Page:A History of the University of Chicago by Thomas Wakefield Goodspeed.djvu/77

 THE INCEPTION OF THE PLAN 51 this had perhaps interfered with progress in the Chicago matter more than the other things mentioned. The attempt failed, indeed, but it led Dr. Harper to feel that the time had come for Mr. Gates to enter actively upon the work to which the Education Society had so recently commissioned him, particularly as he was the repre- sentative of the Society through which Mr. Rockefeller intended to act. This conviction as to Mr. Gates will appear in the next letter from Dr. Harper, dated January i, 1889. After referring to his preceding letter, he continues: I have advised Morehouse to telegraph Gates to come to New York next week, and take hold of things in a vigorous way with New York men. There is no necessity for waiting further. The matter must be pushed and it must be pushed by someone from outside. I have also written this as my opinion to Gates himself. I may be wrong, but this is the way I feel under all the circumstances. On January 8 Dr. Harper sent the following very brief letter: I enclose a letter just received. You will interpret its meaning. I think we will all be glad that the thing is progressing so favorably. The letter inclosed was dated January 7, and was from Dr. More- house. It contained the following: Professor W. R. Harper, New Haven, Conn. DEAR BROTHER: I have a reassuring word for you. Dr. has just come over from the Pastors' Conference, where he met a gentleman, whose name I think I mentioned to you in a recent letter as one whom I thought adverse to the University scheme at Chicago. This gentleman lunched with Mr. R. a week ago today. He was then asked his opinion about the establishment of a University at Chicago. He gave his opinion that it was a most important thing to be done. The matter was discussed in its various aspects. Mr. R. told him that he had substantially decided to assist the enterprise, although possibly he might not do as much as some hoped he would do at the outset, but would put several hundred thousand dollars or perhaps a million into it to start with I thought it would be somewhat comforting and reassuring to hear these words, both because of the additional confirmation it gives us of Mr. R's intentions and because it dispels, in part, the suspicion that certain parties are trying to defeat the Chicago scheme. Yours very truly, H. L. MOREHOUSE