The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-26
Trustees However Are Expected
 to Support Abercrombie
TWO VACANCIES TO FILL
Qualifications of the Rev. A. J. Dicken. son and pr. Phillips for the Depart ment of Philosophy and Ped
 agoey Are Discussed.
BY HUGH w. ROBERTS.

has been said concerning 1t, that John W. Abercrombie, president of the University of Alabama, will, at the meeting of the board Of trustees Wednesday, recommend the election of successor to A. A. Per sons, professor of chemistry.
 President Abercrombie when seen yes terday and informed that his intention was an open secret, confirmed the report.
 In speaking of the matter. the presi- dent stated that he had given Prof. Per sons notice of his intended action some eighteen months ago. AS is known, that gentleman has been elected superintend- ent of the Bessemer city schools.
 In this connection it is reported that Prof. Persons will make a fight before the trustees against the recommendation of President Abercrombie. President Abercrombie, in fact, stated yesterday that he was informed that Prof. Persons, through his friends, has endeavored to pledge several of the members of the board, but whether or not this Is true cannot be learned An effort to see Prof. Persons concerning this matter has failed. People informed concerning the situation are exceedingly interested, be- cause it is considered a certainty that Prof. Persons. when given hearing be- fore the board of trustees, will have something to say that will contain it's just proportion of heat even if it does not smack of the sensational
 A False Report.
 The matter was given additional interest when the report became circulated today that one member of the board of trustees had grown lukewarm to President Aber- crombie on account of a false report, and one thoroughly unwararnted, to the effect that that executive officer was preparing to make a race for the governorship of Alabama It can be stated authoritative ly that President Abercrombie in not going to make the race; that he would rather be president of the university than governor of the state, and that the spreading of the report has been source of embarrassment to him.
 But there is not a particle of danger but that the trustees will support Pres- dent Abercrombie in his every recom- mendation. It is admitted by those mem- bers of the board of trustees already on the scene that President Abercrombie has performed his duties wisely and dis cretely, and to the best interests of the university. It is a known fact that dur ing the six years of his incumbency the attendance has increased from 239 to 3S7,
 
 university six years ago was but $49, 900, it is now $113,000. In all other directions, too, the university has shown growth and development under his guiding hand. It was only last fall, is remembered, that the state of Alabama made its an- nual appropriation to the university as a result of which the engineering build ing, to be called the Conner building, is in course of construction, and the geo. Anri4o IttiI tn h0n0r Dr. Eugene A. Smith, will be begun with in very short while.
 Two Vacancies.
 From the above it is to be noted that there will be two vacancies in the facul- ty to be filled by the board of trustees, successor of Prof. Persons, professor of chemistry, and to Dr. E. F. Buchner, professor of philosophy, who has resigned to accept a similar position at Johns Hopkins university. While President Abercrombie will make recommendations to the board of trustees Wednesday in favor of men to fill the positions, he de- clined yesterday afternoon to make known the candidates whom he will off cially favor.
 It will be interesting to people in Bir- mingham since the Rev. Dr. John w. Stagg has aired the matter so extensive ly through the AgeHerald, to know whether or not President Abercrombie will recommend the Rev. A. J. Dickenson, pastor of the First Baptist church, Bir- mingham.
 While President Abercrombie did not say so in so many words, 1t can be au- thoritatIvely stated that he will not recommend Dr. Dickenson to the position, in spite of the efforts of Dr. Stagg and other friends And it is true that friends iolra 0th no thnGa have caused notorious comment through out the state on account of newspaper effusons, in which the university was at tackled for not seeing the wisdom of the writer's brilliant remarks, have urged the nomination of ,Dr. Dickenson. Sam Will John, one of Jefferson's bravest sons and astute politicians, has writteen Pres ident Abercrombie at length concerning the efficiency of Dr. Dickeson. From Selma have come letters from the Mall loiys, the Reeses and others. Dr. Dicken- son, himself, has written estimable letters to President Abercrombie, in which he asked for an interview in order to find out concerning his qualifications.
 President Abercrombie stated yesterday that in all ways Dr. Dickenson has acted with dignity and courtesy. President Abercrombie, however. does not consider Dr. Dickenson the man to fill Buchner's shoes, especially since the faculty plans to further develop the department of philosophy and pedagogy, hereinafter to be explained.
 President Talks.
 President Abercrombie, when asked why he had never replied to the criticisms of Dr. Stagg answered that he considered the entire discussion immaterial and who'll ly irrelevant, and that he did not see the wisdom of connecting the university with such a notorious contention, especi- ally inasmuch as such actions would cause a loss of dignity to the university. Pres ident Abercrombie has in his possession a copy of the letter which he wrote to Dr. Dickenson in which the reverend gentle man was frankly informed of President Abercrombes opinion concerning Dr. Dckenson's unfitness for the position va- cated by that excellent scholary Dr. Buchner. This letter is the one which Dr. Stagg insisted, through The Age Herald, was so enormously written. Pres ident Abercrombie, before the trustees Wednesday, will read thls letter, and if the trustees think wisely will give 1t to the press.
 Although in his letters to the public Dr.