The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-23
STATE SHOULD DO ITS PART


 of the Alabama Polytechnic Institute, Judge W. H. Sanford, of the Alabama Court of Appeals, and president of the Auburn Alumni Association, advocated a comprehensive survey of Alabama's three higher institutions of learning to ascertain their needs and to obtain through legislative enactment adequate appropriations to provide for these needs. Expressing sympathy for the motive behind the drives inaugurated to collect funds for these institutions by individual subscriptions, Judge Sanford pointed out that, however successful these drives may be, the relief does not provide for the continued maintenance and expansion of the schools. He added: HThere must be plans devised for per manent relief, not dependent upon vol untary charity inspired by drives and as we should, the state must be made to realize that the money wisely expended in these great institutions is not char ity, but an investment in men and women with the full expectation of sub stantial returns"
 The fact that in these drives for spe- cial funds hundreds of thousands of dol lars are donated by citizens of Alabama who realize the value of education, in- dicates an increased appreciation of what these institutions are doing for the upbuilding of the state. But there are two aspects of this situation which should be impressed upon the states leg islative body. First, as Judge Sanford said, the funds raised from drives are for special purposes and do not care for the general needs. There must be proper vision in recognizing the oppor- tunities and possibilities which adequate support of these institutions offers de- velopment of the state's vast resources through increased efficiency. These op- portunities and possibilities are spread out over a period of five, ten, twenty years, or more. Hence the importance of proper preparation to turn them to practical service. With greater eff ciency among thousands of young men and young women trained to make the best use of their time and industry, re- turns upon the investment will far more than justify the cost. It is vital eco- homie proposition, which involves in large measure the prosperity of the state.
 Secondly, may we'll be considered in this connection, an equitable distribu- tion of financial responsibility among the people of Alabama. Under the drive system only "a small percentage of the people contribute to the cause. Yet every man, woman and child in the state enjoys due part of the benefits. Every young man or young woman trained for the efficient service in these institutions is of greater service to the whole state. They are a direct source of increased public revenues through taxes upon larger valuations. Thus the whole state is benefited, and every citizen profits by the general advance. For institu- tions of such wide service to be sup ported by a few is not only unfair to the few who provide the temporary relief, but it is unfair to the institutions which were established for the public good and should be adequately maintained at the public expense.
 All of these higher institutions of learning are growing in attendance and are expanding in influence and service. None of them have been given that sup port by the state to which they are en- titled on basis of their records. While all should support the Montevallo effort. yet Judge Samford's suggestion to as- certain the needs of the institutions for ten-year term, to be followed by con- certed efforts of those who love their state and have visions of greater things, to carry the program to the legislature for an appropriation to meet the needs, is constructive and timely. But it should not be forgotten that the governor and the legislature, with much of this in formation already in hand, did nothing to provide for the state schools, beyond certain sums inadequate even to meet all legitimate running expenses, to say nothing of the growing demands of both scholastic advance and increasing att tendance.
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 COLBERT COUNTS PROGRESS On saveral occasions of late The Aoe=