The herald and news. (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, January 31, 1911, Page TWO, Image 2
Scores Life Tj
In a C
THE CLEMSON COLLEGE
SYSTEM IS CONDEMNED
MEMBERS OF EDUCATION COMMIT
TEE MAKE RPORT.
Point Out the Daugers of Nepotism.
Clemson System "Indefensible in
a Democracy," Says Report.
"Indefensible and incongruous in a
democracy is a system by which an
institution, supported by iState re
sources is controlled by life trustees
privately appointed." This direct
statement is made in the annual re
port of the legislative committee ap
pointed to investigate the condition of
the State educationAl institutions,
with reference to the life trustees of
Clemson college.
The system is condemned in the
following paragraphs:
"Indefensible'and incongruous in a
democracy is a system by which tan
institution, supported by State re
sources, is controlled by-life trustees
privately appointed. It is contrary to
the genius of our free institutions that
public funds should be controlled and
disburted 'by any officer or set of men,
not direetly responsible and answer
able to the will of the people. Viewed
es a corporation, Clemson college,
with an income of more than $200,000,
raised by the fertilzer tax and a little
over $3,000 annually from the Clemson
fund, is'controlled by the stockholders
and directors representing the $3,000.
In the matter of pefManent plant, the
disproportion is e'ven greater. The
unimproved farm willed by Mr. Clem
son is of little value as compared with
the magnificent buildings erected ' by
the State and the valuable land pur
chased as additions to the farm. The
undoing of this unfortunate status pre
sents sopne legal questions, under the
will of the late Thos. G. Clemson, al
though a -sovereign State is iot bound
as an individual might be. Adequate
deparaion could be made' for any
modification which the State may suc
ceed in making in the control of the
college. It is -possible tha'~t the State
might dissolve the present relaton and
by conemrnation proceedings or oth
erwise acquire, 'with just compensa
tioxn, the necessary real estate. We
suggest that this matter be referred to
the attorrney general with instructions
to investigate the legal situation,and
report to the ,general assembly 4t its
next session a method of acquiring the
college property freled from the con
ditions of the Clemson will.
"We are constrained to this view
of the principle involved, but in call
1ng attention thereto desire 'to state
that we find no cause to criticise the
personnel of the life trustees, either
collectively or 'as individuals. We
doubt if better selections or individ
uals could be made., But there is no
guarantee that such happy selections
will follow the application of the self
perpetuating plan."
The members of 'the commission
making the report to the general as
*s'embly are: T. I. Rogers on the part
of the senate and John J. McMaban
and A. Vander Horst on the part of
the house of representatives.
Lack'*of System.
"Your committee," continues the
report, "is impressed with the idea
that the lack of system of higher edu
~cation in this State is such that
.the State's educational energies and
resources, instead of 'being concen
trated are too much scattered and dis
sipated for the want of a genieral head
and a definite plan."
The report says notwithstanding the
current opinion that Clemson college
has more funds than it needs and
"that there is a consequeznt tendency
to extravagance, the committee found
that there is need of many additional
houses for professors and that many
of the houses built have beien neces
sarily cheaper than is desirable fol
permanent service."
Nepotism.
"Are trustees made of sternier stufl
than they?" This question is asked ir
discussing nepotism at Clemson and
,comparing the restrictions upor
judges and the trustees of Clemsor
college.
Discussing nepotism, the committee
says:
"This committee is in accord witi
the opinions expressed by your pre
vious committees as to the dangers
of nepotism. A year's reflection and
much discussion strengthens our con
victions on the subject. It is an ever
present and insidious tempter whicl
often steals upon the most scrupulous
the most upright, unawares, througi
the tenderest ties and sentiments o:
the human heart. It is almost irre
sistible because of the tender, sacrec
channels of its approach. Our judget
arn forbidden to sit in judgment upOi
Fustees
riticaf Report
of the smallest moment. Are trustees
made of sterner stuff than they? There
can not be too much circumspection
exercisied in the matter. It is always
well to avoid the appearance of evil,
to disarm criticism, if for no better
reason. The wholesome light of pub
licity given the facts heretofore re
ported ought to have offended no one.
Facts are facts, howsoever innocently
they may have arisen.
Book by Riggs.
"We would deem it unnecessary to
refer to this subject but for the pre
sentation to us by acting President
Riggs of a booklet, of which he is the
author, and which he denominates
'The Clemson Catechism,' issued from
the Clemson press and circulated
through its slecond edition, in which
the former committee is taken to task
and charged with having known and
failed to report facts. We reproduce
here this charge, and his explarations
in his own language:
"'44. The charge was made to the
last legislature that relatives of the
trustees are el(ected as teachers and
officers at Clemson.'
"It is a fact that Clemson has on its
faculty and among its officers men who
are related to its trustees. Perhaps
it is thought in some quarters that the
rilationship unfits them for the usual
rights and privileges of citizenship,
but you do not think so, do you ?
"'45. No; but what is the explana
tion of the situation?
"'Of the ten officers and teachers
named in the report as being reJated
to the members of the 'board, two of
them became related by marriage sev
eral years after their election. Two
were elected upon the recommenda
tion of Dr. Hartzog, and one was ap
pointed outright by him. One was
elected upon the recommendation of
President Meil, and three wer ap
pointed by him between board meet
ings, their appointments being late'r
confirmed -by the buard. One, an a
sistamn bookkeeper. was nminated by
a member of the finance committee not
related to him, and elected without ob
jection on the .part of the president.
"'On)e of the ten, who was origiual
ly appointed by the -president,- was
proposed to a posiition in the experi
ment station in the face of the pr'esi
dent's recommendation of an6ther
party. ,This person -was, however, reg
ommenAed by the head of the depaTt
ment concerned, although at a salary
less than that given .him at election.
"'46. It would seem from the above
statemeut that if nepotism exists a1
Clemson, it is the result of the officia:
acts of the last two presidents.
"'The reqord has been cited; it if
for you to draw your own conclusions
"'47. What about 'the 'ability of these
relatives to properly perform their du
ties?
"'It would appear that they are do
ing satisfactory work. There is noth
ing, on the records to, show that thel
services have not been satisfactory.
"'43. Would it not have 'been well i:
all the facts could have been laid be
fore the legislative commit'ee befort
they made their .report?.
"'Thy 'had 'presented to them a]
the facts that are 'here related.
"49. Why, then, 'did they not givi
both sides and let the people judge
"'That is a question which you wil
have to ask the committee. I can no
answer it for them.'
"If this specious sophistry affordt
its author any satisfaction we takt
pleasure in transmitting the same ti
the public. The objection to nepotism
is 'the suspicion that the relationshi]
to a member of the board clothes th
kinsman with an undue influence o
pull, not on 'his kinsman officer alone
but upon the latter's associates a
well, and particularly on the creature
of the board-those who owe thei
places to his kin'sman's favor. Il
other words, it is easy to love thos
who love 'us, to return favor for favo
-courtesy for courtesy. The expla
nations contained in the 'Catechisir
suggest the thought that forme
presidents may not have been so un
sophisticated as the present head, bu~
probably had a keener insight into a
least one side of human nature.
A Snecial Pleader.
"This little booklet certainly estab
lishes a reputation for its 'author e
a special pleader. Strong points ar
emphasized, weak ones ignored, an
excuses made for everything done b
those he serves, showing conclusivel
that he is possessed of a full sharec
those finer feelings upon which nepot
ismn delights to feed. Does it show hir
to be impervious to the powerfu
though silent influences of his envir
onment? We believe him deserving c
high encomiums-but that he is hu
man still.
-"There was no intimation in th
last report of lack of competency o
the part of any &s of those 'n'epoti
Happy New Year
Thanking my many custo
mers for their generous pat
ronage in the past, and w%ish
ing all the readers of this paper
a happy and prosperous New
Year.
Malone's Music House,
Columbia, S. C.
Dealers in High Grade
Pianos and Organs.
ASSESSNENT OF PIERSONAL PROP.
ERTY FOR FISCAL YEAR 1911.
I, or an authorized agent, will be
at the following places named below
for the purpose of taking returns of
personal property for fiscal year 1911:
Newberry, January 1 to 10, inclu
sive.
Kinards, Wednesday, Jan. 11
Whitmire, Thursday and Friday,
Janu'ary 12 and 13.
Jolly Street, Monday, Jan. 16.
Pomaria, Tuesday, Jan. 17.
Walton, Weqnesday, Jan. 18.
Glymphville, Thursday, Jan. 19.
Maybinton, Friday, Jan. 20.
Prosperity, Monday and Tuesday,
Jan. 23 and 24.
Little Mountain, Wednesday, Jau.
25.
O'Neall, Thursday, Jan. 26.
St. Lukes, Friday, Jan. 27.
Longshores, Monday, Jan. 30.
Silverstreet, -Tuesday, Jan. 31.
Cha~ppells, Wednesday, Feb. 1.
And at Newberry until February 20,
after which date a penalty of 50 per
cent. will be added against all persons,
firms, or corpurations failing to make
their returns.
The law requires a tax to be charg
ed on all moneys, notes and mort
gages, also an income tax on gross
incomes in excess of $2,500.
There shall be a capitation tax of
fifty cents on all dogs, the proceeds
to be expended for school purposes.
Dogs vot returned for taxation shall
not be considered as property in any
of the courts of this State.
Al1 male persons between the ages
of 21 and 60 years are liable to pay
poll tax, except Confederate soldiers,
or those persons incapable of earn
ing a support from being maimed or
from any other causte.
Nothing Dunt personal property Is to
be assessed this year, but all persons
who ihave bought or sold any real es
tate since last return are required to
note~ such transfers on their returns
for 1911.
All property must be assessed "at
its true value," which is construed to
Imean~ "the sum of money foi- which~
such propertY, under ordinary .*cir
cumstances, would sell for cash."
Please do not ask that your prop
erty be taken from the auditor's du
plicate the 'same as last return, for
the law requiress that all property
must be listed -on regular tax return;
blanks an dsigned and sworn to by
person listing same.
Name of township and school dis-I
trict must be given on every return.
Eng. S. Werts,
- Auditor Newberry County.
- Newberry, S. C.
Escaped With His Life.
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enough. I trield everyth.ing I could
hear of, for my cougti, and was under
the treatment of the best doctor in
SGeorgetown, S. C., f?dr a year, butt
could get no relief. A friend advised
me to try Dr. King's New Discovery. I
did so, and was completely cured. I
'feel that I owe my life to this great1
throat and lun~g cure." Its positively
guaranteed for coughs, colds, and all
bronichia-1 affections.' 50c and $1.00.
Trial bottle free at W. E. Pelham &
~Son's.
DR. LELDAU
will answer emergency calls In con
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ties, morphine and other drug habits.
Hours 9 to 1 forenoon; 4 to 8 after
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