The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1913-01-15
PRESIDING ELDER
REAL CLEMSON MAN
DIR. j. W.NDaniel Says He is Respon-
sible for College. Suggestion to



Founder.
Walterboro, Jan. ST am respon-
siblc for Clemson college, and | am
proud of it," was said by DR.. j. W.
Daniel, presiding elder of the Charles
ton district, at a meeting of the board
CT stewards at to- frSs quarterly
conference held Sunday night at
Bethel Methodist church.
To newspaper man present, this
was rather startling statement. Sen
ator b. r. Tillman has been receiv-
ing credit for the achievement in this
neck of the woods, and doubtless in
every other neck" where the state
ment OF DR.. Daniel has been heard.
So the newspaper man present sat
up and took notice.
The discussion Of the efforts being
made to raise funds for the purchase
Of the new district parsonage in
Charleston caused the remark. DR..
Daniel is very much interested in this
recent purchase by the Methodists
of the Charleston district, and was
asked by member of the board to
tell those present about it, This oc-
Cured in one of those delightful in
formal periods punctuating ali OF DR.
Danieis meetings with the stewards
of his district, when he becomes rem
iniscent.
He said that when he was quite a
young man having just entered the
ministry he was sent to the old Pen
dleton charge. At that time Thomas
G. Clemson was an old and eccentric
man, skeptic. He had never been
known TO go to church, but after sew
eral visits by DR.. Daniel he came at
once to his church DR. Daniel said
there seemed to sprin.; up a liking for
him by the old man, who was quite
a talker.
About this time meeting Of the
Iocal agricultural fair association was
held, and Gov. Perry was present as
speaker. Attention was thus direct
ed to the subject of agricultural de-
velopment. Shortly after tits Col.
simpson came 20 see DR.. Daniel, and
in conversation informed him that Mr..
Clemson was thinking Of leaving his
possessions to found a mining college.
Col Simpson being an alumnus of
Woford college was anxious to get
this property for his alma mater DR..
Daniel said to Col. Simpson: at
would be foolish for Mr.. Clemson TO
leave this money to found a college
on mines as there is nothing to mine
in this State but few fish bones
down on the coast, and if he wants to
found college, why doesn't he found
an agricultural college?" Col Simp-
son, Dr. Daniel said, was very i'm
pressed with the suggestion and
stated that he was going right over
and suggest it to Mr.. Clemson. which
lie dld, Mr., Clemson at once becom-
ing quite enthusiastic This" said
DIR. Daniel, "was the birth of Glenn
son college which has become such
splendid school Mr.. Tillman and
others may not like me to say this
but these are facts"
After the meeting adjourned. DR..
Daniel was asked by the reporter if
he had any objection to the use of
his remarks relative to the foundation
of Clemson college. None what
ever was the reply. "They are
facts, so why should | mind?"
1t requires no stretch of the imag-
ination to believe that this was the
real birth of the college, to one who
knows DR.. Daniel A close student
or the conditions and affairs. and with
an intensely practical mind, such a
suggestion was but logical sequence.
book, which is now in the hands
OF the publishers, written by him
shows how very practical he can be-
This book, "The Bottom Rail-" will
create sensation, it is predicted,
when 1t comes from the press. and
perhaps will have as far reaching eff
fects as the suggestion to Mr.. Clemson
that he leave his money to found an
agricultural college.-The State.