The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-05-28

was established in times Of politi-
cal factionalism and bitterness. and
Ben Tillman had much to do with It's
establishment. Some people will al
ways hate Clemson because Of Till
mans connection with 1t.
"Another reason is that Clemson
was established against the protests
Of those interested in the older State
colleges. South Carolina and the Cit
adel. The older colleges represented
the ariStocracy, Clemson was intended
to be for the farmers and the common
people. Only those who belong to
'our set were expected to send their
boys to South Carolina or the Citadel.
The older colleges have always been
Jealous Of the newcomer. The older
colleges had existed by favoritism, the
establishment of Clemson meant that
hereafter they must justify their ex-
istence by merit. " !;
"And so it has been that the South
Carolina college and Citadel influ-
ences have always been hostile to
Clemson college, and they are respon-
sible for much of the warfare against
Clemson that has been going on until
this day. Some of those who are en-
gagged in the fighting are probably ig-
norant of the causes Of it. and they
will doubtless resent this suggestion.
II is true nevertheless. -
Clemson needs friends, and it is
folly for such champions as the Mail
to gratuitously antagonize powerful
influences. Some of these have for
years stood between that college and
assault. It is idle to attempt to ex-
plain the demand for reformation
by saying Clemson is hated because
of Tillman's connection with it, and
that other colleges are jealous of it.
The agitation is for the benefit Of the
institution at Fort Hill, and the soon-
er it is recognized that change IS
inevitable. the better for that lnstl-
tuition.
There is no question of the ability
of Mr.. Clemson''s life trustees; there
is no suggestion that they are not
acting in harmony with the minority
representing the State.- But it is con-
tended that the situation, from a prac-
tical, business viewpoint is ridiculous.
It is wrong in principle, and its sup
porters can not change that fact if
they argue until black in the face.
Stockholders in a bank do not permit
the holder of, say, four per centum of
stock to elect a majority of the direc-
tors. But that is what South Caro-
lima has done in the case Of Clemson
college.
The Anderson Mail argues that it
is wise for Mr.. Clemson s representa-
tives to hold control, for that majori-
ty assures negroes being kept out
should the blacks get into control.
That does not alarm US; by that time
all the whites would have emigrated
or died, and they would have no use.
for colleges.
And the thought advanced%by the
Mail is that it is best for the legisla-
ture not to have: control because, "We
might have legislature wholly hos
tile to Clemson college, and the use
fulness of the institution might be
partly or wholly impaired by elect
ing as trustees men unfit to serve, or
who would deliberately try to de-
stroy the college or change its
work" Our esteemed contemporary
appears to have forgotten that if a
legislature is "hostile" to Clemson
and wished to destroy" it, the quick
way would be to withdraw the States
support estimated for this year at
about $195,O00.. If that were done, a
thousand life trustees, representing
Mr.. Clemson, could not avert the re-
sulting dull thud.
And after the question of principle
in government is settled, the name of