The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-03-29
eIaddens Enters Protest.

cIaddens Enters Protest.
Boston, March 2s.--Dr. Htashington
Gaddens' protest to the American board
against the acceptance of the gift OF $780,
600 from John ID. Rockefeller is as foil 3ws:
Il must ask the privilege OF expressing
as explicitly as / can my surp-Ise and re-
gret that the officers of the Amciican
board have accepted a large sun of money
from John d. Rockefeller. / object to
this, because the money thus bestowed
does not rightfully belong to the man who
gives 1t; Ii has been gratultiously extend
ed 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 operations are complex,
and we may be In doubt respecting their
honesty 1t is no doubt impracticable to
undertake the Investigation OF the sources
OF all gifts that are offered us. But when
the investigation has been thoroughly
made, and the case is clear. we are bound
to guide our conduct by the facts made
known.
In this case the investigation has been
made and the facts are known. The leg
islative inquiries, the records of courts
have given the reading people of this
country the materials for a Judgment
upon the methods of Standard Oil; and
there never was day when their minds
were as clear on this subject as they are
now. They know that this great power
has been built UP by injustice and oppres-
sion; they know that its immense gains
have been made by forcibly despoiling
citizens of their honest gains, and shut
ting the door Of opportunity upon them.
1t has been forcibly done I say 1t
has been done very largely through IL
licit and iniquitOus control of railroads
Standard Oil has never ceased to use its
power In this way. 1t is using 1t today as
effectively as 1t ever did.
Controls Two-thrds of Railroads,
Mr. Rockefeller may deny that rebates
are now given to the Standard, but the
Standard now controls about two-thirds
of the railroads of this country, and its
power Is exerted In fixing the classfica-
tton OF freight rates in such a way that
1t can kill competition. Rebates are no
longer necessary. Thus this stupendous
power, which owes its existence to a
shameful prostitution of agencies, ere
ated by public law for the purpose of
which 1t is now able to lay it's paralyzing
hands upon all the industries of the ma
tion. and to finance them to contribute
to its enormous revenues. And this is
the money which is offered to the Ameri-
can board. We have no right to take it
1t does not belong to the man who offers
It, 1t belongs to the people. from whom
1t has been extorted.
1T is often assumed, / fear. that we
do not need to be very scrupuous about
money which we can use In doing good ;
That Indifference is deadly. The good
that is done by lowering our ethical
standards might better be left undone
Shall the young men and women of the
missionary colleges be taught to regard
Mr.. Rockefeller as great benefactor?
The colleges might better be permanently
closed"
The American mission board has also
received a communication from A. II.
Bradford, D. D., of Montclaire, N j.
former moderator of the National Congre-
gational council and president of the
American Missionary association, favor
ing the acceptance of Mr.. Rockefeller's
gift Dr. Bradfords statement in part
follows:
Mr.. Rockefeller is not seeking vim
dication. and is not trying to find some
one to shield him in evil courses. He is,
as is well known, minority stockholder
In the Standard company. and a large
part of his wealth has been derived from
other sources.
This was not case of Mr.. Rockefeller
seeking a means of self-justifcation. but
1t was that of noble enterprise in its
extreme need. making its appeal to him.
To that appeal he yielded, not in any
way making the board his partner. and
rot asking 1t to give him any approval.
He simply responded to an earnest re-
quest. and left the board as free from
responsibility to him, or for his methods.
as It was before.
why refuse Mr. Rockefe1ler's money
and accept the gifts of other stockholders
of the Standard OIL company? No one
doubts that much money derived from
that and other similar sources goes Into