The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-08
HENPH|LL TALKS ID AUBURN STUDENTS Discusses Mr. Roosevelt and
 WOmen's Suffrage DIPLOMAS AWARDED Governor O'Neal Also Addresses Au- burn Graduates on Live Issues
 and College Mans Part
 in Government

editor Of the Richmond I1meS-DlSpatchi analysed tie great issues of the country this morning, in the course of the com mencement address which he delivered
 Major Hemphill does not like condl- tious as they exist "Smug-cheeks and swndlers' he called the men who make politics a business; and he declared that there were many with whom the task of public government had degenerated to the level of business. He said:
 There was time when the citizen did not surrender his ballot for money, or his vote for gain; that was the golden age and if it is to return. it must be through the educated men, He advised a study of issues, and named the most important. Temperance reform, woman suffrage, primary elections, federal tax ation, income tax and the Theodore Roosevelt type of statesman were some of his topics
 Major Hemphil waxed vigorous in his analysis of the temperance question Regulation and rest1icdon?" he asked. ''Yes Confiscation and morality by law? Nor' He fairly shouted the last.
 Under the law" he said 'the brew cry is entitled to protection as much as a theological seminary The saloon-keep- CT can only be punished by due process of law, and only upon violation of rights of society and for the inhiction of wrong There must be more to destroy his rights than the demands of a class of men and women, however sincere and lofty their motives.
 "Intemperance in liquor, while all senL sible men agree that it is bad. is not worse that intemperance in cant"
 Major Hemphill drew breathless atten- tion when he sounded the fascinating subject of woman suffrage. And when he proved himself an ardent advocate of votes for women the interest was great.
 we have trihed with woman and de- ceived her at every turn" he declared. "Even the marriage ceremony is a sham, with it's promise that with all my world ly goods I thee endow.' The subject of woman suffrage has outgrown the humor- ists, and has become an important is sue. In some states property rights of women are protected by law, but in only four states of this glorious land of equal rights to all and special privileges to none can she have a voice in the mak- ing of these laws. It is a significant fact that God and women are left out of our constitution. Why cannot a wife and daughter votes as well as a butler or cook?'
 The speaker contended that in places where the ballot is given to women, bet ter government has resulted, and that woman's use of the ballot is as beneficial, | or more so to the public than is mans. And then he waded into Mir. Roose- welt. although he called no names.
 We can't all be presidents" he said
 'but we can be good citizens and see l that no one achieves that high office
 unless there is fitness We all know ] that Jefferson was an old fogy. a mol | lycoddle: he never played tennis on the White House lawn; he never hunt ed elephants and rhineroci; he never shook his fist at the Pope; he never refused to eat dinner with Lorimer; he never defamed the supreme court; he never played petty politics from high offices he never accepted cam paen contributions from trusts; 1t is not even recorded that he ever called any man a liar: he never took occa sion to slap fellow being on the back a basis of good government: he build- ed with wisdom a policy which sur wives; he outlined good government.
 "The epithet that I would covet would be that of well bred" With his specific illustration of is sues, he drew the moral that college men, with the advantage of their train ing and education, should enter public life as a duty.
 "All of our training" he said, will be turned to dust and ashes if we don't recognize the rights and duties of American citizenship. It is a higher mission and more important that we should cultivate our laws than our riches and lands What will it profit the state after all it's expenditure on these buildings and this maintenance if you do not return something in the way of help for it's troubles and bur dcns. It is a source of regret that young men of the south shun public career for private station. Formerly the Ierara af l. fc rrrna tn f1,a lution of public affairs. The ideal goal, | toward which such educated and trained mer should lead is the willingness of | men to take their personal and private spites into such high spheres that they will be shamed out of being" Major Hemphill concluded his speech
 with a personal talk to the graduates.
 He said
 This college has done all it can for
 you; now you must shift for yourself
 and make use of what you have The
 world has no use for laggards; there
 Is no distinction without honor; no sta
 tion without merit; no reward without toll. The honor of this institution is in l your hands"
 He gave the definition of gentleman drawing for example on Sir Philip Sid- ney. "He Is not ashamed of his guitar nor of his sword he Is ready to kneel l gentleman is not an idler, a trifler, a dandy, not a scholar, a soldier. nor a | l0Ver-he is a composite man; he is all these things
 Major Hemphilrs address was greeted with great applause. and the distinguished editor was warmly congratulated; Gov ernor O'Neal sat on the platform by his sde and was the first to shake his hand after his sermon of good citizenship. | Then there came loud and insistent calls for "O'Neal;" sat their reiteration the governor responded in a speech full of congratulation to Auburn. He assured the college of his friendship personally and official,
 | Auburn is the greatest factor in the upbuilding of Alabama he declared He ventured the promise that the restricting strings, which he had tied to all ap- propriatons by the last legislature, would l be cut at some early date as soon as he could make the arrangement possible. He put in a good word of indorsement l for the legislature, and declared that it had fulfilled all its promises to the dem ocratic party.
 Taking up the thread of discussion of general issues, which Major Hemphill had preached Governor ONeal advocated con- servatism in government as a polcy for all young men to adopt He advised con servatism, especially, where constitutional questions are involved, and constitutional | changes. taking up the live issue of initia- tive, referendum and recall. the proposed elements of an amendment as an exam ple The constitution had served very l well if was 10 said and while tha