New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-04-01
ROGERS DEFENDS GIFT.
PLEA FOR STANDARD OIL.
Mission Board Members Here Con-
ferred on Rockefeller Offer.

H II. Rogers. vice president and director Of
the Standard Oil Company. yesterday made
statement as 20 the conduct Of the Standard
Oil Company. which was evidently prompted by
the criticism Of the prudential committee Of
the American Board Of Foreign Missions for
accepting q. gift Of 100000 from John D. Roeke-
feler Mr.. Rogers said:
Ministers say queer things DR. washington
GLADDEN. says that everybody knows that John
D. Rockefeller has obtained his money dis
honestly With as much reason could say that
everybody knows that DR. GLADDEN. would not
trust the Ten Commandments for ten days
with the deacons of his church because they
would surely break some Of them and bend the
rest
Slavery i'm certain sections Of the United
States was legal until President LincOln's
Emancipation Proclamation. Rebates on rail-
roads were just as legal until the passage OF
the Interstate Commerce act. After ex-
haustive examination by the Industrial Com
mission, authorized by Congress on June Is.
1898 in a review of evidence, the commission
reported follows:
1T has been charged as matter Of general
belief on the part Of almost all the opponents
OF the Standard Oil Company that these dis
examinations i'm various forms have been con-
other hand, these charges have been denied in
toto and most emphatcally by every repre-
sentative Of the Standard Oil Company with
reference TO all cases excepting one which
they claim mistake. the amount Of freight
due being promptly paid on discovery Of the
error The Standard Oil Company not merely
challenged the opponents to bring forth proof
OF any case. but produced many letters from
leading officials OF railroads to show that the
company had in no case received any favors
or asked for them
IT became known here yesterday that prior 70
the final action by the prudential committee
number of prominent members of the bos I'd, at
a meeting held in this city. considered the
Rockefeller gift and issued statement decIar-
ing that they did not consider that the accept
ance of the gift would compromise the board in
n nav
ment were the Few. j. ". Cooper, secretary Of
the American Missionary Association; I.ucien G
Warner. chairman of the International Young
Mems Christian Association: the Rev c. H.
Richards. secretary Of the International Congre-
gattonal Church Building Society: the Rev A.
H. Bradford, Moderator of the National Con
gregational Conference; the Rev. Edward p In
eersoh. secretary Of the American Bible Society:
William H. Ward. Editor of THE New-York In
dependent; the Rev. j. ]. Merrill, president OF
Fisk University. Nashville Tenn: the Rev.
Frank X. Sanders. dean of Yale University Df-
vinity School; the Rev. DR. Lyman Abbott. the
Rev. Charles E. Jefferson, pastor of the Broad
way Tabernacle and the Rev. Henry w Hub
bell Of Greenwich, Conn
The statement was as follows:
The prudential committee of the American
Soard mas been requested to refuse a certain gift
I9r It's missionary work on the ground that the
glVer is the president of corporation whose
business methods are extensively criticised by
the press and public
Compliance with this request would put upon
the board-Which is a corporate trust, created
for the definite purpose Of maintaining missions
in foreign landslide very grave responsibility
ot refusing money which has been given for the
development of the work intrusted to its care
or in aid of particular objects for which it is
trustee.
1t would also establish a precedent Of sinh
jecting individual gifts to a scrutiny not hereto
fore regarded as practicable for mission board
TO exercise.
We do not. therefore. consider that the ac-
ceptance of this gift compromises the board in
any way, and We cannot recommend any de-
parture from the long established usage Of the
board in receiving with thankfuness funds in
trusted to its care for the prosecution of its i'm
poTtant work.