Page:A History of the University of Chicago by Thomas Wakefield Goodspeed.djvu/281

 THE FIRST YEAR 243 interest in the University. They feel that the question ought not to be decided one way or the other without consulting you. I venture, therefore, to trouble you to give the matter at least a passing thought, and, if it is in accordance with your judgment, to indicate to me what, under all the cir- cumstances, seems to you to be the proper thing. No one can deny that the day of opening will be a day of great importance in the history of American education. Our gentlemen argue that such a day ought to be properly cele- brated, and though personally I am opposed to display and ceremony, I realize the fact that it is a great event. Sincerely hoping that you will give the matter at least a moment of your time for consideration, I remain .... Mr. Rockefeller gave this request much more than a moment's consideration. It opened up, quite incidentally, and, on President Harper's part, quite unconsciously, a matter which seemed to Mr. Rockefeller of the first importance and gave him the oppor- tunity which he had evidently been waiting for to express himself on the subject explicitly and once for all. The question of the open- ing exercises was, in his mind, wholly unimportant compared with it. He advised against any formal opening ceremonies and thought it would in any case "be hardly possible for him to attend." Mr. Gates had by this time come into very close relations with Mr. Rockefeller and to him he now committed the message he wished to send to President Harper and the Trustees. Before it was sent it was read and approved by Mr. Rockefeller. What Mr. Gates refers to as a "prefatory word" was, in fact, a message to the Trustees of much significance. Mr. Gates wrote on May 13, 1892, to President Harper saying among other things: A prefatory word regarding his [Mr. Rockefeller's] counsel -in general. While he is, of course, closely interested in the conduct of the institution, he has refrained from making suggestions, and would prefer in general not to take an active part in the counsels of the management. He prefers to rest the whole weight of the management on the shoulders of the proper officers. Donors can be certain that their gifts will be preserved and made continuously and largely useful, after their own voices can be no longer heard, only in so far as they see wisdom and skill in the management, quite independently of themselves, now. No management can gain skill except as it exercises its functions independently, with the privilege of making errors and the authority to correct them. The only way to assure a wise management during the whole future of the institution is to continue the method employed hitherto in the selection of members of the Board, which is to make the most careful, the nicest possible choice of new men to fill necessary vacancies, as they shall