The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-02-14

College Trustees as "Ofiicers."
Yorkyiila Enquirer.
Under this caption, the Newberry
: Observer has a splendid editorial. 1t
! follows:
eve 90 not believe that the State
constitution ever intended to prevent
a public officer from serving on the
board of trustees of a State college.
Take the case of trustee of Clemson,
! for instance: The Clemson beGuest,
! with lis provisions for life truste IS.
had been accepted before the constitu-
ton was adopted, and Of course was
accepted with the provisio' in it.
IF the constitutional convention
had been so very desirous of keeping
public officers off these boards, why
in the name of common sense did it
provide that the governor, the State
superintendent Of education and two
members Of the legislature, viz, the
chairman of the educational commit
tees in the house and Senate respect
lively, should be members of these
boards?
eve are no lawyer, and therefore do
not undertake to go into a learned
constitutional argument; but that is
the way it strikes us.
and another thing that strikes us
is that there: is a good deal of per-
sonal and political spite and preju-
dice at the bottom of the whole busi-
ness"
We think the Observer has inter-
preted the law correctly, and that it
has given the right explanation as to
the cause of the agitation that has
been going on. There is nothing more
to be said on the subject.-Anderson
Daily Mail.
Here is case where we have to diff
fer with two newspapers for whose
Judgment and honesty of purpose we
have the highest regard
AS We have said before, we do not
see any good reason why a man should
be prohibited from holding the Office
of school trustee along with another
office. That there is wisdom behind
the idea we do not deny; but we are
unable to see it. To our view there
is just as much reason why the ex-
ceptions of the constitutional provis-
ion should include school trustees as
notaries public and officers in the
'litia; but with us, that is not the
question.
More important than anything else
in the matter is obedience to the law
We do not think that the meaning of
constitutional provision admits of ar
gunent. The point the Observer seeks
to make instead of bolstering up it's
contention bears the other way. If
when the makers Of the constitution
made special provision for the service
of the officers named as trustees, they
had intended other officers to serve in
a like manner, they would have said
so. The fact that they did not make
a general exception in favor Of trus-
tees goes to SHOW that they did not in
tend any such exception.
As to the alleged motive behind this
recommendation, we do not care to
say a great deal. The Observer I'M
derstands that better than We do. But
as We see it, motive has no part in a
case like this. There can be no COM
mendation, of course, of improper mo-
tives in anything; but when it comes
to an effort to secure the Enforcement
or observance of a plain law, we dol
vt think it is proper to raise ques-
lion Of motive.
Even LlOugQ Iue luulVtUua1 WIZ
seeks to compel the observance of the
law may himself have the reputation
of VIGOROUSLY disregarding all laws, it
is not enough for the man he is after
to reply that you are doing this only
for contemplate spite" The proper
thing is to acknowledge the error, and
step down and out of the assailable
position to a place of security that
spite can rot reach.
From Ti|Iman'S Home.