Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-02-08
TIE Foundations Menace"

On Saturday morning We found
contributor. FROM the night editor in
the form Of ,aree yards o. Associated
Press copy, a:cely typewriter, and
pasted into one continuous string, con-
tanning several thousand words, which
the KAN or the Job al night had been
unable 10 use. because Of the crush OF
ohe- mere important" news matter.
I. ras the detailed story Of Fridays
hearing IN New YORK, in which the
vrea: so-ca.lee Foundations" o-!gi-
rz,ed By andrew Carnegie. John D.
Rockefeller. Mrs. ?cssetl Sage and
o:t ers a-e undergoing investigation &,
the ras Of the Federal Industrial Re-
io.iofs Commission. In substance, as
We understand il, these great Founda-
tiors, which have done more for the
cause Of education. principally in the
form OF scientific research in the past
ten years than had been accomplished
by all the outreach!ng Of civilization in
the preceding century. are On the grill
because il mas been charged by some,
that they are menace to religious.
Political or educational liberty Of the
peop.e Of The United States. Perhaps
no more striking commentary will
cone 10 the l2w-aoid!ng and law-re-
speeding people Of the country than the
significant fact that at this hearing
The audience was made up very large
~ Of representatives Of labor Social
ISIS, Indiyfduaiists and Industrial
Workers Of the World. II would seem
that groups Of abnormally minded per-
sons drag their feet and scratch and
squan, because they are led along in
the paths Of progress. and moral and
educational uplifl. AS they oppose
law they also oppose the greater work
which the fortunes Of Carnegie. Rookie
Teller and Sage have given 70 world
opportunity. Those having nothing
on earth but a desire 20 make trouble
FOR the rest Of the world, are alarmed
for fear they Will lose that which they
have. IN the midst Of marvellous pro-
gress, We are held Up because people
Of unaccountable cracks in their men
tai cylinders fear that We are making
progress too fast.
mir. Carnegie testified on Friday that
his donations TO various causes Of edu-
cation had reached, AT the close Of
1914. the stupendous sum Of s324,s57,-
Ss3. and that his whole desire is 10 do
all the good in the world he possibly
ca. lie has sought and secured the
best legal advice in the country in Law
ing 'heae foundations. They. together
have made provision for the strictest
protection CT enormous sums in the in
terest III humanity, subject to the d.
rection O. boards Of the ablest men
that the country provides.
II IT lst = IN ignorant person who
does not l-now that new snjri, ~
business and efficiency has been in
Jected into the lives Of all our educa
tional institutions in the last few
years, by the advent Of these groups of
vigorous minded men. devoting their
every thought to the advancement and
upbuilding OF educational methods and
systematic prosecution Of scientific in
quiry.
Cnquestionably, our state UNIVERSE
ties are now and will always remain
admirable manifestations Of American
public spirit and progressive earnest
ness. Also many of our special schools
are working out practical lines as
agencies OF progress. Yet by the ad
dition OF unlimited wealth with which
TO prosecute every avenue of research
these new additions-organiza tions
Under foundation plan, of the surplus
wealth OF a few overrich gentlemen
arc leading all. These foundations are
not tax uron the public revenue, vet
they arc on a scale hitherto beyond
the Imagination. That one man should
have Contributed 325 millions to the
cause OF ciucation was beyond the
scope Of imagination, even a score of
years ago. OF course they are chal-
lenged. aid it is enlightening to the
intelligence Of the people that they
have been challenged, and by such
chal!engers as we see at the hearing
before the Federal Relations Commits
sion N New York