The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-08
M E N, w O M E N
 A ND T HIN G s

mencement whirl and am not yet able to get out of the swift waters in which I was engulfed, for every time I attempted to make landing, I was pushed back into the ever flowing stream.
 I went to all could get to in the hope of finding stories, but they came too easy, and I have been put to it to find time and space to write them down before they become an cient history, although have made this column carry peak load" about commencements.
 I still have several on the string in spite of the fact that am just getting to the great days at the Alabama Polytechnic institute, but to make an end to them in the quickest manner possible, I'll just give a little account of the alumni banquet at Auburn which was the feature of the closing exercises.
 
 Ever since President Sprlght Dowell was inaugurated with such eclat the word had gone out if the institution hoped to cash in on his inaugural address. 1t would be reces- sary for the alumni to wake up to the fact that he meant business and wanted their hearty support to put f1~ aF q greater Auburn, and that he wasn't going to waste his time and spend his efforts unless he was assured of their hearty cooperation.
 It was spur and a challenge to every Auburn graduate and the clans gathered at commencement to look Spright over and to hear about the programme to make their alma mater what she ought to and can be one of the best polytechnic institutes, in all the land. The great trouble with some churches and some schools is that they lack vision and are con tented to call on their constituency to do little things when what they long to do and are ready to do are great things. The day of little things has passed away. The war wiped them off the map. The call is for big things and big men.
 John Denson, the active president of the Alumni association. got busy early in the game and began to beat his tom tom to wake up the grads" soy that he could make them understand that the hour haG arrived when every one of them was going to have chance to show his colors. He was successful in arousing quite a few of the indifferent ones to come into camp with the "old guard" and get ready for sure enough service.
 I have been going to Auburn com mencements for sometime, but I saw many new faces there on alumni day. The Alabama contingent was out in large number and there was quite sprinkling of the true and tried from outside states. It was a good omen to me. as I pottered about the buildings, walked about the campus or loafed on the streets to see men from all parts of the commonwe edith keyed up to get in behind the scheme to make Auburn the equal of any of the schools in the south.
 The alumni address by Billy" Will Hams Che said he preferred to be so called as his friends would recognize him better than if spoken of in more formal way) started the en- banquet and was augmented by the announcement of the unanimous ap- proval of the board of trustees to authorize the drive for the $2.o00, 900 for buildings and equipment, which, however, took the wind out of many speeches which had been prepared to urge them to such an action.
 The banquet started off with a whoop for every one jumped to his feet when the announcement was made, and the cheering was long and loud. Governor Kilby. President Dowell, Superintendent of Education Abercrombie and other distinguished speakers pledged themselves in burn ing words to the consummation of the plans whicf. would give to Au- burn her rightful place in the "edu- cational sun" which sh'"es on similar institutions in neighboring states.
 The reelection of John Denson to lead the alumni at this critical era when Auburn is getting ready to en- large means that the drive is going to have the full backing of the body he represents. for, in\e,ecting him, it meant that they expected to be put to work, as he is doer of things. The plans have not been worked out. but every one has faith in Spright Doweli. his associates and the c3uaEzM MIAasseeH
 LUKE M'LUkE
 From the Cincinnati Enquirer.