The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-01

comparison does not indicate satis-
 factory progress in the development of the institution it is manifestly your duty to make a change. If, on the con
 trary, 1t should show substantial and
 satisfactory progress. I respectfully submit that under the circumstances, 1t is equally your duty to all con cerned so to declare in no uncertain
 terms. Prior to my election in 1902. had been for several years as state superintendent of education ex officio A member of the board of trustees. Hence the statements which I make are based upon a personal knowledge of the facts.
 Former Conditions
 For years the university had been in a state of unrest and at times of, almost complete disruption. Important, internal details which in all success. fully conducted institutions are dele. gated to the president and faculty, were sought to be administered di-' rectiy. by the board of trusteest the results of wbich unwise and imprac- ticable policy were the embarrassment and weak ening of the college author ities in the performance of thelr du7 ties. frequent appeals to the board from students ana DaTeIllS III iidttCiS itio'- ing to discipline and sch olarsh1p, the applica ton of political methods in the conduct of important internal affairs, the involuntary resignation of presi- dents and other officers who should haze been sustained and retained. No officer, however competent and faith full felt secure in his position. The university was in disrepute among both the alumni and the great mass of the people, especially the latter. As
 was aptly and forcefully stated by a
 member of the board itself, "The insti-
 tuition was almost trusteed to death"
 Election and Powers
 when the university was in that con- dition; when the three preceding presi-' dents all able men, had deemed 1t wise
 If not necessary to resign, two within a year; when the presidency was gen orally regarded as a death-trap, I was
 approached by certain members of the
 board of trustees, two of whom are still
 members and will recall the incident. and asked If I would accept the posi- tion. I answered that l would not think of doing so under conditions and terms
 that had brought failure to other and
 al5ler men; that in my opinion the
 board itself had been responsible for
 practically all of the university's troubles and lack of progress and that
 | upon the part of the board They re-
 piled that they had been favorably inn pressed with the suggestions which l had offered from time toeEtime; that
 the former policies of thsEboard had proved to be nsatisfactoryfand disas- trous; that they considered me to be
 the best man for the positioA and that they believed the board would be
 pleased to have me accept the presi- dency upon my own termS.A
 The result was that finally I con scented to accept with the understand ing that I should be elected for an in
 determinate period, either party being at liberty to sever the connection at will; that I should nominate ,ll sub
 ordinate officers, subject to conf na- tion by election by the board: thu II
 with the faculty should have oigi ]
 and final Jurisdiction in all matters pertaining to discipline, and taat should have and exercise such 9ther powers as might prove to be necessary for a successful administration ofGthe university. Afterwards l was madesex officio, a member of each of the stand ing committees of the board, with AL of the privileges and powers of mem bers except that of voting. M Under these conditions and terms some formally and some informally stated. entered upon performance of my Qut1eS. u IS unnecessary lOI Ie to assure you that l have found the position to be no sinecure, no easy chair, no bed of roses. With what de- gree of success I have served, the rec ord itself should testify"
 After giving an extended review of
 what has been accomplished at the uni versity during his administration. Dr.
 Abercrombie closed with these words: "Given essnetial powers and accorded fA vt I ho nn nf r1lx
 ability to continue to administer the af- fairs of the university In reasonably
 successful manner In the absence of
 such powers and such support success | would be possible to sno- man. Under satisfactory terms and. conditions I know | of no position more desirable than the presidency or the University of Alabama; ; under unsatts factory conditions and terms I know of no position less desirable | Permit me in conclusion to. say that | with a. formal indorsement of my past ad- mnistration and the assurance of ade-
 quate' consideration and support in the l future. I should be willing to continue | the connection indefinitely. In the ab-
 sence of such action upon your part,
 please feel free. to proceed with the selec- ton of another man.
 Ferguson's Testimonials
 l lInfneuidttly IOlOWlHs upon the redu1nS | of Dr. Abercrombies report. Hill Fergu-
 son, one time president of the University Alumni association and at the present time member of the advisory commit tee, read the following encomiums on Dr.
 Abercrombie from leading educators of | the United States tf
 President Arthur T. Hadley of Yaie: pr. Abercrombies reputation is excul- | lent. While I do not know very much about him at first hand everything hear lis in his favor. There is no doubt | whatever that the University of Ala bama
 has grown greatly in reputation under his presidency. The credit for this has been generally given to Dr. Abercrombie and I have every reason to suppose that he deserves 1t. do not at this moment
 know of any man whom the university could get for president who would be nearly so good; and the reputation of | the state of Alabama would to some de- | gree suffer if he were displaced by an in- l ferior man. President Edwin A. Alderman of the | University of Virginia: President Aber- | crombie Is held in high esteem by the educational leaders of this country as q
 man of seriousness of purpose, dignity of | life and manner. of energy and diligence, l in work and largeness of vision as ito | the meaning of university service in the life of the commonwealth. do not know President Abercrombie personally as well as would care to, but I have for him the highest respect, and have thought of
 him as achieving a notable amount of enduring results at the University of Ala l r-