The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-13

henceforth we propose to lay broad ane
 deep the foundations of an institution
 that will challenge the respect or the na-
 tion What Wisconsin has done in uni
 versity building Alabama can do. Gone forever are the stuntng days of poverty and privation. Henceforth we shall give
 to our young men and young women an equal chance with the youth of other lead | ing American states.
 President Denny made 1t clear that the | University of Alabama, considering the | means at it's disposal had done great and fruitful work; that it had used US | opportunity alright; that the opportunity 1 itself, however had not been worthy of | the great people whose privilege ana whose duty it is to fashion it's life. He then declared his position concern 1 ing college athletics, stating that he de- | sired to be part of the life of the young | men. all the way from their ideals to
 their sports. But he added, "athletcs
 must be the side show, and not the main
 circus. College life must not be allowed | to swallow up the college curriculum. l President Denny then spoke plainly con
 corning college standards. A tax sup
 ported institution should reasonably res
 late itself to the high school system, ana
 honestly enforce it's published require-
 ments. There should be no t"iisns zone"
 Numbers do not make college. It Is infinitely better for a college and Tor the
 commonwealth that supports 1t, to nave
 400 young men prepared for college lie and the scholars goal than to have 10O0 young men gathered merely to gratify the vanity of those who think II more im- portant to count than to weigh. It IS Tar better and finer and more stimulating to be an alumnus of a standard college or modest numbers than of an overcrowded | hybrid high school, it matters not under l csfltA ades TO talk about the success of a small | fraction of the alumni of such an institu- | ton is begging the question. Of course | a few men out of a great number or | alumni are bound to succeed in spite Of | their handicaps.
 | q know" declared Dr. Denny, that | in days gone, the strongest appeal to the | legislator Chiefly in the backward states)
 has been on the score of numbers. In the
 progressive states of today, like Alabama, l however. the wise legislator is refusing to ask concerning colleges how many stu. dents are n attendance. He is more anx- | ious to inquire in what way these students
 are gathered. He sees clearly that the policy of depicting the high school Is | uneconomieal understandable and un- | ethical He has sense enough to know | that unusually large numbers gathered | into single school, just at this stage, of high school development in the south. | is generally prima facie evidence that | something is radically Wyong in entrance | standards. The time is coming when the legislature will take hand and demand l that rejected practices in education snail | cease. The old argument that an over | crowded institution, falsely claiming Tor | itself classification as college, should have more money to take care Of It's lm- l properly gathered numbers will not for 1 ever be allowed to deceive an unsuspect- |
 Will Alabama Do It's Duty?
 t'All the other progressive states of the south are standing squarely behind the | great modern high school movement. VIII
 Alabama hesitate to do it's full duty? The | University of Alabama has denniteiy made it's choice to champion the cause or
 the people in this supreme struggle. The l charge that it's choice in a matter thus 1 yitally affecting the civilization of Ala bama is due to self interest Is unworthy
 and puerile and pathetic. The same charge
 can be laid at the door of every SGT l respecting state university in the south I and in the nation.'
 | President Denny concluded with an
 earnest appeal to the alumni to rally to | their alma mater and to aid the institu- 1 ton in the great batle 1t is making for the
 educational betterment, the intellectual
 and spiritual uplife, and the social ef- | ficiency of the entlre coiiiiiiohWeaith
 'rhe University of Alabama he de- | clared, Twill survive as long as democ-
 racy and civilization shall survive, | fountain of life to all who thirst for the lofty faith, the unquenchabie nope,
 and the superabounding energy of the disciplined life.'
 One of, the happiest speeches of the evening at the banquet given in honor of Dr. Denny was made by Dr. John W.. Abercrombie, former president of the Uni- versity of Alabama. Dr. Abercrompie's speech was short, but to the point, con 1 eratulating the alumni highly upon their patriotism and bespeaking for pr Denny the heartiest cooperation in llis work.