The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-01-08
COLLEGE HEADS SET
new ERA N EDUCATION

New York. Jan. THAT the lavish
Gift of $s0.o0o.00o which John b.
Rockefeller gave recently to increase
the salaries of teachers and professors
marks new era in higher education
in America was the c1ncensus OF
opinion among nine Of the country's
leading college presidents in response
TO query issued by the Harvard en-
dowpent fund. Nine statements werc
received today from Harvard. Yale,
Princeton, Leland Stanford, Jr., the
University Of Virginia, Smith. Bfyn
Mawr and Vassar, as well as from
Charles w. Eliot, president emeritus
or Harvard and prominent throughout
the world as an educator.
DIR. Elfots statement deals generally
with Mr.. Rockefeiler's manner OF de-
voting his fortune to the public
AS his objects for endowment the best
phiianfhropic movements of the day
wealth. He has selected" he said,
education of all grades. medical re-
search, health and community santa
ton This he has given the best ex-
ample so far of wisdom and resolute
goodwin In applying private wealth to
public uses
Mr.. Rockefeiier's gift. coming at a
time when there Is q country-w wide
movement to increase the endowments
of number OF our leading colleges
and universities. is regarded as a
stimulus to those carrying on these
campaigns, ard a general hint to the
public to do its part toward maintain
ing the institutions OF higher learning
of the land.
College endowment fund campaigns
now under way plan praise enough
money to permit SO per cent increase
In the salaries of professors. This
will mean an additional yearly expen-l
diture OF s6.594,181 and will require
an endowment fund of s1S1.Ssa.420
invested at s per cent. Adding to
this an outstanding debt on American
colleges and universities of $6,25s,5Io,
the total needs of 256 OF the country's
leading colleges and universities
amount to s14o,141.Sso.
Mr.. Rockefeiler's gift OF $50, 900, 900
VIII supply about one-third Of the
amount needed for the increasing OF
salaries.
Comments upon the Rockefeller gift
by President Alderman. OF the Univer-
sity of Virginia, the president emeritus
and president of Harvard university
and other prominent college presi-
dents follow:
r. A. Alderman, University OF vir-
ginia; Mr.. Rockefeller's unexampled
gift. IL it shall meet with fitting re-
sponses from states and individuals,
means the lifting Of the grayest menace
threatening higher education in this
generation the starving OF the college
professor into mediocrity. II is there
Tore an event of capital Importance to
higher education
Charles w. Eliot. president emeri-
tus, Harvard; Mr. Rock efeller has
created boards OF trustees capable Of
carrying on Indefinitely the good works
he devised or preferred.
He has endowed these boards ade-
auately. but gradually; that they
might. profit each by its own studies
and experience
He has selected as his objects for
endowment the best philanthropio
movements of his day-education OF
all grades. medica, research. health
and community sa nitat!c..
He has repeatedly authorized his
Incorporated agents to spend the prin-
cfpai as we'll as the income of his gift
to therna and to apply his henefact.ons
anywhere in the world, although first
and chiefly at home.
: III G has. thus given the best example
SO far OF wisdom and resolute good
VIII In applying private wealth to pub
lie uses
A. Lawrence Lowell, Harvard:
Everybody knows that teachers are
now underpaid This is unjust to
those teaching and prevents recruiting
properly qualified teachers Unless
higher education is confined to the
rich the cost must be met by taxation
or increased endowment. Mr.. Rookie
Teller has seen the public need and
acted with this customary generosity"
A. T. Hadley. Yale: "It means
realization OF the need of keeping
strong men on the college faculties il
America Is to do her part in the next
half-century."
John Grier Hihben, Princeton: MIR.
+Rockefeller's muniticent gift will
mark a new era in education and will
tend TO place the teaching profession.
upon a proper basis of adequate re-
Enumeration and consequent dignity
1t is also patriotic act OF far-reaching
significance for whatever increases the
teaching power OF our schools and
colleges contributes directly to the
stability and yigor Of our national
life"
Ray Lyman Wilbur. Leland Stan
ford, Jr.. university: The Rockefeller
gift OF $50,ooo,0c0 means that new
impetus will be given higher educa-
ton, and that much OF the damage
done during the past few years be-
cause of low salaries and high living
costs will be remedied. 1t should
mean steady progress upward out OF
present depression"
w. A. Nelson, Smith: Mr. Rookie
feller's gift is the first ray OF hope for