The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-15
AUBURN SMOKER GIVEN LAST NIGHT A HOUSING AFFAIR GoV Conner Defines Position on Proposed Amendments
 to Constitution CITES OBJECTIONS TO
 GOOD ROADS PROPOSAL Praises Last Legislature and Says It's Work for Education Is of the
 Greatest Importance
 to the State.

stitution held an old-time rally last night at the Hotel Hillman, and for three hours mixed with cigars and lemonade the good will and comradeship of college fellows ran freely. Fully 200 alumni and students were present.
 Dr. C. c. Thach, the president of the in stitution, made an unusually fine address. Gov. B. B. Comers talk was well re- eeived, and after talking on college mat ters at length, he outlined his position on the three amendments to the constitution which are to come up before the people in the November election.
 There's the amendment allow the for nation of new countless" he said, and then. "That's all right"
 "Then you will have to decide whether you want biennial sessions of the legisla- ture. That is important, as it means get ting the government back to the people
 When he came to discuss the overton good roads amendment to allow the use of state convict funds to build highways when the legislature directs, the gov ernor paused. T am not fighting that amendment" he said, but then pointed out at full length that in his opinion siv- ing the state legislature the right to make internal Improvements is most dangerous, and declared that the amendment is lnllni- cal to both the old soldiers an1 the schools You must consider that the cut will have to come some where, and it may land on the universities as well as on the grammar schools. We should ponder the subject well before taking such a step"
 Joel '. Webb presided over the meeting and in his remarks paid high tribute to the state administration, as well as to Pres dent Thach. These references were loud ly cheered After concluding, he intro- duced W. K. Terry, who recalled the scenes around old Auburn before the many fine buildings were there, and told of the spirit of Auburn which had been responsi- ble for all her success,
 President Thach was introduced, and immediately brought the whole body of alumni, coming as they did from Class TT to- Glass '0S, into one jolly crowd of the same age. He knew them all, and sum morning them by classes performed the re- markable feat of introducing every one by name.
 Dr. Thach told of the remarkable growth of the institution, how it's 5000 pupils were scattered all over the United States, and called the names of many leading pro- fessors in great universities who grad uated at Auburn. Then picking them out of the audience, he showed how the back bone of the Birmingham district was de- pendent upon Auburn to a great extent for it's technical strength.
 In referring to the time years ago when Birmingham was a "howling wilderness, he declared that she owed her present greatness to the work of technical schools.
 The speaker found the cause of all this fruit in the high aim toward which the school has always steered in the able board of trustees, and in the efficient faculty Among the outward results he cited the new library building containing 26,000 volumes valued all told at $60,000, the o. D. Smith dining hall, costing S40,- GOO, both just completed; the fine water works and sewerage systems being in- stalled and the s6O0o0 agricultural build- ing contracted for Thursday, as well the mechanical engineering building which is soon to be erected at a cost of S50,000
 However, he pointed with greatest pride to the real fruits, the thousands of fine characters which the school has turned out, and said that his highest ambition was to live for and work with the lives of young men.
 Governor Conner spoke interestingly of the great educational work recently under taken by the state, and said that great credit was due the legislature. ''They may call that legislature a crowd of fools," said he, but you tell them that they are telling big lie.'
 State Senator Nat l.. Miller made short talk in which he commented upon the efficient work being done at Auburn. He said that while not a member of the alumni, his heart was in the educational movement, and he felt that the future of the state depends upon Auburn. His words were followed by loud cheering and called forth the college yell. that he wasn't putting in Then the first speaker called him liar I turned and saw the mon fighting. I was talking to McFadden at the time. We put the men out of the place. did not hear Robertson say that he would shoot Thompson. did not see Robertson with pistol"
 Robert Warnock was recalled at this stage and asked if he were present In the park when Darnell received Thompsons pistol Said he was, but did not see Dar- nell unload it. Saw Darnell put it in his pocket.
 Darnell testified on Thursday that he unloaded the gun when Thompson gave 1t to him. and displayed the bullets to the court which he said he had taken from the gun.
 Miss Kate McDonough took the stand next.
 The defense also had attachments is- sued for R. E. McGee, night clerk of the Southern hotel, and for another man-an ! engineer-who lives across the street from l Capitol park, and who it is said. saw | some one give Robertson something dur l ing his fight with Thompson. Court will convene at 9:90 o'clock this morning.
 AUCTIONl AUCTLONl
 75 Mules and 50 Horses, Trosdav AuUust 12 Eies &