Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1907-01-03

oh"p HHNhVW O~aHO5AS ~ "5
give the University s600.cOO for a
new art building. The regents did
act on the matter but 1t is announced
that they will refuse the gift. A
thoroughly sensible comment on the
subject is a letter from Congressman
G. +. Scott appearing in the Graduate
Magazine. His position is one that
will appeal to all and 1t is hoped that
the regents will take the same view
when final action Is reached. Mr..
Scott says:
~ noticed report in some Of the
daily newspapers to the effect that the
regents Of the University have been
considering the question Of accepting
money for fine arts building from
Andrew Carnegie, and while no form
al action was taken the impression
was left that the regents would not
consider such a proposition favor
ably.
III do not know what considera-
tions, II any, were tied to the ~
ceptance Of whatever offer may have
been made. The canny Mr.. Carnegie
is somewhat given to imposing re-
strictions upon his gifts which make
them in many instances Of doubtful
value. But assuming that In this
instance there we're no burdensome
or humiliating conditions, and that
the question before the regents was
merely the abstract one Of accepting
or refusing to accept a gift from Mr..
Carnegies beg to volunteer the
opinion that whatever doubt may
remain in the regential mind should
be resolved in favor Of the gift.
1.-The gift can hardly be refused on
the ground that it is contrary to the
policy of the state to accept gifts from
private parties. The University Of
Kansas owes its very foundation to a
private gift, while the Spooner Ii
brary, the Chancellor's residence, the
Bell Hospital, and the Fowler Shops
are only some ofthe more conspicuous
among almost innumerable evidences
Of the extent to which the University
has been enriched by private benefac-
lions. 1t would hardly be argued
that the University had suffered,
materially, morally, or mentally, by
the acceptance Of these gifts. On the
contrary it has been almost incalcu-
lably benefited by them. The prcffer
Of a gift from Mr.. Carnegie can not
be refused, therefore, II precedent ID
to be observed and II admitted results
are TO be cast into the balance. If
the gift is refused it must be, not be-
cause 1t comes from . private person,
but because 1t comes from Andrew
Carnegie; and presume that II 1t is
refused on this account it must be be-
cause MIR. Carnegie's money is faint
ed money
"Well, with the profoundest defer
ence to the opinions Of those who
think differently, ! beg to be permit
ted to say that about ninety-nine per
cent OF the talk about tainted m ney'
has always seemed to me to be un-
adulterated rot. / would not APP
prove Of church's going into the So
loon business in order to get money
to send missionaries to the heathens;
but II l were church should not
have the least hesitation in using any
money which a saloon keeper who
to get within reach Of the
box might cast into the
missionary fund. know Methodist
love him, too-who
went into every joint in the town
where he was stationed, soliciting
money to pay the debt on his church.
Every jOintist contributed, and as he
took the money my little preacher
said. God bless you brother, and
help you get out Of this miserable
business He did not allow one Of
those saloon keepers to believe for a
that he approved of their
business, but he took their money
tainted money II there ever was any
and he washed It clean by putting
Il TO a noble use. l would not ap-
prove OF accepting . git from mr.
Carnegie il that acceptance carried
with 1t an obligation which would
compel any member Of the faculty to
teach a doctrine which he did not be-
lieve was true or resign his chairi and
neither would I favor the acceptance
of a gift from the cleanest-won for
tune in the world II it imposed a like