The leader., 1905-06-14
CARNEGIE 5 LIBRARY
OFFER DECI. led.
MISSISSIPPI WANTS NO MONUMENT
10 lLL.COTTEN WEALTH.
So Decides the Trustees Of the State
State University.
"A VIGOROUS STATEMENT By GOV.
YARDAMAN.


At their meeting last week the
Board of Trustees of the State
University turned down with fine
scorn the offer of the millionaire
phiIanthroplst to erect a $50, 600
Library at the University, pro-
vided the State would contribute
$25, 900 of the amount.
The Carnegie offer was refused
solely on the ground of principle,
and Governor Vardaman took the
lead in the fight against it. He
declared that Mississippi didn't
want any evidences Of Mr.. Carne-
gie's wealth Haunting her rising
generations in the face, nor does
this Estate care to receive gifts
from the alleged philanthropists of
the East.
The governor was solidly back
ed by the Board of Trustees, and
the offer was not only turned
down, but it was almost thrown
through the window. The trus-
tees were Of the opinion that the
State is abundantly able to pro-
vide all the library facilities
needed at the University, and APP
preparations for this purpose will
be made by the legislature from
time to time in the future, as has
been done in the past.
After the action was taken by
the Board Governor Vardaman
made public a statement showing
the reasons why the University
trustees refused Carnegie's offer
of $25 900 for the establishment
of library at the institution,
submitted through an agent of the
steel king, and declined by an
unanimous vote of the Board.
The governor takes the views
that these donations from multi
milIionaires and trust kings stand
as monuments to the wrong doings
of the donors who have accumu-
lated their money through unhal-
lowed methods, and have extorted
money through protective legis-
lation that rightfully belongs to
the people, and be was opposed to
accepting any gift that would
have tendency to cause the
youth of Mississippi to worship
money getting, apd does not be-
lieve that the State could accept
such a gift without forfeiting its
dignity or self-respect.
The governor referred to the
case Of President Andrews, of
Brown University, which attract
ed great deal of attention some
time ago when Andrews was eject
ed from that Institution because
he dared to express the independ-
ent opinion that national bimetal-
lism was better than the condition
which had existed in this country
| up to 1896. In further discussing
the Carnegie offer he said:
Eve have in Mississippi the
purest and best stock of men and
women under Gods heaven, and
we do not want them warped from
the broad spirit of fairness and
integrity and purity which has
made us the proud people we are
today, by being taught to bow
down in thankful humbleness to
such men as Andrew Carnegie and
Rockefeller, and become subser-
Went to the spirit of greed and
commercialism which has bred
the trust and fostered the slavery
of the American workingman. !
would rather see the walls of our
State University and our colleges
crumbIe into dust and the build
lngs be battered and grimy than
that they should be built up and
handsomely painted and furnished
| by this money which has been
coined from the blood and tears of
the tOlllng masses demanding the
Iusury of self-respect, which we
cannot afford to pay.
I'VE may not have in Missis-
lsippi the scientific equipment for
imparting knowledge and all the
modern accessories that make up
the great institutions of learning,
but we have the means Of making
strong and stalwart men and wom-
en-, who seorn the slavery Of
wealth and stand unequalled in
their proud independence of
Thought. =
The jackson News remarks that
| it is significant to note in this
respect that there is not a Carne-
| gle library in existence in Missis-
sippi. The usual offer of the steel