The age-herald., 1900-12-17
Sterling A' Wood of Advisory
 Board Reviews Situation AN AMICABLE ADJUSTMENT
Says the Present System is Illogical, But That Students and Officers Will Live Under It Until
 It Can be Corrected

Sterling A. Wood, senior member of the advisory board of the Society of the Alumni of the University of Alabama, returned from Tuscaloosa yesterday morning. MT. Wood was in Tuscaloosa two or three days last week to confer with the trustees of the university with reference to the troubles at that institution growing out of the re- bellion of the students against certain mili- tary requirements. MT. Wood states that everything has been adjusted in manner agreeable to the officials and the students, and that no further trouble is likely to oc- cur during the present session. There was no attempt made to discipline the students who had engaged in the rebellious conduct, and as the telegraphic specials in the Age Herald announced yesterday morning, Pres ident Powers and Commandant West were eXhonorated of the charges brought against
 From statements of the alumni of the university and others who have it's welfare at heart. the conclusion is drawn that the military features will be abolished before the beginning of another year. As at pres ent conducted the military features do not apply to the senior class or the law class, and this alleged discrimination it is claimed is partly responsible for the instruction at the university last week and the week before. The Legislature, when it reconvenes after the holidays will take up the oues- tion of aboishing the military duties en- tirely, or of making them apply to all stu dents alike whether in the sophomore or senior class.
 One of the alumni in discussing the situ- alton at the university argued that the military features should be abolished en- tirely. Ire school at Auburn Is a military school, 'ie said, and the university should be non-military, thus affording an oppor- tunlty to the boys of the State to take their choice between a military and a non-mil- itary school.
 Powers Not to Blame.
 It is stated that President Powers is not to blame for the strict rules mat have been enforced at the university this session. Last session there was considerable dis content at the military requirements on the part of the students and an occasional out cropping of this displeasure occurred, but it did not assume the proportions of the insurrection of last week. When the trus- tees met last summer. it is stated, they in- tructed the president and commandant to enforce the rules in every respect and to be strict with the students. In following out these instructions President Powers has in- cured the ill-will of a large number of the students, who finally rose in rebellion against the rules.
 This is not the first outbreak against the military features of the university. The first time the students rebelled against mili- tary duties was about sixty years ago and it ended very much as did the revolt which called the trustees to Tuscaloosa last week. There were no dismissals of officials, nor of student at that time. The Incident ended without serious consequences to the institu- tion. A similar rebellion arose at a later date, but did not amount to much.
 It Is the general belief among those fa- miliar with the university and the stu dents that the difficulties just ended will prove a real benefit to that institution It has brough to the surface the real manhood and the gentlemanly qualities of the great body of the students who guided and coun- seled the belligerents during the ten days of revolt No body of men ever behaved better or attended to their duties more dili- gently than did the hundred or more stu dents engaged in the revolt. The only or derss they declined to obey were those against which they were complaining. They prepared their lessons better and were more punctual to every duty, except those under question, than at any other time during the present term. They have been complmented on every hand for their ad- nirable conduct in every respect except their rebellion against the authorities of tho school.
 Anything But Encouraging.
 When the trustees and the legislative committee arrived in Tuscaloosa, accord ing to reports, the situation was anything but encouraging, and grave apprehensions as to the result were felt. The whole sit uation was gone over most carefully in the effort to get at the bottom of the trouble, and to right any wrong that might exist. While the sessions of the trustees were held in secret, yet enough that transpired behind the closed doors has leaked out to show how the trustees, the advisory board and the members of the legislative commit tee felt in the matter. With hardly dis senting voice the trustees, 1t is stated, were opposed to dismfssing any of the stu dents, or to any criticism of the president of. commandant It was stated that Com mandant West, in the discharge of his duties, did some things that he could just as well have overlooked without sacrificing discipline or good behavior, and that the students believed he oversieped his duty on some occasions. No one, however, questioneds his honesty of purpose, or his devotion to his duty.
 Every thing has been satisfactorily ad- justed, and so far as is known at present