The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-04-14
Clemson College, April S.-"Wha:
is the matter at Olemson7'

is the matter at Clemson9'
This is the question which since
the first day Of this month the peo-
pie Of South Carolina, whose i~nstitu-
ton Clemson college is, have bsen
asking. 1t is a question that they
have asked before, more than once.
And it is asked not with any forget
fulness Of the great work for educa-
ton that Clemson is doing and has
done, not with any disposition to dis
count the influence for progress in
agriculture and the mechanic arts
that the institution is cxerting in the
commonwealth and the south, but the
question is asked because there is re-
greet that any trouble at Clemson
should impede this work.
Instructed to- find out what is the
matter at Clemson, this correspond
ent came here and gave the president,
commandant and others, in and out of
authority, to understand that what he
wanted to tell the people Of the State
was the truth, the whole truth and
nothing but the truth. 1t may not be
possible to tell the whole truth, it is
difficult still to get at the causes Of
the recent trouble, but what is told
is related with the desire to tell moth
ing but the truth.
The Man Of the Hour.
The principal trouble at Clemson
at present is the new commandment
and the boys have found that out.
When it to breaking rules and
disregarling discipline they have
found that Capt. j. G. Minus is a
very serious trouble. Tie is new at
the job, but he is not new at this game
at all. In the first place Minus is
a soldier. Hc is just a soldier. He
ought to be a soldier. He was cducat-
ed at the South Carolina Military
Academy, then at West Point, then
saw service in the Philippines and at
posts in the west. He applied for the
position of commandment at Clemson
last spring because, like every loyal
South Carolinian, he wanted to come
back to South Carolina. He did not
know what conditions here were, and
if lie mad perhaps he would not have
come, but having come he has done his
duty and he has had really the chance
to serve his State. Because conditions
at Clemson were serious. That was
realized last June, if not before, and
the retirement Of Capt. Clay brought
it before the public. Tire famous
"shirt-tail" parade of last commence
ment is not yet forgotten.
On the walls Of the barracks as one
strolls through he can see this inscrip-
ton scribblcd:
"Who ran Clay7 Glass of 1907"
And on April l.. 1908, the question
may have been asked in The barracks
"Who will help run Minus" But the
boys nave discovered, if they did moi
suspect it before, that Minus is not
the running sort. He is still standing
his ground and if he has to retreat It
will be by The orders OF his superiors
not Of his own vu:lt:on.
The boys al Clemson. Gnose involved
in the April fool trouble as we'll as
others, seem stunned and they do not
talk much. even among themselves
about that trouble. But since the first
announcement from The discipline
committee there has been a firm CON
viction for the youthful soldicrifthcr5
was violation of rules he would &C
home. Even before their eases were
passed on many Of the boys packed
their trunks and some went so far as
to openly apply for money to 60 nome,
The effort to conquer Minus, if such
an effort it was, has turned into q
victory for the youthful soldier Of Tn.
Gle Sam.
While the origin and purpose, if it
had a purpose. Of the outbreak is moi
yet fathomed. there can be little doubt
that it was primarily intended to test
Capt. Minus: 10 see whether he would
insist on punishment for violation Of
rules and TO see whether, if he did
insist. the president and authorities
Of the college would stand by him,
Other presidents and commanlants
have been sacrificed 10 the students
at Clemson in its brief history, and i.
now remains 10 be seen whether Pres
idcnt Nell and Capt. Minus will be
Offered up. The discipline committed
has stood firm, as have the president