Askov American., 1943-10-28
The Effects of Gifts

Speaking before the Saturday
Lunch club in Minneapolis, DR.. DON
aid j. Cowling, president of Carleton
college, Northfield, said that the
character of the people is the basis
Of good government, and unless we
are worthy of democracy we will not
keep it.
In war time, however, said DIR.
Cowling, the regular democratic
functions operate too slowly, and
therefore it is necessary to give full
powers to the President Later in
the speech he talked against too
many executive orders, which have
the effect of law, and that Congress
should assert itself.
The speaker contended that in a
democracy like America, taxes and
gifts should equalize. In 1887, he said,
the national income was S64,-
90,000,000, the taxes 141a billions,
and gifts two billions The latter two
should have been about the same,
he contended.
In the matter of education he said
that prior to 1899 there were more
students in privately supported COL
Ieges than in tax supported schools
of higher learning. Since that year
the happy medium has prevailed, said
the speaker, with about an equal
number of students in privately sup
ported and tax supported schools be-
yond high school.
The college president stated that
America loses about half of its lead
ership because sons of ShoemakerS,
farmers or others, who possess the
potentialities of leadership, do not
have the opportunity of college edu-
cation. Lamentation of that condition
brought applause. Later in the speech
he gave praise to Congressman Judd
and former Governor Stassen
Congressman Judd has worked for
repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act,
discriminatory law that never
should have been enacted, but which
likely would stay on the statute
books except for our alliance with
China in the war. But where was
Judd on the Ruml tax plan that makes
for more centralization of wealth?
And where is he on sales taxes and
such other legislation that gives less
opportunity for college education to
the poor boy?
The Northfield man might also be
hard pressed to explain the So per
cent loan shark law of his friend
Stassen, which holds down the poor
man, as we'll as lien law for recip-
tents of old age assistance, the $500
annual pension to an associate justice
of the supreme court as compared
to $685. annually to a widow with
three children, the millions of dol
lars annual tax savings to the Steel
Trust in Minnesota, and much other
reactionary legislation.
DR.. Cowling's talk about losing
potential leadership because of lack
of opportunity does not square with
his actions. He told the gathering
that he had taken much interest in
olotS pOlltlCS dIlu government CIle
last five to six years that there might
be the right people in office to make
decisions.
Gifts by the individual, without
doubt, do much good to both giver
and recipient. The cheerful giver is
uplifted. His ideals and principles
are strengthened. But when private
II supported college administrators
lend their support to promoters OF
reactionary legislation it raises the
question as to what ultimate effect
some gifts may have upon the well
fare, Of the people at large. No doubt
endowment funds in some cases have
the same effect on college presidents
as do large campaign funds on polit-
Eal candidates.
DR.. Cowling pictured government
as police power and taxes, and said
that mankind's worst enemy is toe
much government. He fears having
the federal government in education