The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-15
LEGAL PROBLEMS BL LOCk REMOVAL,
 BONDURANT SAYS
Grounds and Buildings at Au- burn in Original Donation Would Revert to Meth
 odists, He Asserts

Removal of the Alabama Poly technic institute to Montgomery
 would mean that the present
 grounds at Auburn, with buildings
 originally owned by the Alabama
 conference of the Methodist Epis- copal church, south, would revert to
 the conference, according to George P. Bondurant, Birmingham attor- ney and referee in bankruptcy in the United States district court here.
 MT. Bondurant pointed out Thurs day that thriving college, under the control of the conference, was
 situated at Auburn before it be-
 came the Alabama Polytechnic in
 stitute and that property added to
 the original site amounts to little
 compared with the original dona-
 ton.
 Recalls Early History | There is a phase of the Auburn removal agitation that has not yet
 come to public notice which should have strong weight in curbing this
 campaign" said MT. Bondurant. Amy one familiar with Auburn's history | Alabama Conference of the Methodist church before 1t became the Ala
 bama Polytechnic institute, and was | donated to the state to be used as a thriving college under the control | of the conference.
 "The buildings and grounds were knows that the present college site at Auburn was the property of the a state college. The original deeds
 specified, and are officially recorded.
 that the property must revert to the 1 conference if the institution ever l ceased to be state college. Removal | of the college to Montgomery would
 not carry with it the college site in
 its present location, and all the grounds. and buildings on these | grounds, that were originally owned 1 by the conference. would automat- fcally go back to-the Methodist con- ference. These are the facts. "AlJ this talk about sa1vaging the
 property at Auburn amounts to lit- 1 tie, for the simple reason that the property added to the original site ! amounts to little compared with the ] original donation.
 Auburn mt Auburn 1 s"The sentiment attached to Auburn 1 is one of the strongest factors in l making possible a greater Auburn. It outweichs Ancst any other factor that might be advanced One of the most detrimental things that could De l brought about would be to place Auburn near the influences of large city. Auburn is nationally known for | it's democratic spirit. Such spirit 1 does not thrive near large city, i where social prestige would present 1 it's claim.
 "The greatest thing that a college | can hore to do Is to make two grew tefore' Auburn is doing this | in it's present location, and all tho
 movement needed in her behalf is the movement in behalf of greater
 Auburn in the present location" | Expressions indorsing his stand as | taken when he was visited Tuesday by w. T. Sheehan, editor of the Montgomery Advertiser, were re- ceived Thursday in letters, telegrams and telephone calls by Charles F.. De Bardelebcn, president of the Au- burn Alumni association. Mir. De-
 Bardeleben denounced the proposal as
 a move to injure the school when
 he was visited by Mir. ;;he chan, the
 head uf a delegation of Montgomery citizens who came to birmingham to
 sound >out sentiment regarding the
 project.
 Mr. DeBardeleben stated Thursda y that he would head q ,arge delega-