Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-04-14
Ford Foundation
Won LET Row
Stop Donations

NEW YORK. April 10 o.
The Ford Foundation said today
controversy would not deter it
from giving hundreds of millions
of dollars to what it hopes will
advance human welfare.
H. Rowan Gather. jr.. chair
man of trustees, said the foun-
dalton will continue to forego
easy and conventional spending
for the sake of clamorous APP
proval or political safety"
He declared in the founda-
tion's annual report that educa-
ton was the best way to Improve
mans lot. He added there can
be no education without contro-
versy."
Mr.. Gather did not refer spe-
ciflcally to the congressional and
other attacks charging the foun-
dation with giving money to
institutions that further left
wing and socialist aims. Mr..
Gathers three stormy years as
president ended October / when
he was succeeded by Henry T..
Head. former president of New
York University.
Reece Chief Critic
Representative B. Carroll Reese,
Democrat of Tennessee, has been
a principal critic Of the Ford and
other tax-exempt foundations.
declaring they use what amounts
to public money to promote So
cialiSm.
Mr.. Reece. the American Le-
gion and Senator Joseph R. Nc
Carthy have been leaders in de-
nouncing the Fund for the Re-
public, which the Ford Founda-
ton set up with SIS million as
an independent organization in
1852.
The fund. whose avowed aim is
to promote the Bill of Rights and
Constitutional Liberties. has been
called soft toward communism
and accused of trying to under
mine the Governments security
and loyalty system.
Henry Ford II said in 1855
that some of the Funds actions
have been dubious in character
and inevitably have led to
charges of poor judgment" He
said as a private citizen he ques-
toned some things the Fund has
done, but that although he was
then Foundation chairman he
was powerless to control the in
dependent fund.
Opposes Interference
Mr.. Gather used the phrase
poor judgment" in his report
He said the foundation has 90
right to interfere once it has
made grant. 1t has a continu-
ing responsibility" however. he
said, to review and evaluate pro-
grams it supports. He continued:
IF the Foundation should con-
clude that it tthe program) has
fallen short Of the objective. or
that a grantee has exhibited
poor Judgment in a series of
events over a sustained period
OF time, the Foundation has the
inherent right-indeed the obli-
sation-to withhold further sup
port for such a grantee"
Solving age-old problems takes
free inquiry. he said, and that
free inquiry becomes impossible
If a foundation tells a grantee
what to do or no VITO do it.
Donors must never waver in
this "indelible condition" even in
the face of "willful critics, or
others who merely fail to under
stand the relationship" and
blame the foundation for the
grantees activities, Mr.. Gather
said.
Stresses Basic Beliefs
Mr.. Gather said the founda-
ton wasn't looking for a fight,
but if one came it must not dis
card basic beliefs.
Yet, he said. in effect. courage
in the face of "strident contro-
versy' must be tempered with
wisdom. Not even the founda-
tion's almost SO billion bankroll
Is big enough TO lick the prob
lens that have baff1ed mankind
for centuries. he said.