Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1910-01-26
CLEMSON COLLEGE.
Report Shows Affairs Of This
Institution to be in Very
Unsatisfactory Con-
dition. I

~
which has been made public, since
our last issue bears out The Adver-
tiseF's statement concerning the
need of an investigation into the
affairs of Clemson college.
There has not only been friction
in the management of the affairs of
the college but the practice of nepo-
tism-the employment of relatives
by the board of trustees-has also
been a mill stone around the insti-
tution's neck. When a vacancy had
to be filed on the faculty, instead
of employing the most capable man
available kinsman of some MEM
Der of the board of trustees would
be elected.
We are more convinced than
ever that thorough investigation
into Clemson's affairs is needed.
Not only will President Mell.s
statements be confirmed, but we be-
lieve that there will be found other
wrongs to be righted. We are ofthe
opinion that otherresignations than
some mentioned by President Nell
should be called for. In order for
our readers to see to what extent
relatives Of the board of trustees
have been employed, also to what
extent the president has been handi-
capped in his administration, we
publish herewith a portion of DR..
Mell's letter to the Legislative COM
mittee:
"Nepotism is serious drawback
to good and efficient growth in the
college and there should be some
remedy for this evil. The following
trustees have relatives on the official
force of Clemson Agricultural col
lege: Z
r.. W. Simpson, three sons-in-
law on the faculty.
wv. w. Bradley, a brother on
the faculty.
J. E. Wannamuker, brother
in7law On the faculty, 2 nephew on
the. station sta afs a nice In the Office
of the president, relative in the
treasurer's office.
w. D. Evans, son in!S the
treasurer's Office, a son holding the
position of fertilizer inspector.
( Alan Johnstone, a nephew on
the faculty. s i:
Three other members of the eoE
lege force are supposed to be related
to trustees by marriage, but ] am;
not in possession of accurate infor-
nation on this score. G
Since the college was opened for
students in 1893 the board of trlls.s:.
tees have appointed 81 of their rela-
tives to important positions inathe
college. There are now IL relatives.
on the present force. The board
have also appointed two of their
members to good salaried places in
the institution within the past eight.
years.
NEPOTIsM.
The practice of nepotism 4las;
caused much of the trouble and dib-
turbances during the administrator
of my predecessors and during my
term of service as president. ASIAN,
evidence of the willing influence
nepotlsm has. on the official action
of the board of trustees, I will cite
three instances which came in my
own experience in my efforts to
equip the college with strong and
capable officers: March, 1908, /
recommended to the board of trtrs-
tees list of mathematical experts.
for the chair which had been vacated
by the death of Prof. P. T. Brodie
several months before. l headedI
this list with the name of DR.. Otto
Dunkel, who was then associate pro-
fessor of mathematics in the Univer-
sity of Missouri. Dr. Dunkel was q
native of Virginia, a graduate of the
University of Virginia with the de-
gree of master of arts, a graduate of
Harvard University with the degree
of doctor of philosophy, and also
graduate in mathematics in Gotten
gen University Of Germany. He
spoke German and French fuently
and had reading knowledge of
Spanish and Italian. While abroad
he studied mathematics under some
of the best mathematicians both in
Germany and in France. There
were two other strong men on my
list, but Iendorsed as my first choice
DR.. Dunkel. AT Prof Martins re-
quest l submitted his application to
the board for the chair. l did not
Prof. Martin equal to DR..
Dunkel in mathematical training5F
After several ballots the board failed
to elect anyone, and after transact
ing other business adjourned to meet
in July, at which time Prof. Martin
was elected, although Prof. Dunkel's
name was submitted by me again
Prof. Martin is son-in-law of R.