Morning journal and courier., 1884-05-20
LOCAL NEWS.
The Workingmen's Meeting.

satisfaction With ahe Idea of H@v-
 Ing Their Bosses Collect Money For
 the LIbrarY-ResOlutfOns Asking That
 the-MOney Be Raised By Taxation.
 Arion Hall was brilliantly lighted up last evening and the chairs were set for many guests, but only few came to enjsy the feast. Those few waited and waited, bug the mass meeting did not acquire any more
 massive proportions, and some of those who
 had joined the assembly quietly stole down
 the stairs, leaving the cause of the rights of
 labor to take care of itself. It was about 9
 o'clock when it became impressed upon the
 minds of those whs were present that it was
 time to begin, and one of that number, Mr.
 Charles Stodel, mounted the rostrum and
 proceeded to explain the reasons for calling
 the meeting. He said that complaints had
 reached the trades unions of the manner in
 which the free public library committee pro-
 posed to conduct the work of raising money
 for the free public library. The circular which that committee has seen fit to issue and place in the hands of manufacturers was
 particularly obnoxious to workingmen. They knew well that if their employers went
 through the shops with subscription papers
 and asked the men to sign them that those who did not give and give iberally would be placed upon the black list and in 8 very short time would find themselves out of situations. The thing had been tried in the cases of theorphan asylum collections and laborers knew how it was. Another point that they wanted to consider was the management of
 
 they gave their money for library whether they would have books such as they wanted in the library, or whether the library will be run in the interests of the rich or certain classes.
 MT. Harry Wright arose and further elabor- ated the points above mentioned, especially the latter one. He desired that certain books l published in the interests of workingmen be placed in the library.
 motion was made that in view of the small | number present the meeting adjourn, and that was amended to the effect that the meet ! ing adjourn to next Monday night on the Green. AS there seemed to be several pres- ent who wanted to discuss the public library project the chairman allowed them that priv \ ilege before he put the amendment which was | finally sustained
 MT. h. Walter spoke very earnestly in I German and the chairman translated his re- I marks in substance. They were very strong | Iy opposed to the circular which had been issued to manufacturers.
 About this time MT. Maier Zander entered the hall. MT. Zunder is member of the library committee. He arose and said he
 had just come from a meeting of the com- \ mittee. He said he supposed the meeting was in favor of the library project ''Well. not exactly" said the chairman He then explained why the workingmen were dissatisfied, and MT. Zunder said 8 few 0wHC SVN SFrckf 4R AIa \ he was joined by MT. Morris F. Tyler and T. Attwater Barnes, secretary of the library committee. Both these gentlemen explained ! the project to the mass meeting. MT. Tyler said it was not the purpose of the committee to enable any unworthy ! ward any of his men. He explained ! another point that seemed to trouble the worklngmen who gave expression to their views that the statutes did not allow the city to make an appropriation for library large enough to build house large enough for it. One gentleman said: "Why didn't they give us the $50, 900 they appropriated for a soldiers monument which they are going to stick ou6 on East Rock, and then let the sol
 diers of the Grand Army, as they would have
 been glad to do, raise $50, 900 more, and not
 go around begging from poor men, women
 and children. Others spoke on the manage
 ment of the library and as to whether all R1nQ3 or DOOkS would Do allowed. MT. Zun-
 der assured them it would be 8 library by the people and for the people and Mir. Tyler said
 that all books but immoral books would be there, as far as the funds allowed of their purchase.
 Mir. Moses moved that, ''We, ss organized workmen will give our share to the library" The chairmal would not accept the motion After some discussion the meeting adopted
 some resolutions stating their dissatisfaction with the methods of the library committee,
 and asking that the money be raised by taxa tion