The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1913-02-07
COLLEGE MATTER Is
BEING INVESTIGATED
CHARGES AS TO PEABODY FUND
BEFORE COMMITTEE.
DR.. D. B. Johnson Testifies to Amount
Received by Winthrop and Reads
Paper.

Columbia, Feb. 6.-The first session
of the legislative committee appointed
to investigate certain statements
made by he governor in his inaugural
address concerning the University OF
South Carolina and Winthrop college
was held yesterday afternoon in the
supreme court room. President John
son, of Winthrop, occupied the stand
practically all of the time, aad after
making his statement he was eXamln-
ed by members of the committee to
j'make clear certain sections OF this
statement. The testimony was most
! interesting and threw considerable
light on the distribution of the Pea
body fund to the various educational
institutions in the South. The fund
amounted to about $3,OOO,oOO.
Members of Committee.
The members of the Investigating
committee are Senators Weston, chair
man; Young and Goodwin, and Rep
resentatives Nicholson, secretary; ;
Ashley and Welsh. The room was
crowded during the session which ad-
iourned at 6 o'clock to meet again to-
day at 4 o'clock. 1t was decided to
hold a session of two hours each day
but the examination will be pushed
as rapidly as possible. Among some
Of the witnesses who are present and
may testify are Martin F. Ansel, for
mer governor; President Mitchell, Of
the University of South Carolina; Au-
gust Kohn, member of the board OF
trustees of that institution, and 9TH
ers.
The committee was called to order
by Senator Weston and Mr.. Nichol-
son read the resolution introduced by
Representative Ashley, calling for the
investigation The resolution referred
to remarks made by the governor in
his inaugural address In which he
charged that the president Of the
University of South Carolina went
North and agreed that if the Peabody
board gave the university certain
amount of money he president Nit
chelD would agree to let the remain-
der 20 to the education. of the negro,
and that this action cut Winthrop ont
of a considerable amount of money.
: Senator Weston asked the governor,
who was present, if he had any state
ment to make. The governor said that
his first information did not come
from President Johnson, but from D.
W. McLaurin, a member of the Win
'throp board, who showed him let
ter from F. H. McMaster, an alum
nus Of the institution, addressed to
President Johnson, and a copy of
reply. This was in September, 1911.
Later DR.. Johnson was in the city and
he had a talk with him in the execu-
tive's Office His object in making
this statement, he said, was to show
that Dr. Johnson was not talebearer.
Or. D. B. johnson.
Dr.. Johnson was then sworn. In
his statement he said that he had no
fight to make on any other education
al institution but his duty was to
look after the interests of Winthrop
college. He supposed that an alum
nus of the university was acting for
the university, referring to the letter
from Mr.. McMaster to himself. He
then read the letter, which was dated
June 81, 1911, and which states that
the writer had learned that the Pea
body board had decided to give S40,-
900 to the university but later, at the
suggestion Of PRESIDENT Johnson, had
decided to give the entire 100000 al
loted this State to Winthrop college.
President Johrson's reply, dated
July Is, 1911, says that it was at his
suggestion that Winthrop received the
100000 and he would like to know
! the name of the informant. He had
been working for 20 years for Win
throp college, and it was understood
that when the Peobody fund was final
ly distributed Winthrop college would
get large slice Dr. J. L. NJ. Curry
and Melville W. Fuller, chief justice
Of the supreme court, and both mem
bers Of the board, had so informed
him. It WIS the understanding that
after the Peabody institute at Nash
vile had b4e1 provided for Winthrop
college would come in for perhaps IS
hn