The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1904-06-12
PRESBYTERiANCOLLEGE
MEMBERS OF sY-
MOD SATISFIED.


Editor The Advertiser:
see in The Evening Times Of today
an interview with "a delegate" In refer
ence to the action of the. Alabama
Birmingham yesterday, in locating the
proposed College for Men at Admission
This interview Is calculated to pro-
duce an incorrect impression in refer
future Institution. Therefore. I ask
space to state as promptly as possible
what / believe to be the real facts in
relation to the matter.
This interview states that II was
ordained from the beginning that the
college was to go to some town above
the line that defines the Northern and
Southern sections of the State; that
there were fifty-seven votes out Of
seventy-nine which were a unit on
every proposition involving anything
suggesting Montgomery's interest; that
DIR. McIlwaine the President Of the in
stitution was determined in his OPP
position to Montgomery; that the de-
cision turned entirely on the pivot of
politics"
| In the first place The Times is proba-
bly, mistaken In stating that its inter-
view was with "a delegate" to the Sy-
the hastily formed idea of some one
of the committee OF worthy gentle
men who went to Birmingham repre-
sentine the Commercial and Industrial
cry. Most of these gentlemen
left Birmingham Friday afternoon
just before the Synod took its
ballots. These gentlemen did not see
selection of Admission, nor did they hear
the expressions OF some of the Mont
gomery delegates on the floor. II
they had, / am sure no such opinions
are in the interview. That demonstra-
ton was full proof of the lack Of any
bad feeling as to the result on the part
OF % naE
the selection of Admission unanimous,
and both Drs. Patterson and Anderson
of this city made earnest speeches en-
by rising vote. After the adjourn
ment 1t was a subject of congratu1ation
on all sides that there had been abeo-
| lutely not shade of bad feeling in
word or act throughout the meeting.
| There were mo test votes on any ques-
ton showing any sectional division.
The only matter of argument was as TO
ton of a commission to investigate the
several sites thoroughly and to vest
| that commission with power to act. On
that question Montgomery argued and
voted for Immediate decision by the
whole Synod. and the minority against
that course did not ask for a standing
vote.
As representative in Sy-
r ran Churches of this city. ana as
Chairman of the Committee appointed
by the three Presbyterian Churches
views of that body when / say that we
do not blame the Presbytery of North
Alabama, DR.. McIlwain, or anybody in
the Synod for the failure of Montgom"
cry to secure the institution. We are
convinced that there was no unfairness
of any sort, no politics, no determine
tion to defeat one place or to select an.
a a N
the Presbyterian Churches in South
Alabama did not take enough
interest in the institution to
tseTe had deie 6een full s TspTssenta
ton of The churches in East Alabama
and South Alabama Presbyteries, 1t Is
lprcnabIe that Montgomery would nav
Won. There were four competing sites
in North Alabama, and the meeting was
Eeld nearer to them than to the bulk
of the South Alabama churches. 1t was,
therefore, natural that there should
have been a larger attendance from
the North Alabama churches. and II is
resentatives preferred site nearer to
them. AS a matter of fact, however,
Montgomery received some votes from
AS to DR.. McIlwain's attitude, 1 be-
Iieve that also express the opinions
OF the Montgomery members of Synod
to avoid exercising any influence upon
the result. His report to the Board of
Trustees upon the various sites, which
was read to Synod, was very favor
able to Montgomery's several sites, and
if 1t criticised any city's proffered site,
it was that of Admission. He made no
remarks upon the floor of Synod be-
fore the decision, except in connection
with that report.
While Montgomery cannot blame
anybody for her failure to get the Col
lege. she has much to be proud Of She
made a fine showing, and her advant-
ages were presented far better than
those of any other site. in printed mat
ter, in maps and argument. The
speeches of Messrs. T. NJ. Owen and
Fred s. Ball were superb and developed
the warmest commentator from all
sides. Everything was done by the
Committee of Citizens in Montgomery s
interest that was dignified and legiti-
mate. All did their best, and yet Annis-
ton won. Mont gomery wishes Annis-
ton success in her undertaking. and
Montgomery Presbyterians are going to
stand by the Model City in the great
responsibility she has assumed
| Frank P. Glass,