The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-03

Tuscnloosn. June 2.-tspcciai.)-W President George II, Denny In m nd- dress. which was the keynote of the alumni banquet Tuesday nfternoon. threw down the gauntlet to the critics of the university and declared that de- spite guerilla warfare and stnbbinE in the back, the university would continue to blaze the way for the moral. social and educational upiift of the people, he was greeted with tumultous applause which fairly shook the building.
 President Denny was replying to the criticism of some of the alumni and so- called friends of the institution that the university turned out nothing but politi- clans. He declared that the university was not ashamed that it had turned out men who were the leaders in public life in the state and nation and pointed With. pride to the records made by Henry D. 1 Clayton, Colonel Sibert. Judge F. Bal | mon, oscar Gray. W. B. Oliver and oth-
 CTS. He declared that the university ! ilnen were among tho leaders m every 1 walk of life in Alabama and mentioned alumni who were high in business. pro-
 fessional and financial affairs.
 Banquet Largely Attended The banquet was the most largely att tended and the most successful in recent years. w. B. Oliver of Tuscaloosa. con gressman- elect and former dean of the law school, presided, and his wit and hrillancy in introducing the speakers added much to the charm of the affair The governor of Alabama sounded the call for a new constitution for Alabama.
 declaring that the present instrument l was antiquated and archaic. It was | framed almost solely for the purpose of | regulating the suffrage question: he
 stated and hampered the state in mak- 1 ing many progressive moves which were l necessary for the advancement of the 1 people He called attention io the fact
 that under the present constitution there could be no inheritance tax. no income tax no local taxation for schools, no convict should be worked on the roads and there could be no proper system of | taxation. He pointed out that with cer- l tain changes in the constitution there could be provided a regular Income for | the university and other state institu- l tions, which would increase in the same proportion as the needs of the schools Increased One of the feature of the ad- dress or the governor WIS HIS utcidfu- ton in favor of aboishing the numerous
 state agricultural. normal and other kinds of similar institutions and using thesA l funds for the maintainance of few high class schools of the same character.
 Wilson Indorses Ideas
 William B. Wilson, Secretary of Labor. indorsed the ideas advanced by President 1 Denny and declared that he was glad the university had done something for the state in addition to mparting knowledge. A. S. VandeGraaff of Tuscaloosa spoke Of the spirit which had inspired the people during the civil war and urged that the same spirit he shown in the activities of life in time Of peace. He compared the law and medical depart ments of the university to the army and navy of the state and pleaded for the proper support and announcement of l both branches of the institution.
 Robert Jemson, Sr., of Birmingham l was called on and responded brieflx l speaking in highest praise of the work
 of President Denny at tho university. 1 Judge E. R. Almon. congressman-elect from the Eighth district. advised all law yers to abstain from entrance into poli- tics. to discourage litigation and to charge l large fees. Judge Almon spoke im- promptu in the place of sydney J, Bowie of Birmingham. who was unable to att | tend
 Hugh Morrow of Birmingham was the | last speaker of tile afternoon and his 1 speech was one of the cleverest ever heard at an alumni banquet. He was
 
 (COntinued On page EIevcmD