The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-01
WASHINGTON AND
 . LEE ALUMNI PLAN . ENDOWMENT DRIVE
Executive Financial Secre- tary Confers With Alum nj Here to Arrange
 for Campaign

Dr. Henry c. Smith, president of Wash ington and Lee University Lexington. Va, will be the guest of Birmingham alumni of the institution during the sec ond week of April.
 Howard l.. Hall, executive financial secretary of the movement to increase the endowment of Washington and Lee, was in conference here yesterday with a number of graduates of the university. planning for the financial campaign to be launched here within few weeks to raise $50,000 in Birmingham for the insti- ttion. With him were c. M. McCrum and Walter W. Hood, president and secretary. respectively, or the local alumni associa- tion, and a half dozen or more other members.
 It was decided to give a luncheon at an early date to the local alumni and hear the views from all on what shall be done in the work here. At this lunch con plans will be made to entertain Presi- dent Smith and launch the campaign.
 Speaking of Washington and Lee Uni versity, Mir. Hall said that the institution held an interesting place in American education, The school was founded by George Washington, who personally gave it an endowment of S50,O00, which, in those days, was princely sum. This fund was the. nucleus for the endowment and is active at work to this day bearing
 interest of 5000 annually.
 'The next great forward step in the
 life of the university" Mr. Hall said,
 was the securing of Gen. Robert E. Lee for the presidency after the termination of the war. General Lee devoted the re- maining years of his life after the war to the upbuilding of the college, and un- der his guidance it gained in strength and influence, General Lees presence there drawing men from all parts of the south. ex-sodiers of the Confectionery and, later, their sons. Some of America's most distinguished men received. their educa- ton there, and it's influence today is felt throughout the nation.
 "The university is unique in that it has no state support, and so is free of political intrigue, nor has it any denom- national utilization. and so offers an un-
 biased curriculum"
 Later developments of the campaign will be announced as they are perfected. The present endowment funds of Wash ington and Lee University are less than S1, 900 900. In order to do the work that is being demanded of the institution an endowment of s5,000.000 Is needed. It is the object of the board of directors to try to raise $i000,0OO among the alumni. another s1.O0o.0O0 from the friends of the university in the south accomplishing which the general educational board, a branch of the Rockefeller Foundation, will give the university $2,000000. These funds, with the present endowment of nearly $1 100000, will give the institution sufficient financial strength to meet the demands made upon it by the people of the country.
 The main object of the campaign is lit- erally to secure such revenues that the present tuition and other charges may be reduced. thus opening the doors of the great college to young men of small means who at present cannot receive in- struction there because of the institu- tions own lack of capital.