Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-01-21

| Annual Report or the college, IredSur-
er, a copy Of which accompanies this
paper.)
Charges Nepotism.
Nepotism is a serious drawback to
good and efficient growth in the col
] lege, and there should be some remedy
| for this evil. The following trustees
| have relatives on the official force OF
Clemson Agricultural college:
R. w. Simpson-Three sons-in-law
| on the faculty.
w. w. Bradley-A brother on the
faculty.
J. E. wannamaker-A brother-in-
| law on the faculty, nephew on the
station staff; a niece in the office OF
| the president; relative In the treas
| urer's Office.
w. D. Evans-A son in the treasur-
er's office; a son holding the position OF
| fertilizer inspector.
Alan Johnstone-A nephew on the
faculty.
Three other members of the college
force are supposed to be related to
trustees by marriage; but / am not In
possession Of accurate information on
| this score.
Since the college was opened for
students, in 1898, the board Of trustees
has appointed twenty-one of its rela-
/ tlV6S 10 pOSIliOhS tAC wi
lege. There are now eleven relatives
on the present force The board has
also appointed two of its members to
good salaried places in the institution
within the past eight years.
The practice of nepotism has caused
much of the troubles and disturbances
during the administration Of my pre-
decessors and during my term Of ser
vice as president AS an evidence OF
the whiting influence nepotism has on
the official action of the board Of trus-
tees, will cite three instances which
came in my own experience in my ef-
forts to equip the college with strong
and capable officers; March, 1908,
recommended to the board Of trustees
a list of mathematical experts for the
chair which had been vacated by the
death of Prof. P. T, Brodie several
months before. I headed this list with
the name of DR.. Otto Dunkel, VINO was
then associate professor of mathema-
tics in the University OF Missouri,
(See attached letter from DR.. Dunkel.)
DR.. Dunkel was naive or virginia,
graduate of the University Of Virginia
with the degree of master Of arts, a
graduate Of Harvard university with
the degree Of doctor Of philosophy, and
also a graduate in mathematics in Got
tengen university Of Germany. He
spoke German and French fluently and
had a 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 l endorsed
as my first choice Dr. Dunkel. At Pro-
fessor Martins request submitted his
application to the board for the chair.
/ did not consider Professor Martin
equal to DR.. Dunkel in mathematical
training. After several ballots the
board failed to elect any one, ana al
ter transacting other business adjourn
ed to meet in July, at which time Pro-
fessor Martin was elected, although
Professor Dunkel's name was submit
ted by me again. Professor Martin Is
son-in-law Of r: w. Simpson, the
former president of the board and a
life trustee. My work for the college
from that time became greatly ham,
pered and interrupted by serious diff
ficulties thrown in my way by the
friends of Mr.. Simpson on the board or
trustees. Professor Martin was elect
ed assistant professor of mathematics
before l became president OF the COL
lege.
His Recommendations Ignored.
IN 1SU0 i W pooiu
the election Of chemist for the eX-
pert on the station staff. My list con-
tanned a gentleman who had received
fifteen years training in chemical ex-
periments and was familiar with diff
ficult station researches. A nephew OF
member of the board was nominated
by Mr.. Simpson and was elected in
few minutes afterwards. This nephew
was but recently graduated from
Clemson and was without experience
concerning station experiments. He
was a bright young man, but could not
in any particular compare with the
gentleman whom l had nominated, in
age, experience and educational advan-
tages.
In my efforts to control my stenos-
mpher who is a niece of trustee,
was greatly embarrassed by the board
stepping in and siding with her in her
insubordination. found her in the Of
fee when l accepted the presidency in
1902. She has been given leave of alb
sence until the new president shall be
elected, and the inference Is that she
will be returned to the presidents Of
flee with salary increased from $3.50
to $500. Because of this action of the
board last September l have been un-
able to secure a competent assistant
who will consent to take the position
with the uncertainty hanging over 1t.
have appointed eight young men since
last September, but all have declined
after looking into the situation. have
called the attention of the board to this
unfortunate condition, but ii has de-
clined to reconsider its determination
to have the niece returned to the pres
| idents office after retire.
While | was in controversy with the
| last commandant in the matter Of VINO
| should discharge the duties Of the pres
| ident's office, Rev. Coke D. Mann,
member of the board of trustees, pub
| lished an article in the newspapers
condemning me in my efforts to control
the affairs of the college, and yet he
had not availed himself Of the oppor-
tunity to inform himself concerning my
| side of the matters under consideration.
Mr.. Mann was on. the jury which was
afterwards called on to decide on the
| merits of the case. BY his conduct he
| had rendered himself unfit to sit on the
| case, but he took part In the discus
sions which occurred in the board and
cast his vote against me in the final
action of the trustees.
The voting of $4,000 to compensate
| members of the board of trustees (with
| their law partnerS) for defending the
college in the dixie litigation is worthy
consideration by the committee of the
general assembly.
Agricultural Courses Cut.
In my efforts to develop the college
into a high-grade institution of science,
engineering and agriculture, l had
| worked out, with the assistance Of my
| faculty, seven courses of study for
the students to pursue, and three OF
these were for the agricultural STU
dents. But the trustees at their meet
ing in December last cut out all but
one of these agricultural courses, be-
cause they thought the Farmers Union
demanded such to be done.
When l rendered my resignation, In
July, 1909. the board of trustees was
informed that my reasons for resign
| ing were because:
/. The frequent interference in the
administration of the college affairs
| by the trustees.
=. Selecting the officers of the COL
lege without allowing the president
large share in determining who snail
fill these positions. This will avoid
nepOtism.
3. The need of reorganization of
| hnf hn