The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-06-27
MONEY REFUSED.
Rockefeller Offers So, 100000 to
Start Work
Of National Juvenile Improve
ment Association.
PROMPTLY REJECTED
On the Plea That the Cash Is
Tainted.
Miss Jane Addams Is Responsible
for Society's Action.
PROMPTLY REJECTED

Denver, June 27.-The cry Of tainted
money has been raised by the friends
of the children. John D. Rockefeller's
offer of 5000 600 to start the work of
a national juvenile Improvement asso-
citation on lines suggested by Judge
Lindsey of the juvenile court of Denver
has been rejected.
Judge Lindsey himself, to whom Mr..
Rockefeller voluntarily made the offer
at the time the oil magnate was in
hiding from deputy sheriffs seeking to
subpoena him as witness. made the
decision. He has pledged his word to
Miss Jane Adams of the Huh House,
Chicago. when she approached him in
behalf of other charitable workers, that
he would not accept a penny of Mr..
Rockefeller's money The work is to
go forward. but the money is not in
sight. If Mr.. Rockefeller's proposal had
not been turned down. unlimited mil
lions would have backed the project.
Ballz at Big Gift.
It was a question of accepting the
money and working alone, or refusing
the money and working with the as
sistance of other organizations through
out the length and breadth of the land.
In reply to this proposition Judge Lind
sey never hesitated a moment
The work of the naturalization of
the juvenile improvement association. .
said he, is of too much Importance for
me to stand in its way. There Is no
other money in sight to start the work,
but I have faith. and I pledge myself
not to accept any assistance from Mr..
Rockefeller .
The offer of Mr.. Rockefeller was made
to Judge Lindsey last January. The
judge for two years has had his mind
set on the organization OF such a work
He has learned much of the needs of the
children and the causes that lead them
to go astray while on the bench of the
Denver juvenile court, and when he re-
ceived a letter from Mr.. Rockefeller's s
secretary inviting him to call on him in
New York to discuss the financing of the
project he was delighted.
Big Project Mapped Out
He went to New York and on the trip
did much missionary work IN .i7ehaif OF
the movement. It was one OF Mr.
RockefeIlerss conditions in offering the
money that the association should be-
come national in scope, and wherever he
went Judge Lindsey discussed the mat
ter with other juvenile workers whom
he invited to attend the convention of
charities and corrections in PhiladeIphfa
and effect national association of chill
dren's charities.
The question of tainted money was
| discussed quietly by the leaders in the
work in the different cities after Judge
Lindsey had propounded the plans and
explained Mr.. Rockefeller's offer. The
sequel came at the Philadelphia meet
ing, which Judge Lindsey was unable to
attend On the motion of Judge Mack
of Chicago the whole question was laid
on the table
Judge Lindsey was almost heart
| broken, as he knew nothing of the rea-
sons that were back Of this move He
corresponded with Judge Mack, and it
was agreed that the matter should be
revived and that a convention of juven-
lie workers should be held Judge
Mack himself issued the call for a
meeting to be held in the Hull House.
Promise Is Given.
The week before this meeting Judge
Lindsey and Miss Adams were both
at st. Paul attending the national
council of women's clubs. It was there
that Judge Lindsey gave his pledge
not to accept the Rockefeller donation.
Miss Adams told him that only on
/ that condition would it be possible for
the other workers to give the move
/ ment any support. and that she herself
would not be present at the meeting
1 to be held the following week unless he
gave the desired pledge. Miss Addams
said the other workers had agreed 1t
would be impossible to hold up a high
/ ideal of citizenship to the child
I through an organization financed by a
man who had been a fugitive from Of
hcers of the law.
When Miss Adams reported that
Judge Lindsey had given the pledge
! desired the meeting was held. An in
( ternational juvenile association was
/ formed with Judge Lindsey as chair
man. The movement was launched
with the hearty support of all Juvenile
workers, and with the moral support
1 of q quietly voiced, but vigorous pro-
test against tainted money.