The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1922-11-18
AUBURN MEN RAISE
$4,000 AT RALLY
HERE LAST NIGH
Enthusiastic Meeting Runs
Total to 100000 on Goal
of 100000 to Meet
Erskine Ramsay Gift

The Auburn spirit reigns supreme
IL months in the year,
That was the keynote Of the most
enthusiastic meeting Of the Auburn
alumni held in recent years when
more than one hundred and fifty
former Auburn men gathered in a
rally at the Southern club last night.
The challenge of Erskine Ramsay,
by which the Birmingham capitalist
offered to give 100000 toward the
construction of a 100000 engineer
ing hall, provided the alumni would
match it with the same amount OF
money to be raised after the offer
was made, was accepted by the
alumni last night when more than
$4,000 was raised at this meeting
which was the first step in the cam
paign to match the Ramsay gift.
In addition to the $4,000 which
was raised among the Auburn mon
and a few friends of the Institution
who were present, it was announced
that an anonymous gift OF $4,000
had already been pledged to meet
the Ramsay donation condition and
In addition approximately $4,000
has been raised among Auburn
alumni in the east and in voluntary
subscriptions during the past 80 days
since the Ramsay donation was an
nounced.
The meeting last night, which was
originally called for the purpose OF
bringing together the Auburn men
who were here for the Auburn Centre
game and for creating enthusiasm
was turned into gathering deter
mined to place Auburn in the front
rank of the nation in point of en-
cheering equipment. Thomas Bragg
widely known alumnus of Auburn
presided and aroused the enthusiasm
of the alumni to a high pitch with
outline of the call which Auburn
was making on her almuni.
Bragg Sounds keynote
The keynote of the meeting was
sounded in the opening remarks of
Shdil man ID = g. NAACh az uNSAaN ~
that the time had passed when Au-
burn could continue her onward
march with the support OF her alumni
only during the three months of the
football season. What Auburn needs
and is crying for today is for the
loyal support of her sons IL months
In every year., declared Mr.. Bragg,
amid the enthusiastic approval of the
alumni and friends of the institution
who attended the dinner. While the
orchestra played the stirring tunes
OF the football field and there were
cheers for the team and hearty
pledges of support for the team in Its
fight against Centre, with every ex-
preston of confidence In the result
the meeting gradually changed from
a celebration OF a football game into
a meeting determined to render some
constructive benefit to Auburn.
The speakers who were on the pro-
gram were DIR. George Petrie, dean OF
the graduate department of Auburn;
DR.. Spright Dowell, president,
Charles F. DeBardeleben. chairman
of the Greater Auburn campaign. and
Henry T. DeBardeleben. 1t was when
renry DeBardeleben arose and de-
clared that the time for oratory had
passed and that Auburn called for
action that the money raising was
begun spontaneously and continued
until those present had subscribed
more than $4,000. which with the
anonymous subscription of $4,000
and $4,000 in miscellaneous sub
scriptions received since the Ramsay
gift, made the total of 100000 sub
scribed to meet the offer OF Mr.. Ram
say.
Spirit of Auburn
DR.. Petrie told OF the early days at
Auburn and reviewed the accom-
plishments of Auburn men during the
past decades in all fields of endeavor
and in all parts of the world. But
it is not the success which has been
achieved by Auburn men that makes
the Auburn spirit. There is an in
lefinable something that binds all
former students to the institution
declared DIR. Petrie.
Silent tribute was paid to the late
DR.. Charles C. Thach and a toast was
drunk to DR. Drake. the college ply
sician, who has served in that ca
pacity for the entire 50 years since
Auburn was founded without losing
any time.
President Dowell made a forceful
and eloquent address ON Auburn as
she is today and her prospects for
the future. He spared nothing in
acuuainting the alumni with the
handicaps under which the institu-
ton worked today and then made a
string appeal for united support SC
that the institution could continue