The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-06-03
THE TRUSTEES MEET
AFFAIRS OF THE UNIVERSITY
 CT ALABAMA.
Debate Between the Erosophic and Kent Literary Societies--Annual Meeting of the Alunnnnf of
 the University.

ernor Jelks ex-ofscio president presiding All of the trustees were present ex- cept Hon. Thomas NJ. Stevens of Mobile who telesraphed that he was unsvofdxely detained
 Dr. Little of the Advisory Committee was present A letter of regrets was read from H,n Phares Coleman of Mone- gcmery. wto is detained at home on sc- count of illness The minutes were read and after slight amendnfsnf sp5roved
 President Absrcrombie read his reror. to the Board which was referred to tne Committee on Education for distribution to the various committees. It is under- stood that the same faculty Is rccom- mendcd for next year with two excep- tions. Professor John. Allan Child ot Jonns Hopkir, is nominated to fm the chair of Romance Languases nexhs year durtns the absence of pr. Georxe Gs BrovnelI. wfs is on leawe sf aosencs; and Edgar Kay, at present professor ct ensineering at Cornell is noninaeed to succeed Professor George s. Whkfns zS dean of the engineering department. These nominations will in all probability be accepted.
 The secretary announced the standing committees of the Board as appointed by the Governor New trustees LeGrand and Johnson filed their official paths. Treasu- Ter Fitts submitted his annual report and vouchers winch were referred to the Finance Committee. The report made to ths Governor by State Examiner Rut- ledge as to the University mines leased was read and referred to the Financial Committee.
 The committees to draft mesnorfsf of the late Colonel John H. Caldwell. reported and the secretary was instructed to record the same. and furnish a copy to the. family.
 Colonel Foster as spe-isl 70 nmittee on insurance reported showing the ceiidi- ton of insurance upon University build ings.
 The Board then adjc9rned until s q. m. this morning.
 morning in Clark Hall between the several literary societies was won by Messrs Fuller ano Prestwood for the Kent Club While the audience in at- tendance did not come up to that of Sunday, those who were present, seemed to enjoy the speaking to the utmost. AN of the speakers reflected credit upon themselves and the University. but special praise is due Mir. Fuller. wffs by reason of his easy delivery and clear. convincing argument won for himself an efviabtc reputation as an orator.
 The exercises began at il o'clock and were presided over by President J. W. Abercrombie. The question for debats was:
 Resolved That it would he beneficial to the United States to hold the Philip pine Islands"
 O. D. Jones. the first speaker for the affirmative made a strong appeal for the retention of the islands. He said that if ar expansion policy should prove a mistake the United States could easily turn the Philippines loose. but If giving them up should prove a mistake there would be no remedy. He showed how American institutions would improve the islands, and how the Tnieed Statss in turn would reap rich eenehts thefefrcan He then turned td the legal aspect Of the case and showed that ww' had both a right and duty to perform in retaining these islands. It Is God-siven trust which ~e cannot shiFk.
 !. M Preetveood of t1e Kent f1JiW vas next introdu ed and presented the mega .ive side in what was probably the most eIoduent speech of the day.
 He prefac4d his speech by descrfptffs the erestness of this republic and upon what principles 1t obtained it's greatness. H4 showed that since the war with spain we have arrived at the parting Of the ways" and pleaded that we should fol- low tho forks of the road so plainly pointed out by our forefathers. He then descussed the question under three heads viz: Financial. moral. and religious, and showed that therc could come do definite benefit to us through any of these chan nel5. He closed by showing that we are violating our own avowed principles by holding these islands and made an appeal for the liberty of the PhilippdHes.
 ]. W. vardaman of the Pfiilamathtc followed for the affirmative. He said In substance that we should hold the islands. on account of their natural resources. and the market that ths devel9enent of these resources will create for OFT products. The hemp and sugar trads will he very extensive and the production of tropical fruits ur- surpassed.
 They are of great strategic value, hold Ing as they do the most important posi- tion in the East since we have become world power we must have a basis TOT a our operations in that part of the world. Their uearneNs to China gives us the op- nortnnitv of preventing the disintegTation of the Iatter, and by so doing maintain large share Of her immense trade, We ehou.A hold them because we owe 1t to cI1,iIizattort and to humanity to Hplfft these fallen people. The benehts deFiNed frorn this standpoint would not be count ed in paltry gold, but in the universal rAsneet and veneratfen of mankind.
  for the Kent Club He opened his speech with argument against the pecuninafy benefits that we would receive from the islands. and proceeded to show that the cost of maintaining our sway over the PhiIfppfnee would far exceed the profits. He then showed the dangers. including a large standing army and navy. to which we would be exposed if we hold the islands.
 Following th,s. he showed the degraded condition of the Fihpinos. and the dan Rers that would result from emigration incident to our retention of the islands. He said that in such policy we violate the princfoles of government as laid down by the founders of the Republic. and es- pecially the Monroe Doctrine.
 He closed by contrasting the safety of our past policy with the dangers of the policy for the future.
 Ths conamittee of judges consisted cf Messrs.' H T. Davis, G. l.. Gray and C F. Mcclellan. all University alumni After some delfberation they rendered their decision in favor of the negative.
 The annual meeting of the alumni of the High School was held today in Clark Hall Hon William B. Bankhead ef Huntsville delivered the address. which was a splendid effort in ofatoFy
 Immediately after the address before the society of the alumni. all former stu dents of the University. were formed