The age-herald., 1899-03-17
SUPT. ABERCROMBIE
Writes Card Explaining Joint Meeting
 of Trustees.

Montgomery, March 16.-(special. .)-The article in the Age-Herald yesterday morn ing giving an account of the joint meeting of the boards of trustees of the Industrial School for White Girls at Montevallo and Booker Washington's school has been con- strued by some of the trustees as convey Ing the idea that there arose in the meet ing conflict between the governor and the two boards, and that he had made some suggestions in the meeting which the trus- tees refused to endorse. Superintendent of Education Abercrombie, who was secretary of the joint meeting, yesterday handed the correspondent the following card:
 To the Editor of the Age-Herald:
 l notice in today's issue of the Age Herald that it is stated by your Mont gomery correspondent, In his report of the joint meeting of the trustees of the Montevallo and Tuskegee schools, that Governor Johnston desired to select the lands himself. and that the two boards were unwilling to leave the selection to him, preferr.ng to pay the 2,000 rather than do so.
 As secretary of the joint meeting, and desiring that justice be done all con- cerned, the trustees, as well as the gov ernor, and without imputing any unfair
 
 gentleman-permit me to say that he was misinformed.
 The governor said that he intended to be guided by the judgment and wishes of the two boards in regard to the se- lection of the lands, and was ready to appoint a commissioner or take such other action as the two boards might wish; that he had called the trustees to- gether to consider the matter, and to En the best interest of the two schools.
 The meeting was altogether harmoni- ous. J. w. ABERCROMBIE.
 Montgomery, March 15 1899.
 MT. Abercrombie misconstrued the arti- cle. It was not my intention to convey the idea that there was any wrangle in the meeting, for my information was that the meeting was perfectly harmonious
 But it is generally known that the gov ernor had said that he would not appoint a commissioner; that he would make the selection of the lands himself using as a pretext for so doing that 1t would save to the schools g 900. This suggestion was not made by the governor in the meeting, but 1t was made to them personally and by let ter. My information that the governor made these suggestions came direct from the gentlemen to whom the suggestions were made. Names can be given. Not a single member of the two boards, as far as am informed, would agree to the gov ernor's suggestion, and he probably knew the views of the members before the meet ing convened yesterday. It is known that the governor indorsed the bill introduced by MT. Mcqueen calling for the appoint ment of a commissioner. It is further known that the governor gave his promise to appoint Colonel Plowman as commis- sioner. It is also history that State Sen- ator c. W. Thompson asked for the ap. pointment of his brother, w. w. Thomp- son. It Is a matter of further history that the governor and Senator Thompson had "a little misunderstanding" and that Sen. ator Thompson threatened to resign his seat. Then 1t was that the governor decided that he could save to the schools $2, ,000 by selecting the lands himself.
 The matter of selecting % 900 acres of tht most valuable public lands in the state fol the two schools Is very important one and 1t is but natural that each of the schools desired a commissioner to make personal inspections. This was the com. promise, agreed upon, although the bill passed by the recent legislature provides for the appointment of Commissioner and not "commission."
 D. D. KERSH.