The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-04-14

ago, when the entire sophomore class
declared it would leave if one of it's
members was disciplined for an alles-
ed o~tfense. By a close vote of the
faculty the discipline was inflicted
and the trustees OF appeal reversed
the faculty's action, retnstating the
class. The merits Of the original ease
were not clear and there were two
sides, but the effect Of the trustees
action was to impair disciplin and the
Influence of that action has been
henceforth felt in the college.
Last year, when the commencement.
parade was held and Capt. Clay as
serted his authority, it was again felt
that discipline was not strictly ell
forced by the higher authorities of the
college. While Capt. Clay is kindly
referred to here by those who knew
him, it is recognized that he was not
Il consistent disciplinarian, that at
times he was strict and at other times
lax, and the boys did not as Il conse-
quence entertain for him the proper
respect as ~commandant. When Capt.
Minus came here last fall ne found
himself the heir of the conditions
which had grown up during a period
Of years. but he also found a DISPOSE
ton 10 give him a freer hand in the
matter Of discipline than his predeces-
sor had mad. The board of TRUSTEES
passed a resolution declaring that the
commandment and discipline commit
tee were to be the sole judges of ma,
tiers Of discipline and that there
would be no interference from the
utustecs. OF course, the adoption Of
this resolution is itself prima facie
evidence that there had previously
been interference, and that the COM
mandant and faculty had not pre-
v%iously mad sufficient authority. A.
the opening Of schoo, in the fall Of
1907 Col. Alan tombstone, president
of the board of trustees. came before
the new student body and in a speech
characteristic Of that forceful and
clear man told the students that this
resolution had been adopted and that
they must expect TO obey the orders
of the faculty and commandment. Col.
tombstone in his expressive manner
warned the boys that there was Il
speed limit which must not be en-
ceedcd. And in this present trouble
Col, tombstone has lived up TO his de-
calaration Of last fall; he has not by
even IA word ~endeavorea to Interfere
with the faculty or commandment, or to
offer a suggestion; he has not been
here at all.
The discipline committee is compos-
ed Of the heads Of The different de-
partments, the elder statesmen, as it
We're, Of the college empire. In this
matter they have kecn unanimous and
without any division have sustained
the commandment. Under the regula-
tons matters OF discipline are left en-
tirely with the ~'commandant, and 1T is
only when he decides to call in The
discipline committee hat the commit
tee passes on such matters.
When the three hundred or moro
boys left the campus on last Welnes-
day their names were easily ascer-
tanned. I'm the first place, they were
reported absent at morning driIl, then
they were marked absent at their
classes that day and were not to be
found at 'thir rooms. 1t has been
asked why the commandment Hil not
refuse TO let them enter The barracks
when the crowd returned from Pen
dleton last Wednesday afternoon. He
could have done so. but did not for
at .east two reasons. In the first
place, ne did not wish. to deal with
the mob. but with individuals. See,
ond, he wished to make a ease against
each individual, 50 as 10 keep the rec
ords straight and have the evidence
in event Of az appeal. Then he want,
cd to give every boy a fair show. Sc
the matter vas referred to the disci-
plinc committee and the commandment
was ready to give the evidence against
every boy whose name was called.
Every boy has had an individual trial,
mas had the chance to say what he
wished to say in eX]tcnuation Of his
o~tfonsc. and if he desired. to deny the
whole thing. But most Of them have
owned mp like men: in fact. all Of
ihcm have done so. so far as is known.