The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1910-01-20
FIGHT ON CLEMSON COLLEGE.
Special Committee Makes It's Report
Charge of Nepotism.


special committee appointed to in
vestigate the Clemson College ques-
ton has made its report. DR.. Nell
sends a singing letter.
The report foreshadows the bitter
fight that is coming in the present
legislature on the management OF
Clemson. Already a bill has been
passed by the house forbidding nepo-
tism on the part of trustees of State
colleges, and Representative Brown
ing's bill, providing for a thorough
legislative investigation of the affairs
of Clemson, will likely be deemed
necessary under the charges brought
by DR.. Nell, although the committee
concludes by saying:
I'VE do not think it advisable for
the legislature to take any radical
action at this time, as we hope that
with a new set of bylaws and new
president, conditions will soon be
vastly improved"
To the report of the legislative
committee appointed last session to
investigate the State colleges, is ap-
pended statement from former
President Nell, Of Clemson, severely
criticising the board of trustees and
holding them responsible for the
long years of friction at the college,
and making several sensational
charges against them; among others
that nepotism is so prevalent in their
employment of teachers and others
that friction is inevitable.
Details as to Nepotism.
Specifying as to nepotism, he
makes this statement:
"R. W. Simpson-Three sons-in-
law on the faculty.
"W. W. Bradley-A brother on the
faculty.
u. E. Wannamaker-A brother
in-law on the faculty; nephew on
the station staff; a niece in the office
of the president; a relative in the
treasurer's Office.
"W. D. Evans-A son in the treas
urer's Office; son holding the posi-
ton of fertilizer inspector.
ALAN Johnstone-A nephew on the
faculty"
The committee renews the recon-
mendation of it's last report that
steps be taken to place the State en-
tirely in control of the institution.
Under the Clemson will a majority
of the board is self-perpetuating.
'tIn view of the fact that great
deal has been said in the press of the
State as to conditions at Clemson Col
lege, and also in view of the fact that
such a large sum of money is yearly
expended there by it's board of trus-
tees, your committee felt it incum-
bent upon them, as far as time would
allow, to make somewhat thor
ough investigation.
1--WE find that there has been de-
plorable lack of cooperation between
the trustees and the president and be-
tween the president and the COM
mandant, to the serious detriment of
the institution. The retiring presi-
dent feels that the trustees have
usurped his powers and by interfer-
ence with the details of the institu-
ton, which are directly the duties
of the president-such as discipline
of cadets, orders to his subordinates,
taking charge of buying the books of
the library, and debating the curri-
culum-made a successful admins
tration impossible for him."
DR.. Mell's reasons for resigning are
as follows:
when 1 rendered my resignation,
in July, 1909, the board of trustees
were informed that my reasons for
resigning were because:
81. The frequent interference in
the administration of the college af-
fairs by the trustees.
"2. Selecting the officers of the
college without allowing the presi-
dent a large share in determining
who shall fill these positions. This
will avoid nepotism.
"3. The need of a reorganization
of the military department so that
the recent attitude of the last COM
mandant against the president may
not again occur.
''The board of trustees refused to
accept my resignation, and adjourned
to meet in August"
The Bigham Case.