The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-01-22
DR.. Mann DEN0UNCES DR.. NELL
CERTAIN CHARGES MADE Ry
LATTER BRANDED AS FALSE.
aosoiutely Untrue" Is the Term Used
BY Member of Clemson Board Of
Trustees in Discussing Complaint
Filed With Legislative Committee.
Relative to Affairs of Clemson Col.
lege.

"AApio, Jan. 1S.-ReDlylng to
DR.. Nell. whose letter as to Clemson
conditions published Monday, Dr.
Coke D. Mann issued a statement to-
day in which he characterized certain
charges as absolutely false and with
out foundation" In general the
statement carries quite a criticism Of
DR.. Meli's actions as president O; the
college.
Dr. Mann, who is a member of the
Clemson board Of trustees, says in his
statement:
Il had thought that the controver-
sy between DR.. Nell and myself had
ended, but 1 saw in the Charleston
News and Courier Of the 18th instant
that was mistaken. He has a num-
Der of charges against me, all of
which are absolutely untrue. AS his
first chrge he says: While I was in
controversy with the last command
ant in the matter Of who should dis
charge the duties of the presidents
office, the Rev. c. D. Mann, a MEM
Der OF the board Of trustees, publish
ed an article in the newspapers con-
demning me in my efforts to control
the officers Of the college, and yet he
had not availed himself Of the op-
portunity to inform himself concern
Ing my side of the matter under con-
sideration.'
He says further down that I had
disqualified myself from sitting at a
subsequent meeting Of the board Of
trustees. He calls it a jury. The
public knows what he means. Again
he says: He took part in the discus
sion, which occurred in the board,
and cast his vote against me In the
final action Of the trustees What
disqualified me with the Doctor?
Specify Was 1t for stating facts
which tried to get him or some one
else to come and deny?- /. made tho
broad challenge that If any man
would deny it would prove 1t, and
he did not see his way clear to dis
pute 1t. Then why did he not come
out like a man and not wait like a
dirty cur until he had left the State :?
call the attention Of the public to
this fact. Capt. Minus had already
resigned as commandant and DR..
Nell was trying to put the whole
blame on him, and I knew 1t was
untrue. Therefore I came to his res
cue and have nothing to regret or
take back"
Let me say right here that DR..
Nell has his first time ever to deny
one Of Capt. Minus charges before
the board Of trustees. He gave US to
understand that he was supreme.
Forgetting that the other man was
In authority in his department and
had rights to be observed and re-
spected, not by the students in bar
racks. but by the president of the
college as well. Capt Minus was and
Is a gentleman Of the highest type
Notwithstanding what DR.. Nell may
write or say. My interference in the
Mell-Minus controversy was not to
interfere with DR.. Mell's duties as
president Of Clemson College, as he
would have the public believe, but to
show to the public that DR.. Nell was
trying to run the commandant, trus-
ess and everything in sight. When we
had DR.. Nell and Capt Minus before
us at an informal meeting, when
about one-half Of the board was
present, Capt. Minus making his
charges and DR.. Nell hearing them
and after hearing both Of these gen.
tlemen, we went over the situation, ami,
we agreed that a committee should
be appointed to go next morning and
see II DR.. Nell would let the Minus
department alone, and DR.. Nell
promised he would. Then the com.
mittee went to Capt. Minus and he
promised the same thing. This prom
ise was not kept by DR.. Nell, AID
Capt. Minus resignation was tender
ed during the session Of the legis:e-
ture in 1908.
Il am not at all surprised at DR..
MelPs criticism Of me for I believe
had 1t not been for my article t. the
College today. I knew a great deal
more about his side of the matter
under consideration than he thought
/ did. l had not been on the Joard
or trustees two months before It was
very clear to my mind that he was
too small man for the place and with