The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-10-27
LEVER DISCUSSES CLEMSON.
Says Colleges Duty is to Help Farm.
ers OF the State.

Batesburg, Oct. 21.-The only fea-
ture of the Tri-County Fair today was
the speech Of Congressman A. F. Lev
er. to the farmers. Mr.. Lever did not
| reach here until late hour, having
come from Lexington in an automo-
bile over bad roads and in a steady
downpour of rain. On account of the
inclement weather, the crowd was not
! as large as it would have been, had
the weather been clear, but those,
who came to hear Mr.. Lever left sing
ing his praises.
Mr.. Lever. after delivering one Of
his plain addresses to the farmers,
telling them how they could build up
their lands and be independent
branched off on Clemson College, and
discussed at some length the existing
condition of the institution. Inas-
much as public men have heretofore
evaded, seemingly so at least, discus
sing the troubles at Clemson, Mr.. Lev
er's remarks will be of interest to the
people all over the State. He spoke
in part as follows:
The work Of the institution in the
past furnishes a sufficient justification
for its establishment in the first in
stance and a continuance of the SYM
pathy and support Of the people for
the future. I think it only fair to
myself, and to the institution, for
which my friendship is we'll known,
that I should be candid enough to
confess my agreement with the feel
ing, almost universal, with the friends
of the institution, that in it's relation
ship to the agriculture of the State, it's
attitude has not been sufficiently SYM
pathetic and comprehensive to war;
rant a feeling of entire satisfaction
with it. Its friends are justified in
the disappointment they feel in the
fact that the institution has failed
somewhat to measure up to the re-
quirements as the leader in the soIu-
ton of the agricultural problems
which from time to time arise in the
progress OF the State. There has
seemed to be something of an aloof-
ness upon the part of the institution
with respect to the farmers of the
state, an attitude approaching the un-
sympathetic, somewhat of dazed and
bewildered Interpretation of the agri-
cultural possibilities. needs and prob
lens Of the State and an insufficient
understanding of the hopes, ambitions
and purposes of the South Carolina
farmer. The farmers Of the State are
not unaware, nor lacking in appre-
citation, of the good work which this
institution has done; they only feel
that it has not done its very best work
nor measured up to it's full possibili-
ties for effective agricultural leader
ship. This, is their complaint.
The future Of this institution, it's
usefulness and its influence, will be
determined by the attitude it assumes
toward the agriculture of the State in
the future. It's popularity; yes, its
usefulness, will depend upon the en-
phasis 1t gives to agriculture, both
within the institution and in the
State. The College must realize. rec
ognize and live up to the fact that
while 1t is technical and mechani-
ical institution it is first an agricul-
tural college. Not only is it primari-
~ an agricultural college, but it falls
short of the full measure of its obli-
cation if it fails in the pioneershin
or the agricultural thought of the
State. 1t must not only teach agri-
culture to the boys who go to it, but
1t is it's duty to give impetus and in
spiration to the agricultural masses Of
the state. 1t must carry the result
or Its experimentation, the conclu
sions of its science out to the farm
themselves. 1t must walk among
those whom it would inspire and
lead. 1t must learn the problems
with which the farmer has to deal,
and help him in man to man way
to solve them. 1t must inspire it's BOYS
with the possibilities Of State in agri-'
culture; it must instill in them q love
for farm life; it must demonstrate to
them that farming as a profession, is
as high, as noble, as honorable and
as profitable as any of the other pro-
fessions to the end that the cities Of
the State shall cease to drain the
country Of it's best brain and intelli-
gence. Great possibilities for good
hnfnrn