The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-15
Housing Rally and Smoker Attended By Large Number
 Of Local Alumni
BRAGG TALKS OF WORK
 IN MAKING SCHEDULES
Letter From University Alumni Asks For Assistance in Having Annual AIabama-Auburn Game In Birmingham

At an enthusiastic rally of Auburn alumni and supporters held last night at the Hotel Hillman, steps were taken toward raising a fund of $20,000 for the building of new gymnasium at Auburn, and committee of three was appointed to confer with the manage ment of the football team on the mat ter of arranging an annual Thanks giving game between Auburn and Alu- bama in this city.
 The smoker was very largely attend ed, over 100 Jefferson county alumni and guests being present. Numerous l talks were made and refreshments music and cigars at intervals made the occasion snappy and enjoyable | Dr. c. c. Thach, president of Auburn Polytechnic, opened the speaking with one of his snappy and characteristic addresses. Governor Conner and Gov | ernor-e1ect O'Neal could not be pres ent a telegram and a letter expressing their regrets. being read by the chair man. Lieut.. Gov. Henry B. Gray was present, however and responded in d happy vein.
 | Coach Mike Donahue of the Auburn team made strong plea of a new and real" gymnasium for the school and his solicitations resulted in the start | ing of a movement for the raising of an adequate fund or that purpose Man. ager Tom Bragg of the Auburn team made a stirring speech in vindicatiou of the team management, stating that every effort had been made to bring about a meeting with Vanderbilt He declared that if Sewanee and Wander. bilt refused to meet Auburn fairly 1t would be necessary for the team tc look to colleges in other states for the schedules of the future. He stated thai | negotiations are under way to secure q game with the Carlisle Indians. the University of Virginia and other teams The S. I. A. A. schedule he criticized as being very inadequate.
 President Matt S. Sloan of the Jefferson County Auburn Alumni association acted as chairman at the meeting. Among the | numerous other speakers who were hea rd in short addresses were Charlees Harold president of the State Alumni association, James J. Smith, Dr. B. B. Ross of Au- burn Polytechnic, Frank P Glass Dr. | George Petrie of Auburn, A. H. Ford president of the local Charmer of Com merce and head of the street railway company; Professor Mitcham of Auburn W D. Nesbitt, E. Tutwiler Judge H. B Abernethy and representatives of the 1 daily newspapers.
 letter from the Jefferson County as- socation of the University alumni to the Auburn alumni of the county was read | by Chairman Sloan. The letter expressed | the wish of the local Alabama alumni that Auburn and Alabama should get together on each Thanksgiving day for game in | Birmingham.
 A letter from Maj. R. E. Steiner of- fering a contribution of $25 to the cause of Auburn athletics was acknowledged and another offer for contribution of SIC was made by W. N. Malone.
 The raising of the s20,OoO fund for the new Auburn gymnasium will be placed in | the hands of the state association, off | cials of which will cooperate with the various associations of the counties | Another feature of the smoker last night was the presentation to Bill Streit and 1 Dan Martin of pair of handsome gold | cuff links each. The presentation was made by Team Manager Tom Bragg, who said the gift was made in recogni- | ton of loyal service done by these | alumni. Presents of a like nature will be made to Billie" Williams and W. R. l Tlchenor who were not present last night.
 The rousng rally of last night was a source of much satisfaction to the many themselves as being delighted with the | ouncaSs of the smoker