The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-02-19


has seized on a single clause of the
petition of 1909, that with reference
TO the education OF negroes. and wav-
ed that as a red flag before a bull.
that his own institution might gain
In material wealth at the expense OF
the University OF South Carolina" was
the statement Of DIR. S. c. Mitchell
during the course OF his testimony
this afternoon before the committee
appointed to investigate the charge
made by Gov. Blease, that the presi-
dent OF the state University had con-
spired to defraud Winthrop College
OF her rightful share of certain funds
from. the Peabody board.
DR. Mitchell then showed that the
petition which has been so much dis
cussed during the investigation was
signed In 1909. and has been known
TO all educators of the South since
that time.
yet" said DR.. Mitchell. "Dr. John
son waited until political conditions
in this State were such that he might
arouse the prejudice of high officials
before he took any action in blaming
the action Of myself and body of ed
ucational patriots for injuring Win
throp with the Peabody board"
The whole trend of the testimony
by DIR. Mitchell was that educational
conditions in the South were such that
two separate committees g., the Pea
body board had recommended that
the best disposition to be made OF the
fund would he to aid the struggling
educational departments OF the va
rious State universities in producing
teachers and superintendents for the
high schools.
The University OF South Carolina
was included in both these recommen-
dations. and Winthrop College was
never mentioned" said d.. Mitchell.
This committee could have rightly
held me guilty of inaction, IL, after
two representatives Of committees.
each recommending $4,000 for the
University OF South Carolina. and af-
ter the subsequent action Of the board
I'm sighting the University without a
dollar, had done nothing to secure
It." ne continued.
Mr.. u. w. McLaurin. a trustee OF
Winthrop College. testified at the af-
ternoon session. He threw no new
facts on the situation, and only testi-
fed to the fact that he had shown
Governor Blease a copy of letter,
sent to him by DR.. Johnson. which
Mr.. +. III. McMaster had written 10
him and his CDR. Johnson's) answer
to the communication. This CORES
pondence. as has been before brought
out, related TO the action of Winthrop
In securing the $4,000. " hich was in
tended for the State University DR..
Johnson's reply referring TO the petit
tion signed in Atlanta b! the heads OF
eight Southern universities. which is
the basis OF the Governors charge
against Dr. Mitchell. Mr.. McLs urin
said that he thought that a copy Of
the correspondence had been sent to
every member OF the board of trustees
OF the College.
Mr.. +. TX. McMaster. insurance COM
missioner. an alumnus OF the Univer-
sity OF South Carolina, testified briefly
as TO the correspondence. He stated
that he had written Dr. Johnson
about his action in securing. through
Governor Ansel. the $4,000 appro-
priation intended for the University
after Prof. Tate. rural school super
visor. had told him OF IL. He had
talked with Mr.. McLaurin about the
letter. and said that the Winthrop
trustee seemed TO hold the same views
about the petition I'm its reference 10
negro education as those expressed
In his inaugural address by the Gov
ernor He had written Dr. Johnson
another letter. asking for the names
OF all parties TO whom he had forward
ed aOr'es OF ais letter. which he con-
sidered private correspondence. and
that this request had never been
needed
or. Mitchell. In beginning his testl-
mony said that the personal element
would have been left out OF the mat
ter. but for the action of DIR. John
son In stressing before the Governor
the clause with reference To the cdu-
cation OF negroes. which appears in
the petition drawn up by the prcsi
dents {, eight of the state univcrsi-
ties OF the south
II am convinced of this" he said.
FOR long before this matter was
brought out one or the trustees OF