The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-06-04
RAISEDFUNDS AT 20 PER CENT
COLLECTORS NOW SUE TEMPLE
COLLEGE FOR THEIR SHARE.

Testimony Taken Before Referee 10 "a
the Eject That Atwell n Duncan
we're to Get Ia OF All Pledges
Trustees Didn't Like the Plan.
Methods of raising subscriptions for
a college appear in the testimony taken
last fall IN the suit Of Atwell and Duncan,
two solicitors employed by Temple Col
lage. a Philadelphia institution, against
,ha college for unpaid commissions,
George B. Hayes, Of counsel for the plain.
tins. made the testimony public yester-
dav 1t vas taken at a reference held
before John Scott. Jr., in Philadelphia
la October. Besides the two plaintiffs
the principal witness was the Rev. DR..
Russell II Conwell. pastor OF the Baptist
Temple and president Of the college
faculty.
Thomas W. Duncan and Amos W.
Arwell, who had solicited funds for Ur-
SINUS college and knew the business.
were induced to undertake the work for
Temple College on the understanding
that they were to get rs per cent. Of all
sums which came in through their efforts.
In a letter which DR.. Conwell wrote
e. Duncan on July rs. 1908. he said: ct
is clear to me now that we must bring
more Of our own people into the move
rent and conduct il 30 as to avoid the
LOOK OF an agency. We cannot get a man
q subscribe to official asaats. They all
stand of on that idea. But 1t would make
no difference in your pay who raises 1t
II YOU stand by the movement
Two weeks later DR. Conwell wrote:
Il am thoroughly satisfied that you must
be less official and the idea OF an agency
collecting funds obliterated somehow.
1t can be done. We must raise the money
this year
We went anywhere in sight testified
Duncan. telling about his methods. we
Interviewed hundreds Of people. We can
vassed Philadelphia, ven to New York
and Bethlehem and went out to Uplands.
Ne went to Virginia and Florida. Yes.
We went to West Virginia
We made lists Of eligible persons
said Mr.. Duncan. which were looked
over by DR.. Conwell. We used letters Of
introduction
What did you do after visiting a per-
son to ask for a subscriptions" was asked,
What was your ordinary course OF bust
ness?'
We had different courses, said Duncan.
at depends entirely on the person.
Very often we used DR.. Conwell to fol-
low up"
Speaking of their call upon Mrs. j. Lewis
Crozier he said: We found her very much
,~prejudiced against the college and after
we devoted a couple Of hours with her and
changed her mind and told her Mrs. Stone
had pledged SOS 200 and We wanted her
to do the same. she gave us a pledge for
$4,000 payable at her convenience. She
told us that we could quote her for $4,000
or more. but that she would not give a
written pledge for SIS 900 at that time.
as she was furnishing a hospital"
The contract was terminated by act OF
the board oftrustees, taking effect August
!. 1904. Il feel sad indeed wrote DR..
Conwell, to have you leave the work.
ae it seems to crush all hopes OF
You nave certainly done your best and
appreciate it greatly
In his testimony he said that the trustee
had agreed to the contract in the begin
ming by only a majority vote n that they
wanted a termination Of 1t becauee they
believed that the two solicitors were
working dishonesty and that they had
misrepresented the amount Of the sub
scriptions resultant upon their Efforts.
Because OF the illness Of Mr.. Scott. the
referee. the matter has been put over until
next September.