The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-02-12
PEABODY FUND INVESTIGATION.
DR. ROSE OF PEABODY BOARD
TELLS COMMITTEE OF ITS
POLICY.
Dr. =. G. Mitchell of the University
OF South Carolina Says DIR. .. Ii.
johnson OF Winthrop Is Respon-
sible for Charges Against Him.

On the nina OF the governor by DR..
ID. Ii. Johnson OF Winthrop college,"
declared DIR. s. G. Mitchell OF the
University OF South Carolina, speak
Ing In his own behalf yesterday af-
ternoon before the special commit
tee to investigate the distribution Of
tho PEABODY fund in South Caroline
TO which reference was made by the
governor in his inaugural address.
DR.. Wickliffe Rose OF Nashville,
general agent for the Peabody educa-
tional fund, apparel before the COM
mittee and made an extended expla-
nation OF the policies the trustees
OF the fund had followed in making
endowments and aiding educational
movements. He stated that under the
terms by which George Peabody had
placed the fund In trust portion Of
IL must of necessity be used for the
education Of negroes, and that the
communication to the board, signed
by eight representatives OF Southern
them. referred to in the inaug-
ural address OF the governor, had no
bearing on the final distribution of
tho fund as IL affected either Win
throp college or the cause of negro
education.
DR.. Mitchell spoke briefly, but with
feeling. during the session OF the COM
mittee.
What Is the charge against me "
asked Dr. Mitchell. after he had read
the extract from the inaugural ad-
dress which caused the investigation
and in which the governor made the
statement, II have the word of Prof.
ID. ID. Johnson. the able and distin-
guished president OF Winthrop. that
this Is true"
Dr. Mitchell declared that by his
own admission DIR. Johnson had re-
futed the assertion that he had kept
Winthrop from getting $4,000.
"Dr. Johnson went to the governor
OF this State and poured all this poison
into his mind for what motives / do
not know" said DR.. Mitchell. ''Dr.
Johnson invited me TO come TO this
State. and / have always tried to CO.
operate with him in every way. But
when he makes the assertion that
there Is no fight can not reconcile
II with the governors statement, i
have the word Of Prof. d. B. Johnson
who must be held responsible for
these charges. since he alone is
quoted by the governor.
In reply DR.. Johnson said that he
had gone In to see the governor about
signing an invitation to the general
assembly TO visit winthrop, and that
the governor had referred to the letter
written by F. III. McMaster In 1911.
DIR. Johnson said he had resented this
letter because he considered that 1t
had taken him TO task for something
Tor which he was not responsible. He
said he had also resented the COM
munication to the trustees OF the Pea
body fund sent to them in 1909. pro-
posing that when the fund was finally
distributed 100000 should go to each
OF the State universities In the South
and that the rest be used for negro
education.
Dr. Mitchell declared that the COM
munication TO the board OF trustees of
the fund which he signed was writ
ten openly at an educational confer
ence in Atlanta In 1909. and that
there was nothing underhand about It,
DIR. Johnson revived this COM
muEication, went TO the governor and
whispered the negro clause in his
ear" said Dr. Mitchell.
That is not true" replied DR..
Johnson.
At this Juncture DR.. Rose explain
ed the presentation OF the communi-
cation from the eight universities to
the trustees OF the fund. He said that
IL was one OF a large number OF sim
ilar petitions. and that ne doubted
whether or not any member OF tho
board had ever seen the original. The
gist of II had been given them along
with the c,ntext OF numerous other
communications.
Dr. Johnson stated that the "lnsin-
uatlons OF Dr. Mitchell ought to be be-
meath notice" The letter written 10
him by Mr.. McMatscr i'm 1911 had
taken him To task. He hpd resented
the communication Cmo -oting from
the educational conference in Atlanta
In 1909. but foreboro from comment
Ing on 70. as ne had no wish 10 stir
up trouble.
Dr. Wickllfre Rose. the general