The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-22
AUBURN-ALABAMA TANGLE
 PRESENTS NEW FEATURES

As a result of the disdainful declina- ton of Auburn to resume the long since severed athletic relationship with the Uni yersity of Alabama, among the alumni of both institutions there exists today sentiment not only of surprise but of the keenest disappointment.
 From the time of the original separa- tion of the two institutions, 1t has ever been mooted question as to which was responsible for the 1amentable situation. Alumni of the University of Alabama were ever ready to fling into the teeth of Auburn alumni that the clansmen of the orange and blue were afraid of the war riors of the crimson and white. The alumni of Auburn were ever ready to retort with a strong insinuation that the athletes of the university, proud of the successes attained in recent seasons, had purposely wrought the disagreement in order that their glory might not be snatched away.
 At the present time. however. there is no longer a doubt Alabama has dis played an anxiety to resume friendly re- lations with Auburn. Auburn has re- fused. and. furthermore, has answered the offer of reconciliation with a rebuff with borders on the skirts of insult.
 Were the situation not serious, 1t would be extremely interesting, even If not .laughable Some time ago the represen- tatives of the university offered to sched- ule a football game between the rival teams of the state on one of two dates in November or one date in December. The representatives of Auburn replied that in their judgment the resumption of relationship at this time would not prove advantageous, and then, unfortu- nately, added the following, which has evoked the sharp criticism of practically every writer of sporting news in the southern states: They the athletic au- thorities of Auburn have no criticism to make of any team, but they assert that it has been found true in every state that certain games produce so great desire for victory that all sense of true sport, which should mark student games, is entirely lost sight of. and that for the sake of winning there invariably result questionable practices on all sides with the consequent crininations and re- criminatfons which destroy instead of pro- mote good feeling and fellowship"
 The fact that this year the athletic authorities of Auburn have found out ''that in every state certain games pro- duce such desire for victory that all sense of true sport is overlooked, Is marvellous, in view of the additional fact that last winter the same Auburn ath- letic authorities boasted of having in itiated negotiations looking to an athletic relationship. with the University of Ala bama The fact that Auburn has changed it's athletic views in the limited period of F months, necessarily causes one to fear that either the brand of Auburn consistency is remarkably delicate, or that its effort to arrange a schedule with Alabama last fall was based on desire for popular approval only, and not in sincerity and good faith.
 No man of intelligence will deny that Auburn has the inalienable right to re- fuse to meet the athletic teams of any institution in the land. But following the statement of the authorities of Au- l,urn there Is a practical demand through