The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-28

memory to John Tyler Morgan thls fhoIH- | llng in an address before a large gathering of the commencement crowd in Morgan hall on the university campus. Governor O'Neal arrived in Tuscaloosa this morn- ing and is the guest of President George H. Denny at the university mansion. In his address Monday the governor spoke of the greatness of MT Morgan and told of the many things he had accom- plished for the people of Alabama. His address in part was as follows;
 O'NeaIs Address
 Ladies and Gentlemen: The dedica- tion of this new building marks a new era in the history of the university. It but indidates the slow but steady progress which has been made In realizing the dreams and aspirations of it's founders of a greater university equal to the great est and the peer of the noblest in science, letters and art.
 Prom the ruin and desolation which followed in the wake of great civil war the process of rehabilitation has gone steadily forward and in the face of pow erly and discouragement the trustees and dlUl1ln1 DI lIlS lutSltulloil nave hCNtA iRh7 tered in their zeal and devotion, and year after year new buildings have been cor structed new equipment secured and wider fields of usefulness opened until to- day the university faces the future great CT and stronger than ever before, with deeper and more secure hold upon the confidence and affection of the people Of abama For this happy condition the state owes a debt of gratitude to the un- selfish untiring and valuable .labors and services of it's board of trustees and for the wisdom they exercised In the selec- ton of a president of this institution.
 When a vacancy occurred in that of flee we all recognized that this institu- ton faced one of the gravest crisis of It's history. We could not afford to lower the standard which had been established in order to gain a larger attendance or take any backward step in the progress and which had characterized the last administration, but fully recognized our duty to use every possible effort to give a new impetus to its growth and advancement
 We were deeply impressed with the conviction that upon the wisdom we might exercise in the choice of president we could largely shape the destiny of the university. We determined, therefor, at the outset, not to be circumscribed in the selection of a president py state boun- diaries, but that the whole republic, even foreign lands should be the field of our selection. We earnestly sought to secure an educator of established reputation and recognized administrative and executive ability, fitted by his scholarship and learning to fill with distinction this ex- alted position. A southern man we pre- ferred; one familiar, with our institutions and traditions and in sympathy with the aspirations of our people, but man in any event fully equipped for the duties of the office, whatever land might be tho home of his nativity. The state and the university are both to be congrat- ulated that we were fortunate enough to find the man who filled all our re- quirements and whose reputation as an educator and executive was not confined to any part of our common, country, in the person of Dr. George H. Denny, for merly of Virginia, but now of Alabama. and whose administration has already met our most sahguine expectations and fur nshed sufficient guarantee of the splen- did results we may expect in the future.
 It is true that his acceptance of our offer almost precipitated revolution in the old Dominion for from press and pulpit. from legislators and educators and even from the chief protest against that state came one united protest against the deep damnation of his taking off protest inspired by that affection and confidence which alone would constitute tribute of which any man might feel justly proud He came, not because he loved Virginia less or Alabama more, nor from any pecuniary consideration, but solely in answer to the call of duty--be- h..-r Aoa ft.,l field of opportunity and usefulness.
 The University of Alabama is our highest institution of learning. The presi- dent of this institution, on account of his exalted position. has the widest field for usefulness and leadership in all educa- tional matters. To him the people nat urally look for leadership in all the vari- ous and complicated educational problems of the day, and upon him we must large ly rely for the inaugurating those re- forms which the present condition of our educational institutions imperatively de- mands. l predict that under the leader ship of Dr, Denny this institution. in whose classic halls so many famous sons of Alabama have been equipped for the battle of life, will continue to grow in power and usefulness and from it's foun- tains of learning sparkling streams of knowledge and culture will flow to re- vivify our state.
 Tribute to Morgan
 .'Ladies and Gentlemen-It is most ap- propriate that this buildng--the latest creation of the architects skil-and whose symmetrical and stately proportions justly excite our admiration should bear the name of one whom all Alabanians delight to do honor.
 No man during our gen sration. by reason of his commanding talents. his broad patriotism. his wide and varied information, his profound knowledge of constitutional law, bis deep learning, his long and disting uished public service, his complete independence of thought and action and the purity of his public and private life. has ever attained a more conspicuous place in the confidence and respec: of the American people than John T. Morgan of Alabama, and in every great issue that confronted our people his leader ship was undisputed and his greatness universally acknowledged.
 His was a life of continuous study. He was wholly exempt from that spirit of commercialism, that desire to amass wealth which seems to be the predom- mating echaracteristic of the age. Through his ability as a lawyer he could have resigned from the Senate and command almost any salary that he might have suggested. But he was absolutely free from any mercenary spirit. and although he lived in an age and a period when he could easily have secured great wealth by using the Information and opportunities that oa,,a .o him as senator and which