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

their boys to South Carolina o. ne
Citadel. The older colleges nave al
ways been jealous If the newcomer
The older colleges had existed by
favoritism. the establishment OF
Clemson meant that hereafter they
must justify their existence by mer-
it.
And so it has been that the South
Carolina college and Citadel lntIu-
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 1g-
norant of the causes of it, and they
will doubtless resent this suggestion.
It is true nevertheless.
A demand is being made that the
State shall elect all Of the trustees OF
Clemson. That looks to be a reason
able proposition on its face, but as a
matter Of fact there is no good rea-
son why the present system should be
changed, ard nobody has yet suggest
ed a single good end that could be ac-
complished lby it. Admitting that
some changes are needed at Clemson,
we fail to see what improvements, II
any, could be secured by having the
legislature elect all of the trustees.
Under Mr.. Clemson S Will. there are
seven life trustees and six elected
periodically by the legislature. MI.
Clemson named the first seven Life
trustees, and when vacancies occur
the remaining life trustees fill the va
cancy themselves.
Several vacancies have occurred,
and the new men elected have been
men of at least as good character and
standing as those elected by the legls-
lature. AS a matter of fact, one or
two men elected as life trustees for
merly served as legislative trustees.
And it is fact, we have been told,
that the records of the board show
that there has never been a division
on the board along the line Of life
trustees and legislative trustees. 1t
has never made any difference, in the
course Of any trustee, whether he was
a life trustee or a trustee elected by
the legislature and serving definite
term.
Mr.. Clemson made his will soon af-'
ter the reconstruction period in this
State. The negroes had been in pow
er, and the State colleges had been
open to. negroes. Mr.. Clemson wanted
to guard against such condition IN
the new college, and for this reason
he hit upon the plan Of having a ma
jority of the trustees serve for lite,
'and having the life trustees fill va
cancies among themselves. It was a
wise provision then, and it IS a wise
provision now, for while the white
people have the government of the
State in their hands now, there is no
assurance as to how long they may
keep it. Our election laws are but
makeshifts, and the negroes can go
to participating in political affairs
again whenever they want to do so.
Or the white people themselves may
divide. Mr.. Taft is smiling and sing
ing siren. songs to US, and many of
our people seem greatly charmed. If
the white people Of the State divide,
as they may do, the negroes can come
in and control the elections, or they
can at least hold the balance of pow
er, and we do not know what strange
conditions this may bring about. We
might have a legislature wholly hos
tile to Clemson college, and the use
fulness of the institution might be
partly or wholly impaired by electing
as trustees men unfit to serve. or who
would deliberately try to destroy the
college or change its work.
The people Of the State have surely