The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-01
CHARGES AGAINST
AUBURN SERVICE
UNDER SCRUTINY
DoWeII Asks Public To With
hold Judgment Till Mat
tiers Are Passed Upon
STATE CAPITAL BUREAU !
THE AGE-HERALD
Mont HomeYy. Ala April 40

Agents of the federal department
Of agriculture today began an inves-
brought against the extension serv-
ice at Auburn by c. w. Rittenour,
president, and Roy C. Bishop, secre-
tary-manager of the Alabama Farm
Bureau federation. An executive
session was held during the day, at
ecutive committee of the federation
and DR.. Spright Dowell president of
the Alabama Polytechnic institute.
DR.. Dowell issued a statement
later in the day in which he said
there had been frank discussion of
the relationship between the federal
department of agriculture and the
college with respect to the conduct
of the extension work and the rela-
tionship between the extension serv-
ice and farm organizations, includ-
ing the farm bureau.
DR.. Dowell said criticisms of both
the extension service and the farm
bureau developed during the con-
ference and that he informed the
conferees that any charges preferred
in writing will be placed before the
board of trustees for consideration
at its regular meeting May IA. DR..
Dowell asked the public not to form
college until the properly constl-
tuted authorities have passed upon
matters and then only such as are
justified
Mr.. Rittenour and Mr.. Bishop, in
a public statement, charged that IL,
N. Duncan. director of the extension
service, had sought to control the
acts of the farm bureau federation.
The federal agents making the In
vestigations are l. o. Schaub ana
B. H. Goddard.
DR.. Dowelr. statement.
DR.. Dowell's statement follows:
In accordance with the state
ment which 1 gave to the press some
days ago, the United States depart
ment of agriculture at my -quest
had two representative in Auburn
last week to examine all accounts OF
the college involving the use of eX-
tension funds. This mlnalon viii
be concluded within the next two or
three days and the public Will be
promptly advised as to the findings
THE same two representatives OF
the department of agriculture came
with me to Montgomery last night
and held conference in their own
room at the Gay-Teague hotel at IL
o'clock today. At this conference
were present the two representatives
of the department of agriculture, the
entire executive committee OF the
farm bureau and the president or me
college There was 1ull ana lrdnh
discussion, first OF the relationship
between the United States depart
ment of agriculture and the college
with respect to the conduct or eX-
tension work, and second, of the re
lationship of the extension service
and farm organizations, including
the farm bureau"
o o O
Criticism Develops.
During the conference criticism
developed of both the extension serV-
ice and the farm bureau. Although
the extension service is cooper
alive enterprise between state ana
federal governments, it is the prov
ince of the college as the senior
partner in Alabama to investigate
any charges made against It's extern
sion service. AS representative both
of the state and federal govern
ments, 1 promptly stated to the con-
ference that any charges preferred
in writing would be brought to the
attention of the board of trustees
for consideration at it's next regular
meeting on May IA.
las has already appeared from
newspaper articles, the only charges
UP to the present time have been
made by the president and secretary
manager of the farm bureau and not
by its executive committee. which IL
the governing board. l am sure the
public will not reach any conclu.
sions prejudical to the college until
the properly constituted authorities
have passed upon matters and then
only such as are justified.