The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-27
0'NEAL AND WITT
 COME TO DEFENSE .0F DR. N. DUNCAN
Charge Attack on Farm Bu- reau Is POIiticS-De-
 ny Breach

FLORENCE, Ala. April 26-(Spe- cial.)-Positive denial of the charges against the Alabama extension, serv- ice made In recent public attack by Roy c. Bishop and Charles W. Ritte- nour as officials of the farm bureau is contained in a signed statement is- sued here today by Edward A. O'Neal of Florence and John R. Witt of Belle Nina as members of the ex- ecutive committee of the Alabama farm bureau federation.
 In this statement Mir. ONeal and MT. Witt praise the extension serv- ice, and especially it's director Prof. l.. N. Duncan. express regrets that such an attack was made add ing that 1t was for selfish reasons They also denly in emphatic terms that there is break" between the larm bureau and extension service, declaring that they are working in complete accord" We would be inclined" said Mir. o'Neal and MT. Witt, ito treat the attack lightly if IL were not so completely misleading and made against the extension serv- : ice which was the biggest eontribut- ing factor in building up the farm bureau with which IL is still working with complete accord. despite charges to the contrary by these in dividuals." The charge regarding politics Is declared to be absolutely without foundation" The complete statement follows
 As members of the executive com mittee of the Alabama farm bureau federation we keenIy regret that Charles w. Rittenour and Roy c, Bishop went into the press with a bitter attack on the Alabama exten- sion service. This was a personal attack, as 1t was made without the approval of the executive committee.
 MT Rittenour. and MT. Bishop are almost strangers in Alabama having come into the state only few years ago from Illinois and Ohio. Evident " they do not understand our cus- toms and institutions. For selfish reasons, known by all who are fla : mlliar with the facts, they attack and would destroy the Alabama extension service which Is vital part of our great college at Auburn, which has been efficiently serving the people or Alabama for over half a century. Their charge is made more ridiculous Dy a vicious attack on Prof L. N. Duncan, director of the extension service. who was widely known as a safe and able agricultural leader. 20 years before either of them ever saw Alabama. Professor Duncan and the other extension service officials and
  workers are Alabama men and wom- en, reared on Alabama farms and ed ucated in Alabama institutions. Is 1t inconceivable that such men and women would wreck the hopes of the Iarmers of Alabama as charged by MT. Hittenour and MT. Bishop?
 we would be inclined to treat the attack lightly if 1t were not so com pietely misleading and made against the extension service which was the biggest contributing factor in build ing the farm bureau with which it Ia still working in complete harmony despite charges to the contrary by these individuals.
 Our extension service in Alabama. under Its present leadership and poli- c1es, Is outstanding as one of inc most efficient in any state. The charge that we and the extension service are playing politics Is abso- iutely without foundation. It was made from selfish ambition and for destructive purpose"