The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-04-01
Famous Clergym a. n Makes
Scathing Charges In Protest.
ing Against Accepting $780,
600 Contributed BY Stand
ard Oil King to Missions.

BOSION, March 28.-Dr. Washing
ton Gladden's protest to the Ameri-
can board Of missions against the ac-
ceptance of the gift of 100000 from
John D. Rockefeller is as follows:
Il must ask the privilege Of express
sing as explicitly as l can my sur
prise and regret that the officers Of
the American board have accepted a
large sum of money from John D.
I object to this because
the money thus bestowed does
not rightfully belong to the man
who gives it. It. has been wrongfully
a acquired and all the world knows it.
1T may be difficult, in many cases
to judge of the methods by which
wealth has been gained. The opera
tons are complex and we may be In
doubt respecting their honesty. It is
no doubt impraticable to undertake the
investi cation Of the sources of all gifts
that are offered us. But when the in
vestigaticn has been thoroughly made
and the case is clear, we are bound
to guide our conduct by the facts made
known
Rockefeller a Despoiler.
I'm this case the investigation has
been thoroughly made and the facts
are we'll known. The Legislative in
quiries, the records of the courts have
given the reading people of this coun-
try the material for a judgment upon
the methods of Standard OH and there
never was a day when their methods
were clearer than they are now. They
know that this great power has been
built up by justice and oppression, they
know that it's immense wealth has been
made by forcibly despoiling citizens of
their honest gains and shutting the
doors of opportunity upon them.
1T has been forcibly done. I say. 1t
has been done very largely through H.
licit and Ubiquitous control of railways.
Standard Oil has never ceased to use
this power in this way. It is using it
today as effectively as it ever did.
'Mr. Rockefeller may deny that re-
bates are given to the Standard. But
the Standard now controls about two
thirds of the railroads of this country
and it's power is exerted in fixing the
classification of freights in such a way
that it can kill competition Rebates
are no longer necessary.
Public Servants Debased.
THUS this stupendous power which
owes it's existence to a shameful pros
titution of agencies created by public
law for the public service is now able
to lay it's paralysing arm upon all the
industries Of the nation and to force
them to contribute to it's enormous
revenues.
"And this is the money which is
offered to the American board. We
have no right to take it. 1t does not
belong to the man who offers it. It
belongs to the people from whom it
has been extorted. 1t is often ad-
vanced, fear, that we do not need to
be scrupulous about money which we
can use in doing good That indif-
ference is deadly. The good that Is
done by lowering our ethical stand
ards, might well be left undone. Shall
the young men and women Of the
missionary colleges be taught to re-
gard Mr.. Rockefeller as great bene-
factor? The colleges might better be
permanently closed"
Favors Accepting Gift.
The American Board has also re-
ceived a communication from Rev. A.
Bradford. DID,, of Mt Clair, N. j.,
former moderator Of the National
CONGREGATIONAL council and president
of the American Missionary associa-
ton, favoring the acceptance Of Mr..
Rockefeller's gift. DR.. Bradford's
statement in part follows:
Mr.. Rockefeller is not seeking vindi-
cation and is not trying to find some
one to shield him in evil courses. He
is, as we'll known, a minority stock
holder in the Standard Oil company
and a large part Of his wealth has
been derived from other sources This
is not a case of Mr.. Rockefeller's SEEK
ing self justification, but it is that
Of a noble enterprise in it's extreme
need, making it's appeal to him. 10
that appeal he yielded, not in any way
making the board his partner and not
asking it to give him any approval.
He simply responded to an earnest re-
quest and left the board as free from
responsibility for him or for his met
hods as it was before.
Wants No Discrimination.
"Why refuse Mr.. Rockefeller's money
and accept the gift Of other stock
holders OF the Standard Oil company
No one doubts that money derived from
that and other similar sources goes
into the church. If he had asked the
church to go into partnership with him
it ought to have refused because it goes
into partnership with no one. But he has
asked nothing of the kind. He has
simply said: I realize that certain
branches Of missionary work seriously
need help and I request you as the one
agent who can do it to the best ad-
vantage, to place this money where i,
will do the most good Money which
leaves the board free from all Obliga-
lions except that Of using it wisely
should be received, unless some one
else is ready to prove that it belongs
to him.
mo such claim has been made,
much less sustained, in any court of
our land. 1t is therefore fair to pre-
sumo that the property which he holds
is for him to administer as he thinks
best" -.
Decision Kent Secret,