The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-07-16
Trouble at Clemson.


Daily Mail. paper published very
close to the college Is further con
fima1ion Of the necessity that some
thing should be done:
From the facts before us we are in
clined to believe that the members OF
the graduating class and the manage
ment of Clemson College were more
responsible for the commandant trou-
bic than was Commandant Clay. In
short, we sympathize with Captain
Clay, and the war department, in our
opinion, would be doing the proper
thing in making the college suffer for
the action Of those cadets.
The whole truth Of the matter Is
this. The cadets at Clemson College
have, since the institution was found
ed, considered themselves as being so
mighty that they were not subject to
the orders of their betters-the Off
GERS in charge. Trouble has existed at
Clemson between the cadets and mem
bers Of the faculty for 10! these many
years and if the college, is going to
make any thing more than pretense
at being military school. all of this
foolishness on the part Of the cadets
must be put an end to.
Possibly this writer is in possession
# more facts connected with the es-
capade and the conditions now exist
ing than any other newspaper man.
He has spent some time at the college
and has talked with the trustees,
professors and some Of the cadets.
And while he regrets to say it, there
certainly must be some changes ef-
fected at the college. That is, provided
the college is to be one of the high
toned institutions Of learning of this
state.
The escapade at the college on the
night prior to the final commence
ment exercise was really disgraeeful.
The idea of a number Of young men
of the state Of South Carolina, who
are completing their courses at col
lege, having "sl1irt tail" parade and
treating their superior officer in. such
a way as they treated Captain Clay.
This officer heard all Of the disturb
ances on this night and went to re-
monstrate with the young men Of the
graduating class. These Young men
laughed in his face when- he COM
manded them to keep order and to
cease from their outrageous rowdy-
ism. Furthermore, it is an admitted
fact that one membor Of this gradual
;nG class pushed or knocked the COM
Mandant ont Of his path. Was this
Becoming to the young men Of South
Carclina9 Does this Young man feel
nroud Of his act? Does he think that
he is receiving the approval of all
coed citizens Of this great state Of
ours?
No. there is something wrong at
Clemson college. There is a remedy
for this wrong doing and the war de-
,}artment is going to find it. Il al
merely means that no army officer
will cherish the detail to Clemson Col
le2e by the war department. Further
more. it is doubtful if the war de-
partment will again take it on itself
to subject any of its officers to such
t3cltn?ont at the hands of the ca
diets as was given Captain Clay.
To sum the entire affair in few
wcrds, We believe that the war de-
partment would be doing tile proper
thing. as a punishment to the college
at large. to refuse to send another
army officer to the college; to call in
the government appropriations and
to call in the accoutrements, etc. In
other words, the war department
should desert Clemson College until
thai college can maintain honor and
respect among its students.