Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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NEGRO COLLEGE ISSUE. &EPORT OF PROCEEDINGS OF MEETINGS OF CITIZENS. ?fee Steps That Have Been Taken to Prevent the Location of the Pro "posed Negro College Near the Wa? terworks-The Whole Matter Laid ?Jefore Chairman Durham of the College Board. 3?*rom the Daily Item, August 20. Several months ago A. J. Johnson, a colored Baptist preacher, obtained the signatures of some citizens of the city to a statement, certifying the kindly feeling existing between the two races in Sumter. This certificate - he proposed to use as inducement for : his denomination in South Carolina to locate a college near Sumter, on ? site south of the city, in a section owned chiefly hy negroes Having decided to build the college near Sum- j tor," the board of trustees in charge of j the enterprise, subsequently abandon- ! cd the original site and purchased land north of the city and adja? cent to the waterworks. This change becoming publicly known, a meeting of citizens was held on July 31st in the council cham? ber for the purpose of discussing th? Situation. Two committees were ap? pointed, one of them composed of Dr., JP". A. Mood, Messrs. S. H. Edmunds and R. D. Lee, to interview Rev. A. J. Johnson and lay before him the ob? jections of the people of Sumter to the change of location. The other ?committee, composed of Messrs. H. ?G. Osteen, C. G. Rowland and R. J. Bland, was appointed to prepare a "protest to be circulated for signatures of .white citizens, for tne purpose of presenting it to the board of trustees. A second meeting of citizens was held August 3d, and the matter was fur? ther discussed without additional ac? tion. On Monday August 1&, a third "meeting was held at which the follow? ing citizens were present: W. B. Boyle, chairman; C. M. Hurst, secre? tary; S. ^ Edmunds, J. A. Mood, R. ?>. Lee, J. D. Shira, H. J. Mclaurin, TO. S. Jones, J. J. Kolb, A. C. Durant, H. D. Moise, R. J. Bland, J. T. Green, A? B. Stuckey, D. D. Moise, J. H. Chandler, S. C. Baker, W. H. Baker, S. S. Carson, C. G. Rowland, C. L. .Cuttino, R. F. Haynsworth, R. D. 2?pps, H. T. Edens and P. Moses, Jr. 3tfr> i*ee reported that his committee r*^ad interviewed Rev. A. J. Johnson, -and had forwarded a letter to the . chairman, of the. board of trustees, "but h?d received no reply. Johnson j b&d. quoted Chairman Durham as say ' .~-g th&i a definite proposition should Sfcs made to the trustees. Chairman j . TJG&ovie stated -hit the report had cornel "tx? him that /the trustees, would pro? ceed with their enterprise gardless ot objections. ' The letter prepared by the committee was read and approved by a rising vote, fallowing' is the letter: i "Sumter S. C., Aug. 5, 1907. Oftev. J. J. Durham, Branchville, 3. C. Dear Sir; A public meeting of the citizens oC Sumter was held on Mon? day last with reference to the propos? ed change cf location of the Negro College from the southern to the northern extremity of the city of Sumter, which meeing appointed a Committee of forty citizens to take up the matter with your people, and that ?renera! commitee has appointed the "undersigned a sub-committee to in? vestigate the matter and report the hest course to pursue in the premises. Several months since a number of our prominent and influential citi? zens were approached by the Rev. A. J. Johnson with the rei . ^sentation that the colored people desired to' establish a negro college upon a tract of land containing some twelve acres. : situated in the southern suburbs of the city of Sumter, and desired these gentlemen to sign a testimonial as to the kindly relations existing between the two races in this community. In? asmuch as the location was wholly Unobjectionable and relying upon the "representations made by Rev. John? son, these citizens numerously signed ; the said testimonial. t Up to that period in our history, the two races have lived here in entire accord, and the proposed location for ! the college was eminently fitted ofr the same, for the reason that it was tn that stction of the city which by common consent had been devoted to the private residences and public of the colored race, and where of their churches, schools and c>Vh"C-r public interests were situated. Just a week ago our citizens learn? ed with great surprise and indigna? tion, that the Rev. Johnson and his COife&gues. without, notifying these "gentlemen of their change of plans, .uad. apparently acting somewhat in Secret, had abandoned the plan pro? posed to the citizens, and had un? dertaken to go entirely across the caty ol Sumter to its northern su? burbs, and there to enter into a con? tract for the purchase of a location in that vicinity. Immediately, there? upon, a public meeting of the citizens was> called, as above stated. They now desire to protest against this changed plan for many reasons -&mong others, because we have ob \*?i*cd the official report of the local &rt?u -oi Health, composed of gen tifemvn of professional ability and h?gh persc-nal character, that the es .S-jtblishment of a r.?gro college and residential settlement generally for the colored race at the proposed spot, which is only a few hundred yards from the pumping station and source of water supply of the city of Sumter, will inevitably pollute and contami? nate that water supply, and will ul? timately lead to great danger to the health of the community. We beg to enclose you a copy of their official report on the subject. It should be manifest from read? ing this report that this ground of objection is serious, and you will be obliged to assume that it will be pressed in every way to prevent so great a calamity to this entire com? munity. This will, of course, result in an absolute change of the kindly rela? tions heretofore existing between the races here, and will lead to a condi? tion at once objectionable, and which should by all means be avoided by the fair and just action of your peo? ple, who have become to be the ag? gressors. In the next place, the locality now sought to be adopted by the col? lege constitutes generally the residen? tial section of the white people of the city of Sumter, and its immediate suburbs. Every other avenue lead? ing into the city of Sumter, except J the Broad street approach, has been j settled by the colored people in ??rge numbers, and our citizens are unal terably opposed to permitting the colored race to hedge in the communi? ty by locating their settlements, includ? ing their Negro College, in the last and only outlet for the extension and establishment of the white settle? ments of this community. ' It is needless for us to add other and potent objections now occupying the minds of our people, because up? on a calm reflection upon the whole situation, it must become manifest to your mind that the community cannot lolerate what they regard as an aggression on the part of your people, and that you should resort to every proper means to endeavor to change these plans,,, before it be? comes too *late. Our community has not deemed it "wise to agitate this matter in any great publicity by holding meetings, going into the press, etc., but they have deemed it the part of wisdom ro confer with your people in a proper spirit in'the hopo that it may lead v* results which must prove beneficial both to your race and to the white people of this city. If these efforts at conciliation fail, we are not preps reo to state ir. what i form br to what extent the position j of th.'? community will assert itsejutL I out you may rest assured that their J ?Letermination <?ui?e complet* assert its position by all lawful meth? ods, and we hope that your good sense and that of those wTio are act? ing with you will obviace all further unpleasantness in this connection. This sub-committee has had a full interview with the Rev. A. J. Johnson on Saturday evening last, who prom? ises to visit you at once and lay the whole sicuation before you, and he requested that reasonable time be given for that purpose. Upon this report being made to the general committee, they approved the same, and instructed this sub-committee to ask that you inform/ us definitely within a week's time what the citi? zen-- may expect in this emergency. Very respectfully, J. A. Mood, Rich'd D. Lee. S. K. Edmunds. Th? committee appointed to pre? pare a protest for signatures of citi? zens submitted the following form which was adopted: Protest Against Location of Negro College. We, the undersigned citizens of Sumter, do hereby enter an emphatic protest against the proposed estab? lishment of a negro college on a lot adjacent to the pumping station of the city water system. We are actuated to make this pro? test by the following considerations: The location of the proposed col? lege and the development of a close? ly built up suburb withing a few hun? dred yards of the source of the city's water supply would seriously menace the health of the entire city, and this danger is one that we feel duty bound to ward off at all costs. Several months ago a petition was circulated requesting the white citi? zens to testify to the good feeling ex? isting between the two races in Sum? ter and asking for the endorsement of the efforts to locate a negro college here. A number of signatures were secured because the signers were in? formed that a lot in the southern su? bi: rb of the city, already largely set? tled by negroes, had been secured as the site for the proposed school. This location being unobjectionable there seemed to be no specific rea? son for any opposition to the estblish ment of the proposed college in the vicinity of this city, and those of us who signed the petition had no hesi? tation in testifying to th<> friendly re? lationship existing between the two races. The local promoters of the propos? ed negro college having succeeded, largely by means of this petition, in influencing those in control of the matter to locate the college in Sum ter, have since pursued a policy alto gether antagonistic to the wishes ar. sentiment of a very large majority ox the white citizens of this city by at? tempting to locate the college in n section of the community occupied al? most exclusively by white people and in such close proximity to the source of the city's water supply as to en? danger its purity, and have thereby created great antagonism to the proposed college and threaten to de? stroy the cordial relations that have so long existed between the whites and negroes in Sumter. In these circumstances we feel it our duty as citizens, desirous of serving the best interests of the city, to place, on record our matured opin? ion relative to the establishment of a negro college at the proposed loca? tion and to inform those who are la? boring to establish the proposed col lege that such institution will not and cannot now receive in Sumter , that friendly support and encouragement from the people of the community* that are essential to its immediate and permanent success. And we. there? fore, advise most strongly that some other location be sought, either near Sumter or elsewhere. . We call upon our colored citizens who have taken and i are taking an active part in promoting the estab? lishment of the proposed college to reconsider their plan to erect the col? lege buildings and create a college settlement on the tract of land ad? jacent to the city pumping station, since persistence in this plan will as? suredly engender ill will and create friction that never before existed in this community. It will entail an appeal to the courts for a settlement of the question as to the city's right to protect the purity of the water supply that wHl involve litigation that will be, in ail probability, protracted and costly to both sides. The protest was referred to Messrs. R. D. Epps, J. K. Bradford, H. D. Moise and J. HL Grady, who were charged with the duty of circulating it for signatures. The question of location of the col? lege near the waterworks had be^rt? previously submitted to the Board of Health, who answered to the follow? ing effect: Sumter. S. C., July 29, 1907.' To the Hon. Mayor and City Council, City of Sumter. . Gentlemen: At a meeting of the Board of Health of th** city of Sumter held this Jay, at which were present Dr J. C. Spar.:- .?.re.-.ident. and UT. S. ; C. Baker and slr. D. W. Cuttir.v. the . following preamble an resolute ns ; were una^imousiv adopted": i '..Yker^as, :t is the opinion of the Board of Health that every possible precaution should be taken to pre? serve the purity of the city water sup? ply, and among other means to pro? tect the watersheds and water bear? ing strata constiuting the source of such supply; and, Whereas, the settling of any con? siderable number of persons within the area of supply would most cer? tainly be a source of danger to the supply; and Whereas, we understand that the natural trend of the water-bearing strata" from which our supply is de? rived is from northwest to southeast; and Whereas, we learn that' there is a movement looking to the settlement of a considerable population to the northwest and north of the pumping station and upon what we believe, ac? cording to the best information at hand, to be within the limits of said water shed, Therefore be it resolved: 1st. That we. having visited the locality and made an in? vestigation and taken into ac? count what we are informed is the proposed plan of settlement, are of the opinion that the carrying out of said plan will be a source of danger to our water supply and so prove a serious menace to the public health. 2nd. Tl at we notify the City Council of nese facts and request that they a once take the necessary steps to preserve the purity of our supply by the protection of the neigh? boring water shed and water bearing strata, and to this end we would recommend that a competent sanitary engineer be at once employ? ed to determine the proper limits of said water-shed and that thereupon such arrangements be made that said water shed shall be controlled for? ever hereafter by the city: that no residences be allowed to be built up? on it, and that pending such investi? gation the proposed settlement be en? joined. (Signed) J. C. Spann. M. D.. President. S. C. Baker, M. D., Attest: D. W. Cuttino. E. I. Reardon, Secretary. By a majority vote it was ordered that publicity be given through the newspapers of the city to all letters and proceedings with the movement of citizens in opposition to the loca? tion of the college adjacent to the wa? terworks. The meeting adjourned until 6.30 p. m. next Monday, at which time a report will be received from the com? mittee charged with securing signa? tures to the protest. From the Daily Item, August 21 THE REAL ISSUE, INSIDE FACTS CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NEGRO SCHOOL. A Statement by Jas. R. Ligon in Ref? erence to Its Location-Recital of Efforts to Develop Residential Sub? urb for Whites-Council Turned Deaf Ear to Citizens* Petition-Tes? timony Prom Orangcburg. Editor Daily Item: If there is any one thing for which our prosperous city of Sumter is most noted, it is the absolute fair and broad-mindedness of her citizenship, and lest the idle prattle of a few of our unduly excited friends might, with their rather incendiary and caustic utterances, tend to disturb the .equilibrium of our community, and, as the politicians say, "in order to keep the record straight," it might not be amiss at this juncture to state a few facts which lead up to the long harangue which appeared in your issued of yesterday, under the caption: "Negro College Issue.'* To do this it is necessary that the writer go back into what is (in such a busy city as ours) rather ancient history. In February, 1906, the writer pur? chased to the north of Sumter, be? yond the limits of the town, a tract of 90 acres, known as the "White tract," for the express purpose of cutting this property up into lots and seeing to the negroes; after he had gone to considerable trouble and much greater expense, he was ap? proached by several of our citizens who had heard of his scheme, among whom were Messrs. R. L Manning, E. C. Haynsworth and others, and asked that he desist.from his intention, be? ing assured that much more could be derived from the property by selling same to white people. Having great respect for these opinions, he held up this scheme at a personal loss of at least $1,000, and went about to en? deavor to make the tract desirable for white settlers. He found that it was jahviotisly imposible to try to induce wBfe people to buy when the only avenue of approach was through North Main street, which was, on one side, lined with negro residences, many of which were owned by their occupants. Ascertaining that the city of Sumter, in acquiring the water? works property, had also bought aoout 27 acres of land and that this tract of land bounded his tract of j land on the south and separated ii I i rrom the residential port: n of that j part of the city, and further realizing j that thc- city of Sumter was sadlj :.n ; need of a park and knowing of no" sane reason, either then or now, why this stretch of land of 27 acres now owned by the city could n t be con? verted into a park, which would be by far the most hygienic purpose to which the land could be put, and would be a lasting ben fit to the entire city, I say, knowing ad these things, feeling assured char: i-f he could get this park established and streets laid through connecting with his property, the property would be a fine proposition to offer to the white seekers of homes:, he thereupon had a petition circul?t-, ed among the citizens, asking the Cit3* Council of Sumter to . set aside the waterworks property as a park, let streets through and set out trees, -in other words, to do something which would be of lasting benefit to the community, and at the same time develop the property in question so that it could be offered to white peo? ple for homes. This petition, which was presented last summer, was. with the exception two people, unanimously signed by all to whom *it was pre? sented, and I do not think I am wrong when I say that it was the largest, certainly one of the largest, petitions ever lodged with the City Counci! of Sumter for their consideration. It was after some time referred to the Board of Water Commissioners, who may it be said to their everlasting" credit reported favorably upon it. and returned? it to the City Council; after this ii lay in the archives of that august body in a state of innocu? ous desuetude until last March, when the writer, accompanied by several other citizens, among whom were Messrs. T. B. Fraser, C. -G. Rowland, M. H. Beck. C. L. Cuttino and others, appeared before the City Council and asked of them their intentions re? garding the disposition of the will of the people of Sumter as expressed in that petition; on that occasion, the writer urged council to take action, explaining to them if they did not. that inasmuch as that property represented a large outlay of money, the interest on which was a serious matter to be reckoner! with, that if they did not give the relief asked he. the writer, would be compelled to re? sort to his original intention and dis? pose of the property to the negro property seekers. Other remarks of a like nature were indulged in by those prosent. The result of this re? quest to the City Council, was the passing of an insipid resolution which did not "resolute." barely setting forth the fact that the City Council would set aside the waterworks prop erty as a park, and that trees would be set out and streets run thrc when in their opinion it was dee advisable: in other words, it in a ' neat way told the citizens of Sur that the City Council knew n about what the citizens wanted t the citizens did themselves, there the matter rested; there it A direct appeal by the citizens a lutely unheeded. And why? Sin because it was such a wonderful provement, with very little outlaw money, that it would be a marked provement and enhance the value all the adjacent property, and th by add to the city's revenue in ta etc. And so it lay. In th^e in? time, however, large expenditi were carried on in other less popu ed, but more highly favored, secti of the town; improvements wi will not be used for years to com if ever. In this way the will of people of Sumter was deliberately aside by the City Council. The wi thing seemed a concerted effort bottle the property up, and I c gratulare the aldermen who engine ed u; that for a time the scheme i highly successful, and it looked though I was beaten, but along June of this year the writer lean that the negro Baptists of the St had acquired property in Sumter which it was their intention to er a school; he made inquiry as where it was and found that it T; . a an illy located tract just on the sou western limits of the tcwn; he tl learning that the college or school v already a certainty, set about to duce its promoters to locate 1 school on his tract of land, li dreaming that, inasmuch as it lay mote from the rest of the town th< could be the slightest objection of being located there, even from 1 most fastidious; after considera! effort the transfer was made and t school located on the tract to t north of Sumter, beyond the limits the city, remote from the resident section, remote from the highws and at least a quarter of a mile frc the waterworks. Absolutely isol?t from everybody. Now there seems to be in our mic a small coterie of self-appoint guardians of our city; a sort of gra' tribunal, men who hold a mortga Over pretty much the 'whole of tl part of the universe, and for this re son are gentlemen of "great infl ence," who have brought themselv to feel that hey should be consult! about all matters of any prominen in the community, and very natural they stood aghast at the very and city of any one having the temerity making a deal of any kind withv consulting them, and so they h*r sei about to try and create a sent X'?IC?IC a?utii Bvii?e?iing aDOtit whk they absolutely are not concerned, f< the property under discussion is we without the city limits and remo from any habitation whatsoever. Th* have endeavored to convey the ide that the presence of this school (whic: by the way, will cost but $5,00 and will not be' provided with watt fixtures, plumbing, etc.) will cor taminate the city's water sur ply, which is located about a quarte of a mile away, and the water strat running in a contrary direction fror this property. A prominent memb* of the Board of Health visited thi property along with the writer an when he was shown where th property wa^ located declared in hi opinion that it would not be a sourc of contramination. Now the write: who flatters himself that he has thi city's interest at heart just as much $ the "self-appointed guardians;" who?? loved ones and friends drink from th' same source of supply that these gen tlenion and 'their families do. woul< not for all the wealth of the town ch ?ny thing that would in any way con? taminate the water supply of Sumter for it is something that Sumter should be justly proud of and thankful for but he will say that inasmuch as th< property above referred to is the iden? tical property which, he is informed it was proposed that the city buy ant" present to a college, which the city endeavored to get located here two years ago, it is passing strange thai the presence of a little $5.000 school building there now, will contaminate, when a large and pretentious college of white people would not; perhaps the strata (?) has changed; yes it has. the silver stream, from the sale of this property will now pass through my pocket, rather than their's, and tha.t is where the shoe punches. Lis? ten! It would not be amiss to say right here that to all these so-called "citi? zens' meetings." consisting of a "ba? ker's dozen" at best, to not one has the writer been asked to be present, nor has he ever been advised that such a "meeting" was to take place. Realizing-, therefore, that his pres? ence was not desired, he sought to have his views expressed to these gen? tlemen, and has taken the pains to say to Messrs. R. I. Manning. C. G. Rowland, Mayor W. B. Boyle, D. W. Cuttino, of the Board of Health, and other gentlemen who would be in at? tendance, that if the City of Sumter would get a competent Sanitary In? spector or Inspectors, who would af? ter mature investigation declare that the proposed development in that part of the county would tend to contami? nate the city's water supply; that upon this being declared, if the city would place its sewt r mains to the line of th would sell the writer ' water at the cost of pumping", he (the writer) would at his own expense pipe and sewer the entire property and see that nothing was erected on the " property which did not connect with both. From the article appearing in yester? day's paper, it appears that this mat? ter has never been brought to the at tion of those who have so interested themselves. However, any fair mind? ed person can easily see that the wa? ter supply contamination feature "ot this discussion will not hold water it-" self, but has simply been used as a measure in the hopes of poisoning the public mind and diverting-them from the actual facts in the case, and I'll admit it was a clever ruse, but it i won't work. Now a few gentlemen living up in that end of the city have also endeav? ored to create a sentiment in effect that if that school is established there it will cause untold friction between the races. Mind you' " a sch< ' no* as large as the local colored grat rd school will cause untold friction. There are more n?gro?^-?ivi-:^ right now between Mr. R. I. Manning'? resi? dence, extending 6%e block West and North to the water city limits (and mind you this property is away be? yond the city limits) than will ever attend . that school at any one timeV. Even if? this was true, the writer is unable to see what difference it makes whether the so-called "friction" exists in the Northern suburbs of the city, far beyond where Messrs. Manning, Lee and a very few other whites live, or (as it_ was originally intended by these gentlemen) for the so-called ,,'friction"to exist in the Southern part of the city beyond where your hum? ble servant,, much less prominent, but equally as human, lives. It is quite a neat distinction,; father a dis j tinction without a difference. Several gentlemen, notably Messrs. R., L Manning and Mayor W. B. Boyle have approached the writer and told him that the presence of the school lo? cated as it is proposed, away out of town and remote from any resident? ial section, will be a constant menace I to the community (funny that wasn't \ thought of when these same gentle? men were instrumental in originally bringing this school here) and have been pleased to cite the fact that (at j least they said it was 'a fact) that the two negro colleges lo? cated in Orangeburg (whose total attendace numbers between two and thr^e .thrtui?r**:d> and which arie located righi iii the i ?:>? ::tii.ii part of th.-, "festering sore'' tc I that ladies ?ud chile cv' ''*f ?ht1 resi city, were js a at community; en were hardly sare on the streets without escorts, etc. Now the writer who lived four years in Orangeburg knew that how? ever sincere these gentlemen might be in their statements, the facts would not bear them out; so with just a little trouble he has sought expressions from a few of the prominent citizens of Orangeburg and begs to submit them as. evidence whether the presence of such a school is to be classed as a blessing or a curse. Tn not a single instance has he heard a single word reflecting on the conduct of the professors or stu? dent boc., or the two h^titutions; be-, low find the letters, which I ask that you read carefully and seo if there is anything in any one of them about which you would have a fit over: Orangeburg, S. C.. Aug. 12, 107. Mr. Jas. R. Ligon, Sumter, S. C. Dear Sir: Replying to your inquiry relative to to tne conduct of the Stu? ll ents and professors of the two negro colleges located at this place, as may? or and recorder of the city of Or? angeburg for past six years, it gives me ipleasure to say that the conduct of the student body and the /profes? sors^ offic* rs, etc., of the colleges referred ta has been exemplary. If the balance of the negroes of our community were as orderly, there would be little or no duties for the recorder to perform. Respectfully yours. Thos. C. Doyle, Mayor City of Orangeburg, S. C. Orangeburg, S. C., Aug. 12, 1907. Mr. Jas. R. Ligon, Sumter, S. C. Dear Sir Replying to your inquiry relative to the conduct of the stu? dents and professors of the two negro colleges located at this place, as chief of police for the last two years of the city of Orangehurg. rt gives me pleas? ure to testify that the conduct of the strudent body and professors of the aforesaid colleges has been excel? lent, and I can find no fault with their action, as to their conduct on the street. I don't remember of arresting more than six or eight students dur? ing the last two years. Respectfully, W. J. Albergrotti, Chief of Police. Orangeburg, S. C., Aug. 12. 1907. Mr. Jas. R. Ligon, Sumter, S. C. Dear Sir: as one of the police force assigned to police duty all over the city of Orangeburg, it is a pleasure for me to say that the most orderly beat in the city is that in which the two negro colleges are located. This is worthy of note when it is taken into consideration that the number of students, professors, etc., in both col? leges amounts to bet . (Continued on Pi.