make his words come true. Spoken
by an educator, such phrases depend for
their potency upon the public approval they
may arouse. Spoken by the governor, they
partake of the nature of prophecy about to
be fulfilled.
Governor Brandon has some very definite
ideas about how he will so about this bust
ness of improving Alabama's educational
facilities and opportunities. In the first
place. he has declared that he will not give
his executive approval to appropriations for
other purposes until he is assured that the
public educational institutions have been pro-
vided for. He disapproves of haphazard
appropriations even Tor educatlon. flrsS
he would have accurate knowledge of edu-
cational needs and the funds necessary 70
satisfy such needs. Having discovered tho
requirements, he would next consider ways
and means to provide the revenue. Insofar
as revenues already existent are sufficient,
he would use them. For the expansion in
facilities required by our growing demand
for education he would make it possible for
the people of the state to declare whether
or not they are willing to assume further
tax specifically for educational purposes.
In this land of government by the people,
nothing can be more democratic than to let
the people decide such questions once the
need has been clearly laid before them.
1t is to the credit of the American people,
and the people of Alabama, that they have
never refused to support the cause of public
education,