The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-06-11
STATEMENT ISSUED BYPROF. BRAGG ON
 TRUSTEES ACTION
Says They Acted Within Power, But Friends of Auburn Show Concern
 Over the Procedure
By FRED H. GORMLEY Montgomery Bureau The Age Herald
 500 Davidson Building

Montgomery, June 10.-(SpeciaD - Prof. Thomas R. Bragg. whose con- nection with the Alabama Polytechnic Institute was declared at an end July i by trustees of Auburn at a meeting in Montgomery, tonight issued the following statement regarding the ac- tion of the board:
 "The action of the board of trustees of the Alabama Polytechnic Institute, in passing a resolution and giving the same to the public press, declaring that after July l, 1920, my connection with Auburn would cease, without eX- planation, the ass gnment of any req son for such unprecedented action and without any intimaton to me or any of my friends that such action was contemplated was within the power of that body. However, the mere posses sion of power has never. in the proper conduct of public affairs, been accred- ited a sufficient reason for riding rough-shod over the finer sensibilities of men or disregarding the amenities which education and culture are sup posed to cultivate in public and pri- vate life The action of the board can have little effect on my personal future and, from the many expressions that have reached me from over the state, Will not mllraIe aSdiHSl lHe confidence and esteem which many friends have always accorded me.
 "However, the friends of the inst- tuition are evidencfng some concern over the effect this unexplained and new method of procedure may have on its future at this critical time when the hand that has so long held the helm releases it's hold and new pilot is placed at the wheel
 
 PLANNED TO RESIGN
 q had finished ali my duties for the current scholastic year and gone to Washington, under proper leave of absence from the acting president, in response to request from William M Williams, commissioner of internal revenue, who desired me to assume temporary charge of the technology division of his department with the privilege of receiving the permanent appointment if I so desired. Shortly after reaching Washington l received "a message from a large public service scorporation of Alabama, offering me what I considered to be a most desr able position in it's service. and l ac- cepted the same by wire, and while en route home for the purpose of tender dng my resignation from the faculty nt Auburn l was apprised through newspaper reports of the action of the board of trustees. Hence l have suf fered no loss or inconvenience by req son of the short time given me by the authorities of an institution to which ] have given possibly the best twenty years of my life. But there was a Keen sense of disappointment that the long service, which has been approved by continuous reelection all these years, had not been considered of suf ficient value to merit one kind word when tue trustees in their wisdom de- termined that my usefulness had ceased. If I could persuade myself that only the personal element entered the matter 1 would be constrained to allow the loyalty of the thousands of men with whom I have labored in all these yeras to reconcile me to silent acceptance of this mandate te of power.
 ''But the fact remains that for eight years past up to and including the year ending with the commencement just passed. will be president of the Auburn Alumni Association and at the recent meeting was unanimously elect ed a councillor of the association. So far as l can recall there was never any conflict between the alumni and the board and very happy and har- monious relations uniformly prevailed during those years
 ALUMNI AROUSED
 ''But it is well known to the public and a matter of record that during the past year the alumni became very much concerned about a matter of vital interest to the future of Auburn. and a large number of local alumni chapters, both in Alabama and other parts of the nation, expressed them selves very vigorously in reference, thereto. My dual position of professor and president of the Alumni Associa- ton made the situation a somewhat delicate and difficult one. My loyalty