The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-01-31

activity in politics. ;"
Just what the activities have been
and along what lines were not stat
5 ed. 4 He further stated that COM.
plants had been made to him by
negroes in the State as TO the con-,
duct jof Miller at the institution. He
would make no other staten ent. &
The resignation of Miller will take
effect on June 80 Of the present
year This date was named in ordar
that he might have time to wind up
I, the affairs of the institution before
! turning the work over to his success
sor.
The board OF trustees which met
Friday at noon in the Office of Gov.
8 Blease decided to hold another meet
ing just after the adjournment Of the
present general assembly when the
successor to Miller will be chosen
Miller has been president of the
institution for several years and
draws q salary Of $4,000 year.
s5- 1t is expected that NJ. F. Nix, a
colored Baptist preacher Of this city,
will be named by the board of trus-
tees to succeed Miller.
Miller Writes Blease.
Following the request for resig-
! nation, Thomas E. Miller, the pres.
ident Of the State negro college, sent
letter of resignation to Gov. Blease
in which he charges that he was dis
missed because he opposed the cleo
tion Of Gov. Biease. Miller says in
his letter that he counted the cost
before he opposed Gov. Blease. The
letter of resignation follows:
Hon. Cole L. ,Blease, the governor Of
South Carolina, Columbia, South
carolina: s=l .ssE5
s.Dear Sir-Because I opposed
your election to the chief Office in
the gift Of our beloved State, you
have demanded my resignation, stat
Ing that you will not permit the
State colored college to do any busi-s
ness until my resignation is in your
hand In answer to your request,
with your permission our honored
trustees have. fixed the end Of the
fiscal year, June 30th, as the day
!. for ny resignation to be effective. /
thank you over much, dear sir, for
Z, this leniency, the more so because 1
am guilty Of having begged the vot-,
ers no. to vote for you. I counted
Z the; cost before I opposed you, hence
7 am prepared for the blow Of your
official act.
.l 1T, will be. Is years, June 10th,
since I was elected to my present
position, having been indorsed by
the Republican and Democratic or
ganizstions, the judiciary, most Of
the. members of the constitutional.
convention, the State legislature,
State officials, members CT congress
and two United State senators. In
response to their Endorsement, have
put IS years of faithful service in
this work. I now thank them for.
the great confidence they reposed in
me.
"My official acts have gone into
history: / do not fear the judgment
Of our people, white and black, upon
them. My opposition to you was
not an official act and I, alone am
responsible to my country and to
God, for having opposed your cleo
tion to your exalted position.
t5 "Honored Sir, never slandered
you fc~ there was no malice in my
opposition to you. / felt that your
announced policy against the negro
was not founded upon justice and
the best Interest of the State; for
that reason I tried to bring about
your defeat.
:. Wishing for you an administra.
tion founded upon wisdom and
craftsmanship, peace, prosperity and
happiness. hereby tender you this,
my resignation, to go in effect June
80, 1911.
''Very respectfully, your obedient
servant, Thos. E. Miller,
"Presi"ent of the State Colored Col
lege."
1t is said that the governor backed
up his demand for Miller's resigna-
tion with threat that if Miller de-
clined to quit, the governor would
withhold his approval of vouchers
or warrant, necessary to the procur-
ing Of money with which to operate
the college. Miller is credited with
having said in reply that he would
not, by making a fight for any per-
sonal rights he might have, risk the
prosperity of the college and he ac-
cordingly resigned, the board Of
trustees having meanwhile joiaed in
the governors request.
Miller, as president of the college.
has done good work, and his place
will not be as easily filled as some
f ks think it will. He had his stu
{ ants at all times under the best
e'5cipline, and there was 10 friction
a. any time between them and out
iers. The man that succeeds Mill
G. should be firm disciplinarian.
G. there will be trouble. The board
CT trustees should look to this in
clecting new president of the in
stitution. If the law permits a white
nan should be elected to this posi-
lion.