The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-04-21
To the Editor Of The State:

In beginning my detail as military
instructor at Clemson college, I ar
rived August 80. 1907, about two
weeks before the opening of the reg
ular session. During this time and
the few weeks following the opening,
I became acquainted, in the natural
course Of events, with all the faculty.
There was willingness upon their
part to tell me Of the disciplinary sit
uation the past year. The various
escapades and violations that are
matters Of public knowledge were re-
hearsed to me time and time again.
One general suggestion in all these
recitals was to the effect that would
probably succeed with discipline il
Dr. Nell. the president, did not inter-
fere. On one occasion Prof. Riggs,
who Is thought to be very near to the
president, stated to me, in effect, that
he had told the president that the
success Of his administration would
be largely based upon his non-inter-
ference in disciplinary matters
In taking up my duties as COM
mandant. discovered a deplorable
state Of affairs. No organization, no
system, not the slightest regard on
the part of the cadets for law or or
der, very little respect or considera-
tion for the faculty: simply a great
mob Of youths allowed to run wild.
However. began to apply the regula-
tions and the penalties for their in
fraction as strenuously as the situa-
tions would allow. The next few
months was time of turbulence. 1t
Is my belief that the cadets soon
found that they could not get by me
upon certain Of their demands for
privileges, for usually most Of them
came to me through the president,
and always were put to me in a way
that left no doubt in my mind of the
presidents desire to concede almost
anything the cadets requested or de-
manded. 1 believe the record will
show that most cases withstood the
unmeritorious and harmful appeals of
this combination. and I think results
VIII show the wisdom of the stand.
Still. during the first year, there were
continual conflicts between us, due
to the fact that the president in an
irregular, and in some cases, an un-
authorized way, and also, in my opin-
ion, often without sufficient grounds.
yielded to the request Of individuals.
The April 1908 affair came
along, and its consequences are we'll
known to the public. The realization
came to me after the dismissal of the
SOE cadets, that if from now on real
constructive work was not carried for
ward, and If sense of duty was not
taught to the cadets, that the blame
for this failure would be on the au-
thorities. In bringing about the above,
l felt that the first and foremost ne
cessity in student body is a system
OF honor, adhered to in a manly and
straightforward way, and that the
next step Is clear and unyielding en-
forcement Of the regulations, justly
decisiviely and fairly. The honor sys-
tenn the student body itself is respon-
sible for and must carry out. This
system was adopted few days after
the April reduction of the crops.
The implanting of a sense of duty
in body Of students is largely due
to the attitude of the authorities.
their individuality, their honestly and
fixedness of purpose in carrying out
their duties. / knew that in so far
as cooperation and aid by the faculty
were concerned, l could look for little
help, because in the maintenance of
discipline the members of the faculty
or Clemson college are simply indif-
ferent, and that the conception and
ideas Of the president do not ordinari-
ly take logical form. Consequently.
the rehabilitation appealed to me rs
work that would have to be under
taken singlehanded. j
Expecting no aid from the presi-
dent, neither in a forcible nor a per-
suasive way, l fought against the ad-
mission of his harmful and runous
interferences i'm the structure that
was trying to build. An examination
of the records of the commandant's
Office and knowledge of my attitude
towards affairs would convince any
| one Of the logic of my conclusion i'm
regard to methods necessary to carry
out the undertaking.
At the beginning of this session
questions arose. Appeals were made