Document XRYMLpRz3rnRE9vDOgkaXnJQy

March 23, 1936 Dr, W, A, Ruth' Chief in Pomological Physiology University of Illinois College of Agriculture Urbana, Illinois Dear Dr. Ruth; My European trip kept me out of the country longer than I expected and I only returned a few days ago. I have now had time to go over all of the correspondence which accumulated In ay absence and I have noted your various letters, particularly the one of February 18th to Mr. L* s* Hitchner, In view of the situation which has been reached in the discussion of this matter, I have not considered it advisable at this time to write to Mr. Eitchner since a letter to him on the subject would almost certainly be interpreted as a plea for contributions, I do net wish to assume a stand-offish position with regard to the financial arrangements for carrying o r the work which we contemplated in our outline of the proposed program for experimentation, and I should be very glad to reply to any questions concerning this matter which Sr. Hitchner might wish to raise. I should also be quite willing to discuss the question with him on any of ray visits to Hew York, but I should want this to be definitely at his invitation. The situation of the laboratory is such at the moment that to embark on an experimental program of the magnitude considered in our original discussion would require a great deal of re-arrangement of our present work. 1 am still trory much interested in doing the job in the manner outlined but I could not at the moment, or even for some months, divert the work of the laboratory In such a way as to tackle this question on the scale proposed. On the other hand we should be setting up a program fob the balance of our year*s work at a reasonably early date. From our point of view it would be wise to bring this matter to a head as soon as possible and to determine not so much what funds are needed to work as we intended, but what funds are av&ilable to extend our experimentation into this field at an early date. By late suramar or early fall we shall have to know definitely whether or not we are to undertake the job which w have had in mind and on what scale we are to work, To a very considerable 0003544 XU A. Ruth extent we can adapt ourselves to the funds 'avanMn v.*r.. the understanding that the work will have to'oxtor^ c^- - considerable period of time. Prom the genoral" ^cn'-Wo^ t"-correspondence I am inclined to believe that itvev"L wise to obtain lump-sum contributions to a fund to h dc^ot-'i to this type of experimentation. If such funds were olnce'- * In our hands, we would plan our experimentation on the ban!'? of the amount, available, and on the basis of our facilities0 The work to be don not within a definite period of time but toithe extent that the funds and our own organization permit. I feel quite confident that if you can obtain certain contri-l butIons for this purpose, 1 can obtain certain additional funds. However, It would be necessary that such funds be supplied without any strings or without any conditions other than that*it be devoted to the general type of experimentation which I have previously discussed with you and your associates. It would be my suggestion that the request be made for single lump-sum contributions, with the understanding that the contributor would be entirely free to exercise his own judgment as to whether or net he wished later to make additional contributions to carry the 'work further. This would put upon us the burden of carrying on in such a manner as to justify further support, but would obligato no one to maintain such further support, I feel quite sure that you understand that the actual planning of the work will have to be done in this laboratory. Obviously we should be prepared to listen to criticism and advice from any and all sources, but the decision as to how our work Is to be planned and carried out v?111 have to reside In my hands, I should be pleased to have the active interest of all of the group and persons that you have mentioned, but I shall not be In position to spend much time in prolonged and detailed discussions and in numerous and frequent progress reports. Very truly yours. RAKjIS Robert A. Kanos, II.D. btS' 0003345