The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-05-25

the session Of 19Z4-20.t
 i'versity logically and necessarily begins where the high school curriculum ends, as is the case in other American com. monwealths, and (3) that any artifi- cial, arbitrary procedure no our part in total defiance f0 the universal pol icy of the country would lessen rather than increase the output of the uni versity, albeit no other state in the union needs college bred men and wom- en more sorely than Alabama, which is incredibly rich in mine and field and forest. No other American common wealth would consider. such cruel ex- pedients. Of course, there have been in practically every state men to sug- gest the process of artificial elimina- tiOn of students. The rejoinder has us- ually been that the very men who spon- sor such suggestions are, consciously or unconsciously, seeking a way out of the responsibility of paying bonus to maintain an adequate system of edu- cation; that they find no pleasure in seeing great groups of students flock ing to the colleges to prepare themselves for high service; that they realize that the real trouble is that educational progress means more money, and that more money means more taxes.
 Standards Are National
 Our standards of graduation are the accepted national standards. We elim- mate the inefficient student. The per centage of graduates in proportion to the enrolment is no larger than at liar yard or at YaYle. There has been no letting down of the bars. Our grad uates are accepted by the postgraduate schools of this country and abroad on the same basis as are graduates of Co., lumbia, Cornell and other great Amer ican universities.
 The simple fact is that, instead of finding relief through unsound artifi- cial devices that find no precedent in any other state, we might as well make up our minds to meet the issue square ly. We have only begun to feel the pressure. A representative middle western state like Iowa, with a strifle less than Alabama's population, has nearly four times as many students en- rolled in it's colleges and is conkribut- ing approximately 10 times as much to their support. That is the situation generally in other sections of the c0un- try. During the past five years south ern states like North Carolina and Louisiana have caught the vision and are falling in line. The south as a whole has more than doubled it's ex- penditures on public education within the last decade. What about Alabama? Surely it will not be maintained that our resources are smaller than the re- sources of Florida or of Arizona or of Idaho and ohter sparsely settled states that are forging ahead with a grim de- termination to do their duty, not mere ly for the sake of the youth today, but also for the sake of their own material development tomorrow.
 Sees New Era
 Recently financial campaigns have been staged for the benefit of the tax supported institutions of higher learn ing. The necessity for that kind of thing reveals a pathetic lack of appre- citation of the real problem. It reveals also a vital need in the matter of arous- ing the responsible leadership of the state to the seriousness of the situa- tion. Why cannot Alabama support it's state-controlled colleges in accord ance with the recognized methods used in the rank and file of other American states? What is needed is a keneer and more statesmanlike educational conscience and sounder conviction re- garding the social, economic and spirit ual value of iberality in solving our educational problem. These things will inevitably be forthcoming sooner or later. When that day comes, there will be renaissance of education in Alabama and new era of civic pride and economic power.
 There is no conceivable purpose to criticise individuals in view of the ex- isting situation. The simple fact is that the people as a whole are in the last analysis to decide the issue. Their lead CTS, of course, doing what they think the people desire. My own view is that the people want to do the right thing and, if given an opportunity to express them selves, will make clear their attitude. The crux of the situation is that the issue has not been sharply presented to them. l am thoroughly convinced that the trustees of the institutions of higher learning can render q great, patriotic service if they will issue an appeal to the citizens of the state urging a refer endum on this entire problem. That would be constructive service. Future generations would acclaim such action as an epOeh-making procedure.
 Every effort has been made to keen the university's face to the future and to add to her force and effectiveness in each of the three great domains of serv- ice: in teaching, in research and in direct service to the state through exten- sion. The institution is on the march in many ways. To serve a state like Alabama is deep responsibility to serve it ever more and more adequately is the desire and ambition of us all. In spite of every handicap we have made progress in buildings, equipment and teaching force. It is my Judgment that we have used alright every dollar that has come into our hands. The pity is that more dollars have not been avail able. We have religiously conserved our resources. If there is an institution in the country that has made its available income cover more ground, have been unable to discover it. This statement applies to the summer school as well as to the regular session. It applies to the extension service as well as to the campus activities. We invite the most minute investigation of every phase of university activity.
 Up To State
 The physical plant has been en- larged, and the student registration has grown in unprecedented fashion. The T