The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-13
WHY GRAY LEAVES AUBURN

r. WHY CRAY LEAVES AUBURN
 The resignation of Dr. Dan T. Gray as dean of the state agricultural col !. lege and director of the experiment fstation at Auburn means more than the loss of an able and efficient ex- ecutive. It means more than that Alabama is deprived of the ripened experience of man who thoroughly understands her educational problems and needs. It means more than that another state is to profit by the sin Icerity, devotion and industry of a technical expert who has few equals in all the South. It means far more than appears on the surface.
 The decision of Dr. Gray to go to another field is an illuminating, relent- less and just reproach upon the pres ent administration in Alabama. It is an inevitable result of the failure of Governor Brandon and the legislature of the state to carry out campaign pledges regarding education and the primary elements of Alabama's prog ess. Governor Brandon went into of- flee on a platform of tax reduction and educational advancement. His record has been one of attempted tax increases without educational advance. Many people were justified in, believ- ing that a continuation of the Kilby policy of tax equalization would ulti- mately result in Tightening of the burden by reason of collecting es- capped taxes. That policy should be still pursued. That the. cost of gov erning this expanding and developing commonwealth would become less was hardly anticipated. That any of it's vital functions should be inadequately supported is not to be tolerated.
 Among the expectations of the peo- pie of Alabama was the hope and be- lief that the Alabama technical~school at Auburn and the university at <Tus- caloosa would receive generous ap- propriation for their demonstrated and legitimate requirements. When the legislature dragged on and on, without any wise educational pro- visions, and when Governor Brandon failed to bring about proper utiliza- tion of the data collected by the re- cess survey the public hope for educa- tional betterment and expansion de- clined, and the legislature adjourned without having advanced in any de- gree the cause of public education m Alabama.
 And now one of tho. leading educa- tors in the South, a man nationally known for his intellect and attain ments, finds himself forced to resign because this great field of opportu- nifty is hedged off by lack of the funds and facilities so essential Co proper utilization of Alabama's enor- nous and idle agricultural assets. Says Dr. Gray in his letter of farewell to President DowelI: ".The failure of the legislature to provide for the educational needs of our institutions of higher learning, particularly those phases having to do with agricultural teaching and research affairs, raises very grave doubt in my mind as to the tdeep-seated interest of our people in agricultural education and research. | When 1 look about I see that our nelghboring states are all going ahead with the agricultural type of indus trial education. At the same time, we are standing still. And am afraid I am not the type of worker who can undergo a four-year educational hi bernating period and come out at the end from under it's deadening influ- ences."
 Alabamas loss is Arkansas gain. Dr. Gray is wrong in believing that the people of Alabama do not want liberal education appropriations for their institutions of higher learning. The successful campaigns last year for voluntary contributions to Auburn and the state university prove that the people believe in education. The real blame for the situation rests squarely upon Governor Brandon, and upon the legislature which was willing to go down with him in failure.
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