The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-16


 the Board whenever change Is neces- sary, and will not have the Governor under obli9a<fon to reappoint any members who may have become inef- ficfent from old age or other causes In that way, the Governor will appoint to be confirmed by the Senate. and these appointees will preside over the destinies of the University. and report to the Governor of the State.
 Now, it has been suggested by some, Mir. President, that we ought not to make an exception of any University; that if we are going to take the Gov ernor of of the Board of the Univer- sity, we ought to take him off the Board of the other institutions. at Au- burn and Montevallo. While it might save some little space in printing the Constitution, to have all of 1t embraced in one section, but submit that it is. should be run like Montevaiio or Au. burn. The State University is in a class by itself, both rom Its origin and foundation in the position 1t occupies among the schools of the State. The reason why did not incorporate, with the other seven or eight gentlemen who signed this minority report, sec tion taking the Governor off of the Board of Trustees of Auburn and Mon. tcNdio WHile ueHcNo the same req . sons would hold good there, it would be better and wiser policy. but we did not incorporate in the minority report and make that recommendation to the Convention. be- cause. MT. President, those institutions sent a long petition to the Committee on Education and specifically requested and asked that no change whatever be made in their management.
 MT. Brooks-I desire to ask my friend from Limestone if he will ad- dress himself briefly to the reason for his retaining in his amendment the Superintendent of Education as ex-offi- cio member of the Board. Why should the Superintendent of Education, whose functions and field of operations are so distinct from that of the University be retained. or why in fact, should there be any ex-officio member of that Board?
 MT. Pettus-The reason which actu- ated the minority in leaving the Su- perintendent of Education as ex-officio member of the Board of the State Uni. versity was this: While the Univer- sity was founded by the Federal gov ernment. while it's appropriation that comes annually from the State is bu. the payment of the interest which the State owes upon the trust fund that founded the University. and while in theory. perhaps, 1t may be somewhat separate, at least in its origin from the common school system of the State the minority believe that the ideal system of education Is to have schools begin ming with the common schools. open to all the people In every county. through various gradations. and to have as a top and crown of the educational sys- tenn of the State. a State University, and believing the University should be in touch with these other institutions of learning over which the Superin- tendent of Education presides. and over which he exercises supervision, the minority believed that it was a wise policy to let him be an ex-ofIicio mem- ber of the Board of the State Univer- sity. in order that the relationship and harmony of the educational institu- tions and systems of the State might be preserved.
 The President pro tem-The time of the gentleman has expired.
 MT. Pettus-I don't want more time. I simply want to submit that I am op- posed to the substitute of the gentle man from Tuscaloosa, and trust, with the minority of the Committee Un Ed ucntion who have signed the report with me. that the Convention will en- certain the substitute and adopt the minority report which simply takes the Governor of of the Board and makes no other change.
 MT. Foster-The substitute has not been prompted by any feeling on my part that the present system has not resulted in the appointment of good men as Trustees of the Univ ersity.
 I believe that the Governor can al- ways appoint good men upon the Board of Trustees of the University but 1t is needless to ignore the fact. as every member of this Convention knows. there has been a cry all over tse State which has injured the University raa- terially. that politics have entered into it's control. It has even been stated. Mir. President in parts of the State, that the University is a mere political machine used for the advancement of political interests of certain men who are connected with it. Now, MT. Pes i4ent. while I do not believe that Iol- itics enter into the management of that institution to any very great Cy- tent. I feel thoroughly and deeply the need of some action upon the part of this Convention to make 1t impossible in the future that this cry may be used against this institution of learn ing. The alumni, MT. President. also feel 1t. and 1t is in response to a les- olution at the last meeting of the alumni. that have drawn up that substitute and offered 1t before this Convention. The gentleman from Limestone read part of resolution adopted at the last meeting of the Alumni Association. but he did not read all of it and I desire to call the attention of this Convention to the fourth resolution adopted at that meet ing. that some method should be in- corporated in the Constitution of the State. in place of the present one, which will remove the appointment or cleo tion of the Trustees as far as possible, from political influences and ObligA. tions." l agree with the gentleman from Limestone that meeting of the Alumni Association was q representa- tive body of the alumni of the Univcr- sity. 1 do not concede the theory, and I do not believe in 1t. that the institu- ton belongs to the alumni. I believe notwithstanding what the gentleman from Limestone said that it's endow- ment is a gift of the Federal govern ment. that the institution belongs to the Ste.te of Alabama. They are the people interested, in 1t.
 MT. President. the Alumni met tfere at the last eoInmencement. and having canvassed the whole matter adopted this resolution. as their deliberate opin- ion. that the appointment of trustees should be removed as far as possible from political influences and obliya- tions. For that reason. MT. President. I bava framed this substitute endeaV-