The late Franklin K. Lane, secretary of the
interior, placed the annual loss to the nation
from illiteracy at $820,000,000. Loss due to
remediable physical defects is estimated to
be even larger. In 1920 federal statisticians
placed the nation’s bill for luxuries for the
year at $22,500,000,000, a sum large enough
tu replace the public school plant from tbe
ground up. A large part of this is waste,
and could be saved without loss or serious
Inconvenience to the people. Alabama's part
•f 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 well
again he reminded of a statement of a dis
tinguished Alabamian, Hon J. L. M. Curry,
In reply to the contention that Alabama
^^fjDuld not afford to educate her children. He
■aid : “Alabama cannot afford not to edu
cate h#r children.” This dictum applies also
ti unlettered adults who may yet be reached
by educational influences.
