The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-01-06
ROCEKEFELLER DISCUSSES CIV.
ING.
Writes I'm Worlds Work. .About Co.
Ordination i'm Charity.

saving waste and in getting better re-
suits, why is not combination far
more important in philanthropic
work? In this question is set forth
the text of an article by John ID.
Rockefeller, head of the Standard Oil
Interests, published in the current is
sue Of the Worlds Work. The gen.
eral subject of Mr.. Rockefeller's ar
ticle is. ''The value of the cooperative
principle in giving"
Mr.. Rockefeller expresses the belief
that the general idea Of cooperation
In giving for education scored "a real
step in advance" when Mr.. Andrew
Carnegie consented to become a men,
ber of the general education board,
for In accepting a position in this
| directory he has, it seems to me.
stamped with approval this vital
principle of cooperation in aiding the
educational institutions Of our coun-
try"
| He goes on to describe in some de-
tail the work of the general educa-
ton board, which, he said, has made
or is making a careful study of the
location, aims, work, resources, ad-
ministration and educational value
present and prospective, Of the insti-
tutions of higher learning in the Uni
ted States. The board, he says,
makes it's contribution averaging
something like $2,OO0,O00 a year, on
the most careful comparative study
Of needs and opportunities throughout
the country. Its records are open to
ALL Many benefactors of education
are availing themselves Of these dis
interested inquiries, and it is hoped
that more will do So"
| Some interesting general remarks
on the subject of benevolence illumi-
nate Mr.. Rockefeller's point of view.
For instance. he says:
ITO help an inefficient, ill-located,
unnecessary school is a waste. 1 am
told by those who have given most
careful study to this problem that il
Is highly probable that enough money
has been squandered on unwise edu-
cational projects to have built up a
national system Of higher education
adequate to our need, If the money
had been properly directed to that
end"
OF Roman Catholic methods, Mr.
Rockefeller said that he has "seen
the organization of the Roman Church
secure better results with a given sum
of money than other church organi-
dations are accustomed to secure from
the same expenditure. 1t is unneces.
sary to dwell upon the centuries OF
experience which the Church ol
Rome has gone through to perfect. a
great power Of organization
Commenting upon the great mass
OF appealing letters received, Mr.
Rockefeller says that four-fifths OF
them are requests for money for per-
sonal use, with no other title to con.
sideration than that the writer would
be gratified to have it,
Mr.. Rockefeller pays a warm trib-
ute to the memory of the late DR.
William r. Harper, president of the
University Of Chicago, and makes
without qualification, the statement
which will be surprising to many per-
sons. that during the entire period
OF his presidency Of the University OF
Chicago, he never once either wrote
me letter or asked me personally
for q dollar of money for the Univer-
sity." He goes on to explain that in
this, as In all other cases, the gifts to
the University were the result Of the
presentation Of it's needs made in
writing by the officers of the Univer-
sity, whose special duty it is to pre-
pare Its budgets and superintend its
finances. 1t is not personal inter
| 'iSVS oiiu ihPoSSlOucu dpptdlS, Uut
sound and justifying worth that
should attract and secure the funds
of philanthropy. The people in great
numbers who are constantly impor-
tuning me for personal interviews in
behalf Of favorite causes err in sup
posing that the interview, were ii
possible, is the best way, or even a
good way, Of securing what they
want"
In the course of his article, Mr..
Rockefeller says of himself: "Criti-
cism that is deliberate, sober and
fair is always valuable, and it should
be welcomed by all who desire prog
ress. / have had at least my full
share of adverse criticism but 7 can