Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-09-17

and Laurens only was to be consider
ed. Greenville, nor any other city OF
South Carolina, was to be in the run
ming.
The proposition to Laurens, from
nine out Of a total Of twenty -eight
trustees. but the nine constituted a
majority Of those present, at that
meet Of the board, was something
like this: Raise seventy five thousand
dollars in cash or good notes; secure
suitable site in your midst, and then
we will expend the money you raise,
In your own town; bring to you about
a hundred thousand dollars that we
think will be left after the payment of
existing debts, and placing behind
these the prestige and support of all
the Presbyterians Of South Carolina,
We will give you splendid thing; and
no other town in the wide. wide world.
not even GreenvilIe, would be allowed
to get in the way of Laurens.
OF course Laurens took up their Of
fer.
Not to have done so would have been
a discredit to their intelligence and
business acumen for all time. Genu-
Inc five dollar gold pieces at the rate
Of about a dollar and half each will
always be bargains.
The alienation Of the more than
twelve hundred Presbyterians Of Green
Vile together with hundreds In other
parts of the state. from Chicora, and
this alienation would be justified in
the minds of all who understand the
case-is Of no moment to these nine
men. Nor does II seem to matter that
the almost vindictive fight some men
who are connected with other of the
churches institutions are making, have
engendered animosities that may .rea-
be expected to adverse affect
these places.
The fancied injury to Laurens must
be salved, though South Carolina Pres
byterianism is sorely wounded in It's
Practically every dollar in net value,
vested in Chicora's property has been
put there by Greenville. Every one
agrees that there Is q good margin
between the Indebtedness on the col
lege property and the actual value Of
the property.
The president of the college Is quot
ed as saying. there seems to be no
ground to doubt that given
a little time and the property. properly
would bring not less than
100000"
It is probably safe to assume that
this reference to value, only included
the worth of the realty and did not en-
brace any OF the costly equipment that
q well furnished college must always
have. It is doubtful IL this could be
purchased for $4,000.
II the foregoing statement and sur
mise are correct then there Is mar
gin of 100000 between debt and prop
erty value In the colleges balance
sheet. Greenville alone created the
value; the synod which in
cludes Greenville, made the debt.
Some people have asked, why Is
Greenville idle? Why isn't she on her
mettle and up and doing?
In the first place, We had no notice
of the step until the action was taken,
and then we were told in unmistakable
words that the question involved was
between Chicora college and the city
of Laurens, and that no offers from
Greenville or any other place in South
Carolina was to be considered.
When the nine members Of the board
of trustees Of Chicora college-con-
stituting a majority of the board at
their meeting Of July 2nd-voted In
favor Of the proposition that was sub
mitted and later accepted by the city
of Laurens, they were implored by the
minority to defer such action until a
time when a full attendance Of the
boards members could be had. A deaf
ear was turned to the opportunities
and arguments of the few.
At the meeting Of July 18th, attend
ed by twenty-five members Of the
board, lacking only three Of being Its
full membership. the vote In favor OF
resembling the action Of the meeting OF
July End, in reference to the removal
of the college to Laurens, stood: Fiji
teen in favor of resembling, nine against
resembling with one exception twas
the immortal nine of the former vote)
with the chairman, who was In favor
of resembling, not voting.
Unfairness to Laurens, and what
rich morsel this was under the tongues
of the nine-though she only lost what
she hoped to get, losing absolutely
nothing that she possessed, by this
treatment, must not be tolerated,
though the gravest injustice might be
done to Chicora college. Greenville
and the synod Of South Carolina In
the righting of Laurens' wrong.
The meaning of the resolution last
adopted by the board Of trustees OF
Chicora college. sending the matter to
the Presbyterians for settlement, IL
somewhat obscured to most people by
its phraseology.
1t is in no sense a request that the
Presbyteries endorse the boards &C.
ton of July End. but is only to place
the entire matter in the hands Of these
higher tribunals that they might slit
the entire transaction, in the light OF
the subsequent acts Of the more fully
attended boards, and render even and
exact justice to all.
A. G. Cover.
Greenville, Sept. 16.