The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-07-24

lQent 11mOfOHS. Uue trustees Oih-
eious.
The Anderson Intelligencer prints
this story:
Clemson college is today the most
powerful factor in South Carolina
politics said a newspaper man,
who is in closer touch with the peo-
pie of the whole State than is any
other, to an Inteliigencer reporter the
other day.
This being the case, thereds very
general and deep interest in the lat
est Clemson sensationSthe resigna-
ten Of the commandant, Capt. Chas.
Cay, because the president Of the
college and the chairman of tn
board of trustees fatty told the vet
eran army officer, VINO will bear to
his grave and honorable scars Of
wounds received in service, that moth
ing whatever would be done toward
his support in the matter OF punish
ing Aagrant and unpafdonable
breach Of discipline and Of courtesy.
Clemson college is supposed to have
military discipline The cadets wear
uniforms and are armed and accou-
tired by the federal government,
which also details an army officer
at the college, as military instructor
and professor of tactics and mill
tarv science Clemson receives from
the federal government exactly the
same treatment as that given the
South Carolina Nj itary sead deny 1t
has beer the custom at the institu-
ton for the officer so detailed to
be employed by the college, in ad-
dition to his other duties, as COM
mandant Of the corps Of cadets, in
which capacity he is in charge OF
the students at all times and respon-
sible for their discipline or lack OF
discipline. The same arrangement
was made with Capt. Clay.
At no time since he arrived has
Capt. Clay been given any moral
support by the upper classman. Thus
Handicapped by the lack of any such
esprit de corps as exists at the Clta-
del. for instance, Capt. Clay tried.
nevertheless. to perform his duty
and reduce the big body Of students
to some sort of discipline. Had he
been backed by the faculty and
spared the childish interference OF
the trustees, he might have succeed
ed even under these Disadvantages.
Very naturally and properly, he re-
signed, when he found that he stood
alone.
Here is ar instance of the lack OF
discipline: The other day an Intelli-
gencer man asked. a boy who was a
graduate from the institution last
month why the proposed encamp-
ment at Greenville was 50 suddenly
called off. "Oh, we seniors didn't
want to go to Greenvi1le," he said.
1--WE had a meeting and told the fac
ultv that we We're not going and that
we wouldn't let the corps go. That
ended it."
And re said it in the most matter
of-course tone in the world!
The incident which eliminated in
the corcmandant's resignation was
this:
During commencement week the
seniors went out on disorderly and
indecent riot, which they very prop
erlv called a "shirt-tail parade The
conomaadant stood it as long as he
could. and then. in full uniform and
bearing the unmistakable insignia OF
his authority, went out to the par
racks and ordered every senior ne
saw to return to his room and tnere
remain under close arrest. Far from
obeying. the cadets-seniors, remem-
ber,-only showed past their com
mandant. actually hustling the gray
haired veteran against the wall, and
went out again, some Of them ours
ing him as he went.
The matter was reported to Presl'
dent Nell, who told the comma ndan'
that nothing could or would be done
The president Of the board Oh trus-
tees Col. r. w. Simpson, went to
the leading spirit among the seniors
and through the easy medium o.
iudiciously framed leading questions
secured from him statement that
the erring cadets meant no harm ano
bao intended no insult TO the com
nandant This statement Col. Simp-
son carried before the board, and
that oficious body promptly accept
cd it. waving aside with scant con-
sheraton Capt. Clay's protest agains'
+ba issuance of the diplomas pending
an Investigation
apt. clay's report Of the matter
hardly impressed the war oepar',
ment officials with the desirao'ii's y. "
detailing another army oH'cel d
clemson. Now comml1tee hoa