The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-06-28
SUMTER. S. Y. JUNE New

= - y
in which all the Presbyteries and the
alumni were represented. Meanwhile
the Deacons' Court Of the Clinton
Presbyterian church had held meet
ing and decided to accede to Presby-
terian demands and withdraw from
the board. But it held the titles anG
trusteeship of all the property Of the
college except new purchase, worth
about $4,000.
The Property.
This represents the actual property
the college would be able to take
away with it if it were removed now.
Such is now the situation. All con-
troll of TIE institution is in the hands
Of the board Of trustees, appointed by
the Presbyteries and the Alumni As
sociation. All the property of the in
,stitution is in the hands of the Clinton
College Association, composed Of the
session of the Presbyterian church OF
Clinton. In January. 1905, the char.
ter was amended by striking out Of
the removal clause. y But the as
surance was given the local board that
no plans for removal had been formu-
lated, that the object of this agitation
was simply to define the power Of the
church to remove If at any time It
should seem advantageous to the in-
stitution.
The course of the local board was
between scylla and charybdis. II
they held the college, they Lost the
church support; if they gave It - the
church on her conditions they ran the
risk of losing it in toto. But, as this
risk seemed the lesser of their evils.
they took it.
The Local Feeling.
The local feeling in regard to the
action Of the board is one of resent
nent. The feeling is that the board
did not give Clinton a fair showing.
This correspondent hears Of few. if
any, who sanction the extreme views
and intemperate expressions Of the
Clinton Chronicle, when it says that
the local board was taken in by an
ecclesiastical bunco game" or words
to that effect. The community at
large feels that the demand from the
Presbyteries for entire control was
entirely just, but that their acceptance
of the college here places on them a
moral obligation to retain the loca-
ton at least until a fair trial has
been made under the new conditions.
The prosperity Of the institution seems
assured now, no matter where it may
be located. All it has needed has been
the firm support Of the church.
Clinton has not done perhaps
great deal for the college, but she has
done much more than any other town
and is doubtless willing to do a great
deal more, under the same conditions
that other towns will be placed under.
It is improbable that any town will dc
very much for the college unless as
sured as to the permancy Of its loca-.
ton.
Would Convey the Property.
The Rev. DR.. Jacobs states that the
Clinton College Association stands
ready to deed over to the college
board Of trustees all the property here
as soon as that body will agree to set
tie the location here. But in case Of
removal the plant here remains under
local control, and the town Of Clinton
will continue to have a college.
Mr.. A. E. Spencer expresses his
conviction that the board will never
hamper itself by any pledge as to a
permanent location. He thinks that
an agreement as to a period Of time.
might be reached.
Mr.. NJ. S. Bailey is perhaps controll-
er of more capital than any other man
in Clinton, and he declares that
strong effort will be made to keep the
college here if later developments
show the possibility Of it. Mr.. Bailey
is very cautious man, however, and
is of the opinion that if the college is
to be given to the town that can raise
the most money there will be no use
to agitate the matter in Clinton. The
Presbyterians on whom the brunt
would fall are not yet through paying