Willamette University - Wallulah Yearbook (Salem, OR)

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w from the Cutters: , er carry Wlth it llHSthOI'VIHerI had not thus been defraudedt- beginning of its career, itwouldi lded that it should be-thehi Pacific Coast. It would nothat I it has had, nor havehadto ay. to secure an unquestionedxk Q i e.' Dbe .inbovvment Campaign 65$ ' 9 WA? N ENDOWMENT of over half a million dollars, $300,000 in cash and $200,000 in secured subscriptions, is the result of the campaign which has been strenuously waged for the past four years; and for the first time in her history, Willamette University is on a firm financial footing. In this happy culmination of a hard, uphill fight, comes the realization of a desire which has long filled every supporter of Old Willamette, that there might be absolute assurance of permanence for the University. It has been five years since President Homan took charge of affairs, and at once recognized the necessity of an adequate endow- ment, if Willamette were to do her work properly and maintain her place in the world of education. With this conviction predominant, he began to lay plans for advancing the interests of the University from the point at which his predecessor had left them. For it must be recognized that the remarkable advance of the past five years could not have been possible but for the foundation laid by President John H. Coleman in the period between 1902 and 1907. Coming just after a time when the question had actually been whether Willamette University should really be continued 01' not, he assumed the heart- breaking task of lifting a $40,000 debt and almost literally raising the school from its grave. The fact that he left it free from debt, With the medical, theological, and music buildings added, with over $100,000 endowment, and with no doubt as to its place in the educa- tional circles of the Northwest, bears eloquent witness to the results of his labors. a t It was at this point that President Homan assumed the task of making the UniversityTS future assured and her standards unexcelled. In the face of widespread pessimism among friends bf Willamette as to its advisability, he persuaded the trustees to launch a eampaign for a $500,000 endowment. The erection of Eaton Hall, the'gift eof Hon. A. E. Eaton, gave a strong impetusto the campaign in its inception. The subsequent announcement that Hon. Robert A. Beoth of Eugene, who has ever been the closest friend andygmost'valnued counselor 0f the University, would give the last $50,000 to half a million endowment, and an additiona1$50,000to start a Pioneer Memorial Hall, hushed the opposition and fanned into flame the

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possession of the half which contained the Institute Reserve and buildings, as that was considered the more valuable. portion, but the Surveyor-General, doing what he could for the school, made her take the half which lay nearer the river, the part which now contains the business section of Salem. In vain the friends of the church and 01' the school pled with hereshe was obdurate. The poor missionary girl had assumed a new role. Mr. Willson was a willing party to the transaction, as shown by his efforts to repudiate the bond which held him for the remaining half of the land which he had held uin trustfi But his efforts were futile and he was forced to turn over what was left to the trustees of the Oregon Institute. The Willsons and their heirs have grown wealthy from their ill-gotten gains, and today the lovely park, ttWill- son Avenueft which lies across the street from the University campus, bears the name which will ever carry with it unsavory memories. If Willamette University had not thus been defrauded of one-half of its resources in the very beginning of its career, it would be today what its founders had intended that it should heethe biggest and the wealthiest school on the Pacific Coast. It would not have had the struggle for existence which it has had, nor have had to seek an endowment, as it is doing today, to secure an unquestioned perpetuity. JASON LEEtS GRAVE IN THE MISSION CEMETERY .i d, -.vW.....-.-. i a

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O . gag JAMES J. HILL a Q enthusiasm Which has carried the movement through. With approx- imately $325,000 td raise, President Homan outlined a thorough campaignv Rev.'D1'.E.H Todd, a prominent Seattle pastor and former field secretary-iof the University of Puget Sound, was elected Vice President of the University and charged with raising funds for current expenses,whi1e Dr Homan gave his entire time to the endow- ment work. I . It 1s not. necessary to recount the details of the campaign, but a few of the landmarks stand outfproiminently. In the spring of 1910 came the offer of $50,000,0011dit1011a1 upon raising $250, 000 by January, 1913, from James I. Hill, who had become interested in Willamette 0151 a Visit to Salem.P1ans for 1911- 12 were more inten- sive. Vice President Todd transfered his energy to endowment work, and Dr. John Hancher, cou11se101' for Methodist colleges, was secureds ,to. Lead the campaign in Portland and Salem. It was in March, 1912,; that success was assured the campaign when Peter W. Severson of Portland added $100, 000 to the fund. Smaller subscrip- tions in Portland amounted to nearly $100,000,a11d in Salem to about $65, 000. The latter months 0f-1912 were devoted to turning sub- scriptions into cash to meet Mr. H111 s condition that the $250, 000 must be in cash 01'. in gilt edge securities. Before the time was up the trustees were able to send the papers Showing that all his condi- tions had been met. This was Very largely due to the fact that upon the approach of the ti-111e limit,M1'.Booth paid in $50, 000, altho his conditions had not yet beeh met. While there is at the present writing over half a million dollars in pledges and cash, some $50, 000 is unproductive, and Mr. Booth s