The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-21
noc1lErELLEns "FISAL GIFT"

III II
John u. Rockefeller has made his
FINAL gift to the University of CHI
cago. IT amounts to sto,ooo,ooo. and
is 10 be paid IN ten annual instruments
beginning tho first OF January. This
win make Mr.. Rockcfcller's gifts to
this great institution sS5,ooo,oov, a
sum that the ordinary mind cannot
grasp. simultaneously with the an
nouncement OF the Rockefeller gift, the
announcement was also made of the
retirement from any further partici-
ration in the management OF the af-
fairs OF the University OF Mr.. Rookie
fciier's son, John D. Rockefeller lr.,
and Fred T. Gates. his personal repre-
sentatives on the board OF trustees o:
the University, 1t being his desire that
the University shall not longer be re-
sarded as in any sense his personal,
affair. This determination is greatly
10 his credit and should at once es-
tablish the faith Of the public In the
sincerity of his service to the cause
ct education.
Last year Mr.. Rockefeller gave to
worthy causes sla7c2.ooo, on his
seventeen birthday he gave s1o,ooo,opo
TO the General Education Fund. 81,
100000 10 fight the hookworm disease
in the South. 100000 TO The Bureau OF
Municipal Research. s35o,0oo to the
-inti-saloon League 100000 to the
Fifth Avenue Baptist Church, sloo,uvO
10 Grinnell College, and numerous other
large amounts to other educational and
charitable objects. His gifts for cdu-
cational purposes in the United States
now amount to more than s10o.ooo,ooo
2 record which has been equalled or
approached only in the history of the
world. we believe. by the philan-
thropic activities 6f Andrew Carnegie.
1t is 10 be expected. Of course that
there will be much criticism of Mr.
Rockefeller for this final gift to the
University OF Chicago and we shall
hear a great deal about the methods
by which he has acquired his Immense
wealth the sharp turns he has taken
on the market. the independent" in
dustries lie has crushed, the lawmakers
he has controlled, the courts he has
influenced, tho rebates he has received.
he tainted" character OF his money,
and all that to the end of long and
familiar chapter that has been written
md rewritten with many variations
by a host of authors and muck-rakers
and others But the fact remains that
he has done great things with his
money, and things that would doubt
loss not have been done had this for
tune been administered by many Of his
most v!rulcnt enemies.
We do not accuse and we do not
excuse. all that VIC care 10 do now Is
TO praise hi,s FOR his latest and largest
eift TO education and fog The inodesty
with which the announcement has
oeen made of his magnificent liberal
ity.
Its worth thinking about, probably.
Eow much better off actually the world
would have been had the Rockefeller
fortune not been amassed. haa the
great octopus which lie created never
aN;sted had all the independent con-
Germs which he is said 20 have ru:ned
continued in business. woulu zero
sone oil be cheaper and better than it
IS to-day? Would the independent on.
stators ever have given s1oo,OoO,ooo TO
,he cansc Of education? Would the
uniTersity Of Chicago, or any other in
sptuuon, have been founded by them?
Would s1o,oooooo have been given by
7aen TO the cause of education in the
South? These are pertinent. If risky.
qaeStions to ask at any time; but then
aie thoughtful questions at car. NC
80 not defend monopolies; we believe
5at every man should have fair
chance we believe IN equal rights for
all and special privileges to none; but
ne are talking now about what would
lave happened with the money John
D. Rockefeller. has made ii he had not
made ii,
Mr., Rocketellc, has done nothing
ettef than the final gift" he has made
IS the Institution he founded, and Ia
deserves recognition for this ana o.l,..
9encfacttops from his liberal aand
ONE CLEAR CAL Enn