The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-06-22
WHY TOM MILLER QUIT.
Orangeburg Paper Gives Justification
For His Course-Trustees Would
Not Sustain His Discipline.

ed about the resignation of Thos. T..
Miller as president of the State Col
ored college at Orangcburg, posi-
tion he has held from the foundation
of that institution. The Times and
| Democrat, published at Orangeburg
where the college is located, last week
had the following article about the
matter:
President Thos. T.. Miller, of the
colored state college located in this
city, has resigned his position. Ever
; since the college was established sew
eral years ago he has been at its head,
and his management of the institution
has been conservative and wise. In
fact so well has he managed matters
out there that there has never been
the least friction between any of the
citizens of this city. The resignation
was caused by question of discipline
on moral grounds. 1t involved two Of
the female teachers, Louise r. Ford
ham and Lillian Mack, and several Of
the students, nal and female. From
what we can learn these students had
clandcstinc meetings in the boys dor
mitory, where they indulged in i'm
moral practices of the worst kind
b. accident eliminating letter fell
iro the hands of the two teachers
II med, and before submitting the
| matter to President Miller they cras-
ell the name of one of the girls nam
ed. because she happened to be n
friend Of the two teachers named.
President Miller found this out and
to protect the good name Of the insti-
tuition over which he presided and
preserve its usefulness he had to act,
and act vigorously. This he promptly
did by suspending the immoral STU
dents and recommending to The board
Of trustees the dismissal of the two
teachers, Lillian Mack anil Louisa b.
Fordham. When the trustees met in
| Columbia short time ago they s,ls-
tanned President Miller, but, STANCE
| " enough. declined TO dismiss the two
teachers. but reelected them and s,lS-
prndcd them each one month. and
ccnIirmcd the action of Miller in cx-
pclling the immoral students. II
seems to us that if the board of trus-
tees sustained Miller. as they certain
! " did do, they should have carried
out his recommendations in the mat
ter Of the two offending teachers, as
he is responsible not only for the dis
ciplinc Of the institution over which
he prcsidcs as well as keeping it de-
cent and respectable in the eyes Of
the people Of this community and Of
| the state.
The management Of this institution
is Of vital Importance and concern to
the people Of all classes in this city.
While the white people do not use ii
to educate their children, they have
great interest in il as one Of the pub
lie institutions Of the city. Under n
weak and vascillating management it
might become stencil in The nostrils
Of the public. 1t takes strong hand
like that exercised by Miller to keep
the moral surroundings of the insti-
tuition what they should be. II is not
an easy matter to properly manage
the number Of colorcd boys and girls
that attend this institution, and when
man is found who can do it he
should be held on to. Under weak
management this institution would
soon degenerate into vcritablc char
nal house of the worst kind of vice
and immortality, and would become
such menace to the best interests of
this city that it would have to be wip-
cd out. We therefore beg the trus-
tees to go slow in this matter, and be-
fore accepting Miller's resignation to
be sure that they have some one to
take his place who will manage it as
well in all respects as he has. The
best interests Of this city demand
this consideration at the hands Of the
board.