The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-04-20
To the Editor Of The State:


In beginning my detail as military
instructor at Clemson college, l 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 l
became acquainted, in the naturaA
course of eyonts, with all the faculty.
There was willingness upon their
part to tell me Of the disciplinary
Situation the past year. The various
eseapades and violations that are
matters Of public knowledge were re-
hearsed to me time and time again.
One general suggestion IN all these
reeitals was to the effect that l would
probably succeed with discipline II
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 noa-lnter-
ference in disciplinary matters.
In taking up my duties as com
mandant. I discovered deplorabEe
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 consldera-
ton for the faculty; simply a great e
mob of youths allowed to run Wild
However, I began to apply the regu-
7ations and the penalties for their
infraction as strenuously as the sltu-
ation would allow. The next lew
months was a time Of turbulence. IL
is nv belief that the cadets soon
found that they could not get by me
upon certain Of their demands Tor
privileges, for usually most OF them
esn;a to me through the president,and
always were put to me in a way that
left no doubt in my mind OF the pres
ident's desire to coneede almost any
thing the cadets requested or de-
manded. I believe the record Will
show that in most cases I withstood
the iunmeritorious and harmful ap-
meals Of this combination, and THINK
results Will show the wisdom OF the
stand. Still, during the first year,
there we're continual conflicts be-
tween US, due to the fact that the
president in an irregular, and IN
some cases, an unauthorized way,
!. and also. in my opinion, often with
out sufficient grounds, yielded to the
request of individuals.
The April, 1908, affair came ~long
and its consequences are we'll known
to the public. The realization came anne
10 me after the dismissal OF the 3oo
cadets, that if from now on real con-
struetiye work was not carried tor'
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
7 felt that the first and foremost ne
cessitv in a student body is a system
of honor. adhered to in manly ana
STRAIGHTFORWARD way, and that tne
next step is a clear and. unylelolng
enforcement of the regulations, JUSTLY
.decisivelv and fairly, The honor sys-
tenn the student body itself IS re-
sponsible for and must carry ou1'
This system was adopted few days
after the April reduction OF the corps
The implanting Of sense OF duty
IN body of students is largely due
to the attitude Of the authorltles'
+bo;r individuality. their honesty ana
fxedness of purpose in carrying ou1
their duties. knew that IN so lar
as co-operation and aid by the tac-
,,l+v we're concerned, I could look Tor
little help, because in the MAMIE
nance of discipline the members Oh
the faculty Of Clemson college are
s;r,nlv Indifferent, and that the con-
aort;on and ideas of the president do
koot ordinarily take logical form
kCoaseorently, the rehabilitation aP,
7ea1pd to me- as work that would
khave to be undertaken siugIe-handeo'
N Expecting no aid from the presl-
Il. mt neither in a forcible nor a per-