The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-08
TROUBLE AT CLEMSON COLLEGE.
Students In Mass Meeting Express D1ssat-
isfaction with President Craighead.
He Addresses them and De-
fends his Course.
TSpecial to News and Courier.

feuds his Course.
Especial TO News and Courier.
PENDLETON, July 3l.-Great dissatis-
faction has existed for several months
past amongst the students with the
administration of affairs at Clemson
College, consequently the cadets asked
permission, which was granted by
Lieut. Donaldson, comrnandant, to
have a mass meeting on July q to take
some action towards laying their griev-
ances before the board.
This meeting was intended only for
the freshman and sophomore classes,
and was attended hy about one hum
dred and twenty-five students. The
following resolution was offered:
Whereas, the members Of the fresh
man and sophomore classes of Clemson
Agricultural College, in mass meeting
assembled. have the best intere7t" of
the cadets at heart, and are honestly
striving to achieve the greatest good
possible during our conn. ction with
the College, and as we hone1tly belie1e
under the present faculty we are not
receiving such instructions as we de-
sire: Therefore, be 1t
Resolved, That we are not satisfied
with the president, and ask your hon.
orable body to remove him.
After some debate it was changed so
as to ask for an investigation instead of
removal and as thus amended it was
adopted. The causes of diss 'tisfaction
az gathered from different cadets are:
That they do not have full confidence
in President Craighead; that he has
offended the boys at different times by
remarks made at chapel exercises; and
that he does not possess the qualities
necessary to make successful college
president.
This feeling of dissatisfaction has
been increased since the meeting by
the policy of coercion that he is pursu-
ing towards boys who took sides against
him, and much disgust is expressed by
some of the mos. reliable and intiueA-
tial boys at the present condition of
things.
The resolution as passed could not be
procured; the secretary of the meeting
lent it to another cadet and be has mis-
placed it. The secretary does not recol-
iect the resolution ipsssim:s verbs.
PRESIDENT CRAIGHEAD's REMARKS.
President C7aighead made AN ad-
dress to the students in the college
chapel on Saturday, July 81. In the
afternoon the mass meeting of the stu
dents was held. President Craighead
said that be had been informed by a
friend that there was a report that he
had been drinking. He said: Even
if say it myself there could not be a
more temperate man than I. A quart
of whiskey could be in my house a
year and would never take a drop Of
it." He said that the mau who started
that report, or any man who said that
be drank was an Infamous liar. He
said that be had heard from the same
source that some of the faculty were
enemies of his, and if anyone had any,
thing against him let him come up
now and face him and tell him so.
He said the same friend told him
that the boys were signing petition
to have him removed, and that only
twelve boys in the college had refused
to sign it. This be did not believe.
On the other hand he believed that
there were only twelve that did sign it,,
as he believed the bows to be loyal to
him, and if he thought that that report
was true he would Immediately resign.
He continued in this strain for about
five minutes and wound up like Gov
ernor Tillman by taking q vote, which
be put in this manner:
"AIl those who wish me to be preci-
dent rise"
Whereupon about thr.e hundred
rose, leaving sixty seated. When Pres
ident Craighead asked those unlriendly
to remain and the rest to leave the
chapel the whole crowd left.
THE BOARD REPORTS THERE'S MOTH
ING IN IT."
The board of trustees have issued an
official report of meeting held by
them on August 2nd. They say that
the college and Its surroundings are in
excellent condition. The work of re-
building Is making satisfactory pro-
gress, and they recommend some en-
largements and Improvements.
The much-talked-of trouble among
the students seemed to have vanished
under their investigation, according to
this extract from their report: "We
were little apprehensive from state
ments made in the public press that
we might find sorne trouble and dis
satisfaction existing between the presi-
dent and the students. On investiga-
tion we find no trouble nor cause for
any. We recommend that the board
of trustees give the students to under
stand that the discipline of the College
is fully vested in the president"
There is no doubt, however, that a
large number of students have left the
college. The reporter of The State as.
certained from Senator w. D. Evans
that the college began this session
with 576 students. For some reason,
100 students have left the college in the
past few months. twenty-five new
men came in and the attendance now,
therefore, is 4OS. Various causes are
assigned for the Withdrawal of such q
large number of the students.