The Savannah morning news., 1903-03-10

II is all done as quietly as possible,
and in the majority of cases the iden-
tity of the giver is lost before the gift
reaches its destination.
The letters asking aid, and many of
them simply begging, pour into the Of
flee every day. They are taken in hand
by the clerks and treated in a bust
ness-like manner. They are classified
and assorted AS they progress
through the Office many of them are
disposed of in various ways. Some go
10 the police or some particular hos
pital for action. After the sitting pro-
cess has been finished the remainder
go to Mr.. Gates. He takes them in
turn and disposes of them as they
may appear to him to deserve. No
time must be lost. 1t is well-under-
stood maxim that real aid must be
prompt to be effective.
Inside of half an hour after the mail
reaches the office there will be dozen
agents of MI. Gates out on individual
cases. They have authority to use
their judgment in these cases and to
give immediate aid If it is needed.
This, however. is only in exceptional
cases that cannot be reached through
the regular charitable organizations.
The less urgent cases are tabulated
and sent TO the societies with which
the bureau has connections. All of
these are to be investigated and re-
ported upon in due time. 1t Is seldom
that these cases are sent to societies
that have not from time to time been
supplied with funds by the Rockefeller
bureau. 1t is not heralded to the world
and would probably be denied by Mr..
Gates Even the great fortune of Mr..
Rockefeller could not meet the de-
mands that would be made IL the act
ual method became generally known.
Like all the Rockefeller gifts. the
principle of helping those who help
themselves applies in all these cases.
The recipient of aid must show some
disposition to do his share. And to this
end gifts are often made on conditions.
There have been cases where loans
have been made to persons in actual
need of the money to tide over difficult
ties. The borrower has in these cases
been held to a strict accounting for
every cent and made to pay 1t all back
to the salvation of his self-respect.
Many Respondent men have in this
way been given a new start in life
and have been made TO feel that they
have beer helped to help themselves
without the loss of any manhood.
Charity pure and simple is applied
wherever ii is needed, but in these
cases II is mostly women and children
who are aided. Helpless cases are
found every day where the help Is
given outright and without question,
az the need is obvious.
The rule that guides Mr.. Rockefeller
in his business is applied to his char
Observation-Disclosures of forces to reduce
operating expenses and a thorough
knowledge of details. over il all must
be that secrecy that shrouds all the
operations of the giant concern and
which alone makes 1t possible.
Public charity has always been found
to defeat itself. Those who are will
ing to accept public charity are not
worthy of it, and these who are worthy
will not accept aid when it comes with
a blare of trumpets and display of its
purpose.
1t is therefore necessary to the sue
cess of the enterprise that its opera
tions be kept from the public. If the
books could be shown the entire struc-
ture would fan.
And If the books in the office of Mr..
Gates were made public they would be
a revelation. The amounts set down
for various purposes would be simply
amazing. The sums given away would
constitute a comfortable fortune for
even a rich man.
The whole thing started in the most
simple way. Mr.. Rockefeller had for
thought it would do good. His mail
began to grow, and soon he found he
had not the time to attend to II. so Mr..
Gates was engaged to read the letters
and dispose of them. This he did until
he in turn had to engage assistance.
Then a regular bureau grew up until
the establishment reached its present
proportions.
Now, aside from the purely charita-
BILE work ii does, the department keeps
track of all the gifts and endowmenfs
to colleges and other institutions TO
which Mr.. Rockefeller is giving help
ing hand. Many of these, in order to
secure the promised gifts, have to raise
certain sums themselves. The progress
Of these funds is watched by the bu-
reau, and IL the conditions are fulfilled
the endowment is sent on without fur
Their difficulty.
The extent of this task can be under
stood when it is known that in the last
few years Mr.. Rockefeller has given
away $50 900, 900 or 5000, 900 to colleges,
schools and other institutions. Among
the gifts are funds the income of which
is paid out regularly to the beneficial
ries, and all these have to be looked
after and managed.
Taken in its entirety. the task OF CIV
ing away money is not an easy one, and
demands almost as much skill and busi-
ness ability as does the accumulation
OF g..
To keep the huge fortune OF MIR.
Rockefeller flowing out by the proper
channels requires all the attention OF
Mr.. Gates and his trained stan OF as
sistants.