The age-herald., 1900-12-11
ORGANIZED MOVEMENT Barbed Wire Stops President
 Powers at Stairway COURT OF INQUIRY INVESTIGATE The Boys Are Doing Well at Recita- tions, But Object to Some of the
 Military Regulations-Has
 Caused Sensation.
COURT OF INQUIRY INVESTIGATE

Tuscaloosa, December 10.-(Special)-A serious and unfortunate state of affairs has been in existence at the State University since the early morning hours of last Fri day. when an organized disorder was be- gun by a large number of boys in the bar racks. The disturbance caused by the eX- ploslon of fireworks, firearms and cannon crackers began about 1:90 o'clock Friday morning. and when Commandant West ap- peared on the scene to quell it, he was un- able to do so, and went after President Powers.
 When President Powers arrived he att tempted to go up the stairs leading up to the barracks, but was kept from doing so by a perfect network of barbed-wire, which had been formed by the students earlier in the night President Powers in running against the wire tore his trousers, but did not otherwise injure himself He called to the young men to desist but staid on the ground only few minutes, returning to his residence The disturbance, however, is said to have ceased soon after. There was
 
 no further disorder during the night.
 An Organized Disturbance.
 The disturbance was an organized one, and seemed to have yeen very carefully planned. It was said by some that missiles were thrown at the president, but this is probably mistake, as the boys in a state ment made to the faculty, stated no indig- nity or insult was intended for the presi- dent of the university. Pieces of coal and possibly other missiles were nevertheless scattered in profusion, but great part of the disturbance was from the halloing and yelling by the students.
 A court of inquiry was called the next morning by President Powers to investigate the disorder. The court was in session al. most all of the day and did not adjourn until after 10 o'clock Saturday morning, When a boy was summoned before this court he would absolutely refuse to testi. fy, as sixty or seventy of the students had sworn pledge to secrecy prior to the oc- currenee Friday morning.
 The result of the finding of the court was to refer the whole matter to the faculty for further consideration. It is understood that at the meeting of the faculty two of the students representing the student body had a petition presented in which they asked for certain reliefs and referred to the disturbance of the morning previous. It is understood that the cadets in this statement make the statement that they did not expect the president of the univer- sity to appear upsn the scene, and further apologize for and regret any discourtesy shown him.
 Dislike Military Discipline.
 The reforms or rather reliefs the cadets call for is the abolition of the tattoo call at 9:3O a. m., the abolition of tour-walking in the afternoons, and they request regular hours and evenings for corps drill, which they claim should be only three hours per week, as called for in the catalogue, in- stead of three and half to four as Is at present in vogue.
 They claim the climax was reached when the commandant had men put on the quad- rangle for visiting and petty offenses. The grievance of the students as set forth in the communication to the faculty is said to be against the commandant, Captain of age, whom they claim Is entirely too strict.
 The note of the students, it Is understood, states that all of the men went into the with due forethought. It