The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1905-02-15
LAURENS, S. c., Feb. Is, 1905.
More About Clemson.

More About Clemson.
The necessity for determining the
amount of money which Clemson is to
nave cannot be avoided. We have no
objection to this institution receiving
5000, 600. or $500, 900. the year but the
amount should be in some degree def
mite.
Last year Clemson is said to have re-
ceived from all sources not quite $780,
600. Most of it was yielded by the tag
tax. Ten years g Clemson's total
revenues were about $40, 600. Mean
while the plant and facilities are being
enlarged each year.
If the buildings, machinery end equip
ment at Clemson be for a 5000, 600. the
year College, a loss will follow unless
the College is conducted on that basis.
lf.the tag tax should yield only $50, 600
his year, it will be necessary for the
State to appropriate directly money to
make good the deficit.
If you build a so, 900 spindle mill, you
will lose money if you run only 20, 600
spindles and let 3d. 900 he idle. You
must have the money to operate the
whole plant.
Even now farmers are being urged
to reduce the consumption of fertilizers.
If they do, the tag tax revenue will be
reduced.
If the State wishes to run a 5000, 600
College at Fort Hill, we are willing.
But we think the people have a right to
know the maximum amount they may
be called upon to put up in the event of
the Colleges present sources of reve-
nue. failing in part.
Clemson is a fine institution. We
heartily support it. Nevertheless the
politicians founded it by false pretense.
They said they would build a College
for poor farmer boys. 1t is not the
College for the poor farmer boys. 1t is
attended by the sons Of well-to-do farm
ers and business men and most of them
study mechanics.
Its prosperity is due for the most
part to the fact that it is the cheapest
College in the State. But the poor
farmer boy can't reach it.
The Clemson bequest, which was the
elixir of life to the Tillman movement,
was worth about SIS, 600. 1t provided
for the appointment of six trustees by
Mr.. Clemson's will and they elect their
successors. The State can elect seven
trustees. One of the life trustees died
ten days ago. The five will name his
successor. 1t might happen that the
interests of the State and the Clemson
life trustees would clash. TIE vote
would be six to seven. A State
trustee might be absent or sick. The
voting strength of the life trustees is
such that at a critical juncture the policy
of the College may be against the in
terests of the State.
The people pay about SITS, 900 the
year for this College. An endowment
of at least three million dollars would
be required to yield that income. The
late Mr.. Thomas G. Clemson had a long
head. He gave the College SIS, 900 af-
ter his death; and obtained the honor of
the nam for himself and the credit for
himself of establishing a three million
dollar school. The site is the home of
Nh. John c. Calhoun but the name of
the College is Clemson.
All this the farmers were told in 1888
and 1890. They preferred to be tricked.
We are recalling these matters in hope
that they will not be tricked so easily
and cheaply next time.
Don't misunderstood us. Clemson is
a good school. We and all the "old
Ants are its best friends because we
believe in liberal appropriations for
Colleges. Our crowd is always ready to
spend money on Colleges. But Clemson
is not a poor boys College. Mr.. Glenn
son didn't build it. He gave it less than
half a years income-and a name. Only
by the skin of its teeth does Clemson
belong to the people of South Carolina.
Six thirtoenths of its control forever is
in the hands Of private individuals.