The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1902-12-10
COLLEGE STAYS
I'm COLUMBIA.
Laurens Makes the Best
Fight and Loses.
STORY OF DEFEAT.
Long Hard Struggle in the
Dark.
Towns Great Effort to Accomplish
What NOW Appears Never to Have
Been an Existing Possibility.


Been an Existing Possibility.
BY a vote of 120 to 90 the S G.. Con-
ference of the Methodist Church de-
cided last Friday morning not TO move
the Columbia Female College from Co
lumbia.
Thus Laurens and Greenwood lose
after a hard struggle and Columbia
without any effort as a community
wins.
Laurens sent DIR. Aiken, chairman
Of the local committee, and Messrs.
John r. Bolt, N. B. Dial and w. L..
Gray TO Newberry on Tuesday. We'd
nesday afternoon Laurens presented a
bid Of $25, 900 cash and any one Of three
sites valued at $40, 900. This bid was
guaranteed by business men here
worth in the aggregate at least $780,
900.
Greenwood presented a bio OF $40, GOO,
not guaranteed except that bankers
said that they regarded 500, 900 OF the
subscriptions good and offered to col
lect them il placed In proper shape,
the money to be paid in by the cub
scribers in instruments during four
years. Thus the value OF this bid was
subject to a discount,
The committee reported unanimously
for Greenwood. MIR. G. @. Feather
stone made the point that the commit
tee had no right to recommend any
town, that it was beyond their power
aud they could only report results and
facts Of Investigation. The point was
sustained.
The committee of Conference seemed
to think that the Laurens sites were
valued to high. Laurens promptly re-
sponded with the guaranteed offer to
make them good in cash. Thus Lau-
rens' bid was $45, 900 cash, and thus
Laurens clearly made the largest and
soundest offer. That from a financial
point will be conceded.
Friday morning the matter came up
in Conference with the result named
above, the recommendation Of the COM
mittee having been eliminated. The
question was on moving the college
from Columbia.
In an adrolt and able speech Rev. j.
w. Daniel advocated Columbia. Pre-
siding Elder r. A. Child for Green
wood, and G.. @. Feaiherstone, for Lau-
rens, spoke. Mr.. Featherstone made
one of the best efforts OF his life and he
always does well. f. H. Hyatt spoke
for Columbia. Other speeches were
made. The impression prevailed
that Bishop Duncan was unfavorable
to moving the college. This had great
influence, especially as the Bishop was
present and presiding.
The above are the facts briefly pre-
sented.
SOME COMMENT.
Undoubtedly Laurens made the
strongest effort. Laurens offered the
most money with the best guaranty.
The issue between Greenwood and Lau-
rens never reached a vote and nobody
knows who would have won.
THE ADVERTISER wishes that since
Laurens lost Greenwood could have
won. Nothing that Laurens cannot get
Is too good for Greenwood. Her people
did themselves and their town honor.
Laurens losing, of purse they should
have won.
In the matter Laurens has been mis-
led. 1t is not claimed that anybody
purposely misled Laurens but the re-
suit is the m LIurens understood
that the removal of the college in the
event Of Columbi.'s failure to help 1t
materially was practically and fully
determined. Laurens believed that the
conditions laid down by the action OF
the conference committee at its spring
meeting in Columbia were fairly met
by Laurens. The action of the Confer
ence seems a Reputation of this COM
mittee. The result is q signal victory
for the view taken by the Columbia
State and q signal defeat for those who
resented its remarks at the time. The
State held that Columbia should hold
the college without making a money
contribution and the Conference in eff
feet SO held.
THE ADVERTISER believes, though 1t
is 10y no means authorized to SO say,
that Rev. w. B. Duncan, pastor of the
First Methodist Church, was more mis-.
led than anybody. He worked with
heart and SOU for Laurens but it ap-
pears that he did not know where he
was at and it was not his fault. Had
Laurens suspected that the retention
of the college by Columbia was posi-
BILE in the circumstances, the effort o!
Laurens would not have been made.
The bald truth is that most of Laurens'
business men now feel like a set Of
fools. For months they have worked
ard begged and strained only to find
that they have b9en on q cold trail
It's discOuraging. Laurens may get this
college later. But-well we are tired
now and we shall have to rest awhile
and catch u breaths before indulgine
in any enthusiasm. One spell like this
is enough for a town for a few weeks.
PRAISES GREENWOOD.
Mr.. N. B. Dial, who fought, bled and
died for Laurens as he always does,
said that Greenwood should have won
after Laurens. "Tf we cnnldn't have
the college, [ wish Greenwood had
cotton IL. Greenwood Is g splendid
community, Greenwood Is our neigh
Dor and the Greenwood people are our