The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-06-25

At the same time there was a strong
current Of feeling looking towards re-
form in political conditions, which
were unhealthy because of great dis
satisfaction among the people, who
believed that there was a "rlng" IN
the State, in complete control Of our
politics and disposed to ignore the
common people or masses, and to d.
rect and control affairs from head
quarters in Charleston and Colum-
bia. The News and Courier, at that
time under the brilliant editorship Of
+. ". Dawson, was the leading news
paper in the State and in way the
most potent factor in our public af-
fairs. This condition therefore result
ed in disorganized movement, by
the farmers, to control the democratic
State convention which was to meet
in July, 1886, for the nomination Of
State officers. Gov. Thompson had
resigned to accept place in the
treasury under Mr.. Cleveland, and
Lieutenant Governor J. c. Sheppard
had succeeded to the governors Of
flee, and was naturally candidate
to succeed himself as nominee Of the
democratic convention. He was op-
posed by Hon. John P. Richardson,
who had been slated for the place by
the political clique which we had
come to consider as the "ring.'
:The prominence into which I had
sprung, by accident rather than de-
sign, caused those Of my friends in
various parts of the State who were
supporting my demand for technical
and industrial education, to expect
ne to take leading part in the strug-
gle for the governors Office. [ was
entirely green and wholly lacking in
experience as manager OF political
forces, but I lent what support |
could command to my former school
fellow and friend, J. C. Sheppard, a
citizen Of my own county Of J..
field. He in a way was as closely
allied with what was called the ring
as Richard son, and was so consider
ed; but Richardson opposed the agri-
cultural college while Sheppard prom
ised to support the idea, and this to-
gether with his own popularity gave
him a very strong vote, but not
enough to prevent Richardson's sue
cess, and he was nominated by the
convention. The "ring" thus trium-
pied.
The legislature which was elected
was also antagonistic to the separate
college idea, but the current of feel
ing was so strong that the politicians
who were in control of our State af-
fairs, felt compelled to do something;
with the result that the State univer-
sity was broadened to embrace an ag-
ricultural and mechanical course, the
very thing which I had advocated at
Bennettsville, and which had been
disdainfuHy rejected by the influ-
ences which controlled the Benefits
vile meeting.
The original land script fund de-
signed for agricultural and mechani-
cal education under act Of congress
Of 1862 had already ben donated, one
half to the South Carolina University
and the other half to the Claflin Uni
versity, and the Hatch fund Of fifteen
thousand dollars donated for expert
mental purposes by the United States
was also given to that college. An
officer of the United States navy.
Lieutenant J. R. Edwards, was detail
ed to establish and teach the mechan-
ical course. His department was in
stalled in the large brick building
southwest of the South Carolina COLI
lege campus known as science hall.
I will say in passing that MI. Ed
wards was very worthy and compe-
tent man and as far as could be done
made fine start in teaching the me-
chanic arts, but there were none Or
few indication of any change in the
curriculum or development Of the ag-
ricultural side in the university
Lands were purchased for experiment
south cf tie city and two c5a II 'X-
pertinent stations were established.
one at Spartanburg and one at Dar-
lington. The farmers advocated a
separate college, with an experiment
station at it, supported by the twen-
tv-fve cents tag tax on fertilizers.
The establishment Of three separate
experiment stations, and the agricul-
tural annex to the university gave the