Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-02-08
A ROAST FOR CLEMSON.
Visiting Newspaper Man Refuses to
be Friendly.

Visiting Newspaper man heruses 70
be Friendly.
The Farm and Factory. a newspa-
per published at Seneca, makes Wig
orous and somewhat sensational at
tack on Clemson college. 1t contained
the following editorial article in its
last issue:
Yes. we went there last Saturday.
We paid our way on the train. and we
paid for our dinner at the hotel, though
we had several cordial invitations to
dine in the mess hall with the party
from Columbia. We wished to be free
to say what we thought without our
dinner trying to choke us off II our
views did not coincide with the ready
made views Of the trustees. We had a
right to be there for we are citizen
and a taxpayer Of the state. We talk
ed to the boys, and to parties inside
and out. Strangers there and citizens
elsewhere, and we have something TO
say as to our opinion, humble though
Il be. The Charleston News and Cour-
ier recently referred to Clemson as
"Rich Institution" and spoke glowing
~ of the wonderful possibilities with
In it's grasp" 1t might have added:
But o thou that thou understoodest
the things that be for thy peace It's
Inception was one Of the noblest that
could spring from the brain Of man.
To take the poor boys Of the farm, and
to fit them successfully to cope with
the difficulties arising from their Ia
Dor, to teach them the solution OF that
wonderful problem, how to furnish the
rest Of mankind with food to eat ana
clothes to wear. Exclusive OF the class
4 1906, there have graduated 33b
Young men. of whom, by their own offi-
cial showing, 81 or little more tnan
8, per cent are put down as FARMERS.
Since the college was opened seven
teen years ago 3,OS6 students nave
been in attendance; about 8 per cent
have graduated. Why this low per
centage of graduates? An agricultural
,llege 1t Is called. and for thirteen long
years IL had no hall of agriculture.
You were shown the hall Of this. and
the hall OF that, but you sought In
vain for the hall of agriculture. A
noted speaker, present by invitation OF
the trustees, on one occasion, scored
them numerically for their dereliction
in this matter. They did not consider
II as an impodtance IN the curriculum
so they made no preparation for It: II
were forced to build the hall Of agri-
culture, so they built 1t. One million,
one hundred and sixty nine thousand
dollars derived from fertilizer inspec-
ton alone since 1891. Nearly eight
hundred thousand derived from otner
sources In the same time making over
one million nine hundred thousand
dollars In cash handled In sixteen
years. Deduct from that the value OF
.t.lz civ hN
10 of the pamphlet distributed to the
members OF the legislature on their
late visit. (Which includes the Glenn
son lands bequeathed to them, and Tor
which they did not pay) to the amount
of $6S2,000 and you have left bal
ance in cash to be accounted for of one
million two hundred and eighteen
thousand dollars, not counting the sale
of farm products In that time.
Giving an average Of more than IS-
900 dollars per annum for current ex-
penses. 1t is "rich institution and
some men connected with 1t are grow
ing rich under the present state OF
affairs. Is this condition to go on
without protest from the people?
That rottenness does exist Is well
known to the faculty; or at least
some of them for some time have so
stated. But they dare not open their
mouths in protest. Why, but
short while ago, during the Hartzog
stir-up we believe II was. professor
denounced the trustees In scathing
terms, and Immediately rendered his
resigna ton, so sure was he from his
knowledge of the iron hand that was
held over them. that he would be fired
Immediately; but the very daring OF
the man saved him. and they refused
to accept his resignation because he
would have made known the reason
for his expulsion. That Clemson
trustee form. of government Is as
tyrannical as ever existed In Russia.
A censorship more strict than Wey-
lers ever was, holds in check. It's
treason, punished with official de-
capitation to say ought against the
trustees. There was more In that
Stribling COW episode than people
know. II man ever was soused IN
whitewash. his name is Simpson. The
department of dairying and amman
husbandry, has long been fettered by
the board of trustees. They elect 10
the head Of that department an expert
in his business: q man picked out from
among men, for his peculiar fitness ana
experience. and then dictate to MIN
what he shall do. He Is made an hon-
Orable figurehead, to show off the COL
lege at fairs and Institutes, teaching
farmers how to judge, inspect and buy
cattle from a scientific standpoint: and
when 1t comes to the important dlty
Of buying cattle for his college DEPART
ment. they knock him down, gag him.
and cOmrel him To take what they
say, regardless of it's fitness. and re-
gardless Of the price. when 1t comes to
favoring pets. There are more changes
made In the head of this department
than in any other, because no self res
necting man Is going to stand their
treatment long. and he resigns. IN
vestigate? Yes. BY a committee head
ed by such a man as Frazer Lyon, and
composed Of men who will probe to
the bottom without fear or fiinching,
by a committee that has full power to
summon every soul connected with
Clemson and examine them under
oath. and call In outside witnesses by
q committee not limited as to time In
their work. BY committee that
would scOrn the "whitewash brush"
thoroh it discovered blackness more
appalling than Stygian midnight. Let
Clemson demand this rigid examina-
tion, and let the people know the truth.
We are not an enemy Of Clemson Ag-
ricultural and Mechanical college: we
are a friend. and as a friend we de-
mand that she come out into the clear
sunlight for public approval. and let
rc cbnw har that nf which we are