Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1917-03-28
TIE MAYO FOUNDATION.

TIE 1AYO FOUNDATION.
To the average observer of State af-
fairs, the attempt made in the legisla-
ture to terminate the arrangement made
with the Mayos by the Board Of Reg
ents of the university under authority
of law to give medical students an OPP
portunity to study at this famous elm
ic looks like small business inspired
largely by professional jealousy. No
doubt many physicians are perfectly
honest In their opposition and see the
matter from another standpoint, but to
the ordinary layman 1t would not seem
wise to spurn the magnificent gift Of
Tered by the Mayos and terminate an
arrangement which the Board of Reg
ents have unanimously entered into for
the benefit Of the Medical College, in
which the interests Of the State seem
= to be safeguarded In every way.
: In speaking before the Senate COM
fmittee Of Education last Thursday, DR..
1William J. Mayo was given an ovation
that was q fitting tribute. His speech
reproducing here:
4 Il had some hesitancy in appearing
ut this meeting" DR.. Mayo said
There has been much misunderstood
ing and Misrepresentation about the
whole plan. So that you may UNDER
stand just what my brother and 1 de-
sire to do, let me go back to our boy
hood days.
II my father. DR.. w. W. Mayo, was
recognized as the leading physician and
surgeon Of Southeastern Minnesota.
When we were small boys we assisted
him as much as we could, gradually
farmer boy learns by working with his
father.
Nov my father had certain ideals
He believed that any man who had ply
steal strength. intellectual capacity or
nnusual opportunity held such endow-
Jnents in trust to do with them for
<others In proportion to his gifts.
~ LAS our business grew. my brother
and I added men to the staff, not as
!. hired men, but as co-workers'
The chamber was very still as Dr.
Mayo proceeded. He was speaking with
great simplicity and earnestness. I'VE
have had our ideals. Every one who
came into the clinic and hung up his hat
was to get treatment regardless Of the
cost and no one was asked If he had
70 the price.
because erroneous statements have
been made in this regard. l will say
that We have never charged physician
or clergyman or any dependent men,
Der Of the family of either.
LAS we grew larger, we took in young
men and finally built up a school and
provided fellowships to enable students
of exceptional ability to work and study
In connection with the clinic. We had
20 of those fellowship students In 1914,
before the arrangement with the uni
versity.
I'm 1898 my father retired and we
took what money we had and turned 1t
over to Burt w. Eaton. fellow towns
man. with instructions to look after 1t
and such additions as we might make.
For 20 years we have had nothing to do
with that fund. Last year it totaled
about $1,5OO,OOO. 1t is the basis Of the
endowment of the foundation.
I'VE have never taken notes at the
clinic. No mortgage has ever been CIV
en- on home to pay a bill there. We
never sue. Thirty per cent of our pa
tients are charity cases. About rs per
cent pay barely the cost Of treatment.
II can't understand why all this op-
- position should have been aroused over
the afIiliation with the university. It
seems to be the idea Of some persons
that no one can want to do anything
for anybody without having some sim
lister motive back Of 1t.
IL VIC "dHlcu MOIcys We nave IL.
: That can't be the reason for our offer.
We want the money to go back to the
people who gave 1t to us. The proposal
for this afflliation came from the Uni
versity to us and did not originate with
US. We want to serve the state that
has given us so much and we think the
best we can serve 1t Is through medical
education.
1.-THE offer Of the endowment fund of
the foundation when the anlliation be-
comes permanent Is an outright tender
despite the talk Of a phantom gift,
which has been heard through the state
know that doctors Of Minnesota two
years ago were appealed to. in letters
: containing Misrepresentation.
Nov let's call q spade a spade: This
3 money belongs to the 100000 people
In this state. I don't care two raps
whether. the medical profession Of the
! state like the way this money has been
s. Offered for use. 1t wasn't their money.
\ Discussions against the afnliation have
r. been in the past Of just such petty and
a trivial detail as we have heard tonight
II have always thought q good deal
8 Of Lincoln's Gettysburg address,. There's