The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-05
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
The uniyer.ity Presidency

''I am not an alumnus of the University of Alabama, but I take interest in its work and will watch with some concern the action of the trustees in the matter of selecting a new president" said a professional man.
 ''The Rev. Dr. Stagg and Dr. J. H. Phil lips, superintendent of Birmingham pub lie schools. have been prominently men, toned for the executive position in ques- ton.
 Some one has suggested that J. M. Dickinson of Tennessee. former secre- tary of war. might be induced to take the presidency of the university, and in the event his services could be secured that he would be elected by good ma iority. have been acquainted with Mr. Dickinson for many years. I was thrown with him rather intimately in the social life of Washington, when he was assist ant attorney general in MT. Cleveland s second administration. MT. Dickinson Is an able lawyer and a man of large ca pacity in general, but I doubt whether university administration would be to his taste or liking. I know nothing of MT.
  his national reputation and his known ability his professional income would easily be between s25.Ooo and s5o,o0o a year.
 "The president of the University of Alabama who has just stepped out of the office received less than $5o00 year. would hesitate to make suggestions to the trustees, because I am not thorough ly ,conversant with the university's bus mess was about to say traditions. but traditions should not count for much In matters of present-day educational work. It seems to me, however, that high class man could be secured for the pres idency even for so small a salary as s40oO or s5000. provided there was pros pect of a req sonable increase little later on. The position should appeal especially to young man of college faculty ex- perience and of progressive ideas and high ideals. A well-bred man, of tact and leadership could achieve great fame for himself and do the university and the cause of education a world of good. Dr. Phillips and Dr. Stagg are both excellent men. DP. Phillips is one of the best known educators in the United States. He has made the Birmingham schools what they are, and the people of this city would enter a mighty protest against his quitting his present position.
 By the way, I have heard that the president of the University was sadly handicapped by not being on an equal footing with the trustees. He is simply a servant or agent of the trustees. This at the start prevents him from asserting himself in a way that would command respect and asserting himself in way that would mean the sort of discipline that is expected in a great institution of learning. What would be thought of big bank president, like the First National of Birmingham or the Birmingham Trust or the American Trust, having a. presi- dent who was not member of the board of directors. The president of the bank should be and is the real head. The d. rectors have their say, of course, but the president is known to the public as the leading man of the institution. He must have large authority, and as a mat ter of fact he has. It should be the same way at the university. If the pres ident is to be thoroughly efficient he must have untrammeled authority"