Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-06-19
SUPPORT
FOR STATE SCHOOLS
URGED BY WALKER

ISOLATED Press. with a plea to ''let
the dead past bury it's dead; fight
free from the slough Of despond of
the past four years; join hands as
patriots of peace in q fight for the
final realizatio Of the vision of
the fathers through a program of
better schools, better colleges, better
highways, better health, better
homes and better churches" Cover
nor Clifford Walker, in an address
before the Phi Beta Kappa fraterni-
ty Of the University OF Georgia, last
night sounded the keynote of his
address, THE Building of q Greater
Georgia.
II am not here to sound a pessimis-
tic note" the governor declared, Il
have no dark, no dismal, no depres-
sive or destructive sentiments to ex-
press. [ see the dawn of hope in
the future.
Il come to ask this practical
question:: Have we, in fact, builded
here a nation which measures up to
the standards fixed by our fathers?
Have we here a state which real
ICES even approximately the visions
Of our fathers?
Items of Progress
To-day our schools and colleges
are crowded. In 1906, there were
sent out from the accredited high
schools in Georgia only ninety-three
graduates; in 1923 there were 5000.
Only five years ago the attendance
in one of our leading colleges num-
bered only $50; today it numbers
LOIS. Our highways are Won
derfully improved. A modern state
health department has been devel-
oped. Our people are placing en-
phasis upon things that really count.
while all this is true, justifying
pride in the accomplishment of those
who have gone before us, we must
not be blind to the fact that the in
spring and uplifting agencies of the
state are seriously in need; that some
Of them are all but gasping for the
very breath Of life and that
before we ever approximate the
vision of our fathers we must double
and then quadruple the facilities and
equipment of the state institutions
to which we look for the training of
the thousands of youths who follow
after us.
eve have not measured up to the
vision of our earthly fathers Cover
nor Walker declared.
Bondage of Ignorance
Again to the practical question:
How can We hope to realize the
ideals, how measure up to the vision
of our earthly fathers, our Heavenly
Father, of modern America? BY the
education of our people. Drive out
ignorance, superstition and preju-
dice. Train the people to think
straight, and all our problems, civic
and political will be solved, and
more-they will not rest until neigh
bors treat their neighbors justly
until all peoples and all nations share
in common the blessings of freedom.
1--WE have yet failed to measure
up to our obligations until we give
a real chance to every boy and girl
in Georgia. However free from des-
potism and tyranny in government,
we are still only half free if we re-
main in the bondage of ignorance.
Cooperation Needed
There has been too much division
within the borders of Georgia, Gov
ernor Walker declared. fractional.
y
our beloved state of late. For TWEEN
ty years a destructive and not a
constructive spirit has held sway in
Georgia. AS a result, Georgia bad
and not Georgia good has been adver-
tised to the world. There has not
been cooperation and coordination
in building a state.
For the final practical thought, 1
suggest that the time has come
when Georgia must turn from the
business gloom and commercial de-
spair of the past four years. E.
We have tarried in the wilderness
long enough. [ congratulate
myself, as 1 congratulate Georgia,
that l can look for leadership in
thought and sentiment and action to
you intrepid sons of those glorious
fathers, blood of their blood, bone Of
their bone, al | point to the dawn of
new and brighter day in Georgia
and bid you turn your eyes to the
east!
Call to Service
II come with my final word" the
governor declared in conclusion, ito
ask you, blessed of men, leaders of
public sentiment, the hope of Geor-
gia-what are you going to do with
your lives? VIII you sell
your soul by shriveling yourself into
the sordid shell of selfshness, hoard
ing your wealth to become a curse
to you, and worse than a curse to
your children after you are gone?
Or will you, with your feet planted
on the solid rock of faith, with your
hand openly and boldly and without
apology placed in the hand of the
Master, with your life consecrated to
the glory of God, to the service of
your fellow man and to the building
of a greater Georgia, build of your
life a tribute of love, an honor to
your beloved Alma Mater, to your