Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-06-25

NO. 81.
troll the property and take care Of 1t
in perpetuity.
Mr.. Clemson talked over this scheme
with me and mentioned his desire to
establish technical and industrial
school such as had been advocating.
and gave that as an explanation as to
why he had invited me to visit him.
His ideas were not clear or well de-
fined as to which course he would pur-
sue, but the thought Of a great agri-
cultural and technical institution grew
on him. Such was my conviction OF
the strength of the agricultural college
idea that I felt willing to guarantee
the state Of South Carolina would ac-
cept the property and begin the work
Of building college In his life time,
should he make the donation at once,
and I recall begging him to have his
last years frightened and made happy
watching the contamination Of his
cherished plan; but he was the most
Suspicious man In regard to lawyers
and the dangers of getting involved
in lawsuits have ever met and moth
ing we could say made any impress
sion on him to take immediate action.
But he did accept our suggestion In
regard to what disposition he should
make Of his property at his death.
and we talked the whole matter over.
Col. Simpson making memoranda, as
he was requested to write the will and
bring 1t to Mr.. Clemson at his earliest
convenience.
Messrs Simpson and Norris Joined
with me in urging him to change his
will so as to carry out this new pur-
pose, the same I had been advocating,
as they were SO nearly similar that
there were only slight differences an
to details.
The Life Trustees.
Having in view the possible danger
of the negroes, who are so largely In
the majority in our state, at some
time getting control Of the state gov
ernment, we suggested the scheme Of
seven trustees, who would be self
perpetuating, and thus make It Inn
possible for an adverse legislature to
shipwreck the college or make It
school to which negroes would be adj
mitted.
Another reason which our recent ex-
perience with the Legislature made US
urge the life trustees idea strongly was
the fear that a board wholly controlled
by political Influences might warp and
twist the college from its purpose and
finally cause It to drift back to the
ordinary literary type.
We were anxious to keep down the
danger Of negro domination Of the
school and at the same time to pre-
vent the prostitution of the institu-
ton to ends not intended by It's foun-
der. None OF the life trustees were
known to Mr. Clemson, except the
three men who were then advising
with him. Colonies Simpson and Nor
ris, living in the neighborhood. were
we'll known to him. had never seen
him before and never saw him after
wards. M. L. Donaldson, John q.
wannamaker and J. q. Bradley, all Of
whom had been prominent In the agi-
tation for an agricultural college, were
suggested ana accepted by Mr.. Glenn
son and Col. Bowen, prominent far
mer Of Pickens county, whom I had
never seen, was the seventh man.
It is well to note the personnel Of
the original seven life members and
to remember that at that time there
were no factional differences in the
state. It happened In the alignment
in 1890 three Of these men were my
supporters and three were not, and 1t
is worth remembering that in filling
vacancies caused by death among the
life trustees since, that one reformer
and two conservatives have been
chosen.
No Politics In t.
No political influences or feelings
were considered or involved In the
selection Of trustees then or since, and
while at times there have been some
political differences among the seven
life trustees, I do not feel that I am
speaking too strongly to say that no
one of the seven has ever allowed his
political bias to influence him In the
slightest in any action affecting the
college or its organization and man
agement. Those who are trying to in
ject politics into Its management now
are no friends to 1t and never have
been.
The establishment Of the agricul-
tural and mechanical annex in Colum-
bia and two experiment stations had
caused the separate school agitation
to die down, but It was only smoul-
dering. The fire was not extinsuish-
ed. The farmers movement associa-
ton continued to hold its annual meet
ings and reiterate its demands.
Mr.. Clemson's will had become
noised around among the leaders, and
his death, April 6, 1888, with the
knowledge that there was large
plantation and 100000 in cash for the
purpose for which we had been striv-
ing, was the signal for reviving the
demand of the farmers for a separ-
ate college in full vigor.
The Second Battle.
In the meantime another state DEM
ocratic convention had been held In
1888, In which the battle between the
farmers and the ring was renewed;
the people were becoming aroused to
the necessity Of political organization
and control Of the Democratic clubs.
The courthouse rings found their hith-
erto undisputed sway jeopardized in
many counties and overthrown in
many others, so that in the convention
Of 'SS nothing prevented Richardson's
defeat except the fact that the man
whom we had chosen to oppose him,
Jos. H. Earle, was under pledge to
support Richardson's denomination.
and his name was withdrawn, after
IL