The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-18
THE ILLITERACY CAMPAIGN

M The iliteracy campaign which is spon- sored by the Alabama Federation of Women's Clubs, March q to 29 should appeal to all who realize the cost of illiteracy and igno- rance in this state. The federation will have an illiteracy stamp sale, the proceeds of which will be devoted to the work of educa- tion. With so worthy a purpose the success of which would mean permanent benefits to the moral and material interests of Ala bama, a general response would be gratifying to the intelligent and earnest men who are active in this service.
 The late Franklin K. Lane, secretary of the interior, placed the annual loss to the nation from illiteracy at $826,000,OO0. Loss due to remediable physical defects is estimated to be even larger. In 1920 federal statistcians placed the nations bill for luxures for the year at $22, 00,000,000, sum large enough tO replace the public school plant from the ground up. A large part of this is waste, and could be saved without loss or serious Inconvenience to the people. Alabama's part of this waste represents many times the cost that would be required to wipe illiteracy and its accompanying evils from the confines of this state. The people of Alabama may we'll again be reminded of a statement of dis tinguished Alabamian, Hon J. L. Nj. Curry, | Acould not afford to educate her children. He said Alabama cannot afford not to edu- cate her children" This dictum applies also to unlettered adults who may yet be reached by educational influences.
 The chairman of the illiteracy division of the Alabama Federation of Womens Clubs, which is undertaking this important work, says with point: "It is not charity we are asking, but merely chance to bring under standing and the vision of real life to people who, through no fault of their own, have been held down in life, handicapped by igno- rance and poverty. In helping these unfor- tunate ones, we are also helping our state. eur children and the future condition of our country. Where there is such blight of ig. norance on any land, there will always be evils, vice, disease and crime, and in giving understanding and the opportunity to learn, we will enable people of this kind to become better citizens
 ], Education is a great productive asset; iiIiteracy an obstructive liability. Illiteracy is one of the most costly conditions in any country or district where it is permitted Co exist through failure of enlightened people to realize its damage and danger. In con- tributing to any program that will reduce illiteracy, the contributors are not making donations. but practical investments which promise large returns for their own direct benefit. This is understood by those who appreciate the cost of sloth, non-productive capacity. lawlessness, disease and other evils that grow out of ignorance. No condition or influence is doing more to retard moral and material progress and to obstruct develop ment of higher standards of citizenship, bet ter government and increased prosperity and happiness among all the people of Alabama than the inexcusable percentage of illiteracy which could be largely removed with proper effort at the hands of the enlightened citi- zenrY.