New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-10
WHAT BOARD CAN DO.
CHARTER TERMS BROAD.
Part of Rockefeller Gift Nag Be-
Used for Women's Colleges.


of the General Education Board 10 which John
d. Rockefeller has Just given S32.OOOOOO. and
OF the vast and far-reaching work which that
organization has entered upon. was given by
Frederick T. Gates. chairman OF the board. yes
terday Empowered by it's charter 10 do any
form OF educational work known to man On the
broad sense OF the word education). anywhers
in the United States at any time except that
It must be done without relation to race. sex.
or creed which. OF course bars assisting theolOg-
ical schools, the board is planning important
additions to the educational equipment OF tho
country 1t is also prepared to administer gifts
and to act as trustee for funds for all educa-
tional purposes.
The board believes that particular attention
should be paid to the cities. where the facilities
for higher education are not abundant 1t be-
leves that every city OF 100000 more inhab-
itants should have a college. and win work
toward that end. II believes that the most i'm
perative educational need in the New England
and Middle States Is for women's colleges, and
will take up the problem as to whether it Is best
to increase the facilities OF those in existence or
TO found several more.
NO RESTRICTIONS ON TEACHINGS.
One question raised by OF the news
paper men. as to whether Mr.. Rockefeller might
not reserve tho right TO object to certain forms
of teaching in the Institutions aided by his
money. was answered by Mr.. Gates with an en-
phatfc negative. IF Mr.. Rockefeller had any
objections TO freedom Of teaching" ne said.
would he not have expressed It with regard to
the institution which he founded-Chicago Uni
versity? He has never expressed any objection
IN the world"
The story OF the persecution Of Professor
Bemis unqualihedly rot He never knew
what Professor Benis was teaching or that
there was such a man. except what he saw IN
the newspapers"
Professor Bemis. a lecturer socialism AMI
economic topics. left the university some years
ago. after which a story was started that Mr..
Rockefeller had considered the professors teach-
ings too radical
In this connection. and 70 show the attituds
Of Mr.. Rockefeller on the question, Mr.. Gates
showed a private letter he had written in reply
to a man in Chicago who had urged the dis
rnissal Of another professor on account Of al
legged utterances in opposition 70 the Christian
religion and mission work. Mr.. Gates, tha
personal business representative OF Mr.. RocSs-
feIler has for years attended to the writing Oe
all such letters. but they embody the views os
the Standard OIL man. and all communications
of such importance are first submitted for his
approval.
This letter is OF particular interest. not only
because CT its bearing on the relations OF Mr..
Rockefeller TO Chicago University, but becauss
it shows his attitude toward all public teach
ing in general and the attitude OF the General
Education Board toward all its work now ana
IN the future. The letter Rhich was written IN
June, 1905. shortly after the Bemis episode was
called out by the receipt Of a clipping from q
newspaper purporting 20 give resume Of sone-
thing uttered by a professor said to be con-
nected with Chicago University. The send
ing it said that such a man should be dismissed
from the university. Mr. Gates replied in part:
or course. I do not believe word Of the stun
this is said have uttered-I do not believe u
any more than you believe it 1t Is trying to us
toto the truth which profoundly believe and
trying to other people who do not believe at ali as
We do to hear announce with great couhdencs
can arpivs at R tie t~r-b Gent by 1eftfH % e1eTv
body speak out what he believes to be the truth
within The limits Of public morality;
earth where this liberty OF utterance should be 50
place OF impartial research The fact that such
Of dTerence and must not be allowed to interfer
IN ~ s15Iiasf 5srae vith +Lis f-esS1 ~ i-SI.ir
freedom OF opinion and freedom OF utterance: In
Of the Christian religion and or the Baptist Church
that It frankly dares 10 found precisely such an in
Does it not Immediately occur to the reader oc
stands there in an institution founded by CHRISTIAN
in Christian religion. at least Tar as that par
ticuar branch OF the same Is concerned under
whose auspices he opens his lips TO say these
WHAT claim to the title Of university could tha
its professors were not entitled to believe and 10
assert publicly whatever they believed 10 be thu
NAV or may not be the sentiments OF the man who
has founded the institution?
The letter ended by saying that the professor
might have been foolish and frivolous. and
should be replaced by man OF common sense.
but that a distinction must be made between
opinions expressed by a man and his iuteIlact1-
aIity.
GENERAL. BOARDS BROAD CHARTER.
In view Of the future work of the General
Education Board. Mr.. Gates said he wanted the
public TO have a clear idea Of its charter, which
is one of the few general charters ever granted
by Congress. He said:
Our charter Is probably the broadest educational
Gh9rter ever E1yen by 9HX goysrnmsnt since the
the duration OF the powers granted This charter
is eternal other charters often limit and define
the time and place where the work Of the insttu-
tion may done. We can work anywhere ia the
United States Other charters limit the amOunt
allows the General Education Board to handle un-
limited amounts of money. That power put In
ne a big thing. Other charters limit the kind OF
educational work that an institution may do such
work. Our educational work Is limited only by the
provision that II must be done without relation 10
race. creed.
The Tribune referred yesterday TO the fmda-
mental way In which the board was going about
the promotion Of education in the South by
teaching the farmers how to make their land
more productive in order that they might be
able 10 maintain a more comprehensive public
the Southern States. Mr. Gates. yesterday. spoke