The age-herald., 1900-12-12
THE COURT OF INQUIRY Students Prefer Charges Against
 Head of School DECLARE HE HAS NO BACKBONE Demand His Removal on the Alleged Ground of Unmanly Conduct
 Meeting of the Faculty.
 Situation is Critical.
DECLARE HE HAS NO BACKBONE

Tuscaloosa, December 11.-(Special.)- sensational turn in affairs has taken place at the State University, where the student body has been in open rebellion against the faculty since last Friday, because of certain rules laid down which were objec- tionable
 The university students charged with insubordinaton and rebellion have demand ed the removal of President James K. Pow CTS on the ground that he has acted un- manly towards the commandant and that he has permitted political influences to shape his conduct of the office of president.
 The Investigation.
 The court of inquiry consisting of the faculty of the university, to investigate in to the conduct of the students charged with open rebellion against the commandant last Friday met this afternoon and in vited every student who so desired to come before it and make a statement. It was supposed that the inquiry was for the pur- pose of hearing the students grievances against the commandant, but it turned out that their grievances were really against President Powers. When the students had been summoned before the court they re- quested the president and the command ant to retire, which they did.
 Te faculty will not give out any infor- mation relative to the testimony heard, but 1t is learned from a trustworthy source that the witnesses testified that the com mandant, of whose severity they com plained was acting upder the authority of the president, and that the president is trying to shift the responsibility to the commandant. They alleged that the presi- dent had instituted the objectionable tattoo at 93O D. m., and that he approved every action of the commandant as to the walk ing of tours of duty. They further alleged that the president lacks backbone, as the commandant discovered the leaders of the insurrection and demanded their dismissal, but the president refused to order their dismissal. The witnesses alleged that last year the president dismissed boys with no political pulls for having 200 demerits and allowed others with from 300 to 400 demer- its, who happened to have political pull, re- main in school.
 Say Powers is Afraid to Act.
 The witnesses further declared that Pres ident Powers was hooted, jeered, cursed and pelted with coal and ashes Friday night, and that when they wrote to the faculty last week that they meant no disrespect to the president they meant the office of president and not President Powers him self. The witnesses stated that they were cognizant of the fact that they were guilty of insubordination and open re- bellion, but claim that it was necessary to secure needed reforms. It is stated further that the witnesses stated that if the pres ident had had any backbone he would have propmtly dismissed every one of them.
 About fifteen students gave testimony, and others will go before the faculty to- morrow It is sta ted that the students who testified stated that they desired to exoner- ate Commandant West, as he was not the one responsible for the odious orders They directed their testimony particularly against President Powers.
 The court of inquiry will reconvene to- morrow morning at o'clock.