Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-09
A FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

How WOrkingmen Have Already Put Them
selves on Record on the Subject.
The movement to establish public library
in this city will probably receive the encour-
agement and support of the organized bodies
of workingmen Of Washington in a very sub
stantial manner. About three years ago these
organizations, under the inspiration of Mr..
E. W. Oyster, made a move in the same direc-
ton, but their efforts seemed to be fruitless
and after some time the enterprise was allowed
to drop. An address issued by the committee
at that time said
''The need Of a free public library in Wash
ington has long been felt by all classes of citi-
zens. particularly by the wage-working class,
and it would be credit to the public-spirited
citizens and residents of the city to aid in plac-
ing within the reach OF those who are other
wire deprived Of instructive and entertaining
reading matter The advantages of a free circulate
ing library. which have been too long DELAYED
in the nations capital. The new and strong
desire among the wage-working people for edu-
cational facilities, in order that they may quail
ify themselves for the great social and political
duties that they are assuming, now makes a
public library necessity. The great interest
taken In other cities in the establishment of
free libraries attests their value. and we have
no doubt that the advantages and usefulness of
such an institution would be az fully demon
strated here as they have been in other local
tiles.
Believing that the benefits Of free library
and reading rooms. not only to wage-workihg
people, but to the entire community, are fully
understood and appreciated. We appeal to the
citizens and residents of Washington for that
financial aid which is necessary for the success
of our undertaking."
This was Endorsed by a statement signed by
a number Of prominent citizens and business
men, who declared their belief that lit is not
creditable to the capital city of the nation that
while ii has made such wonderful strides in
growth. culture and material prosperity, it has
nothing whatever to show in the way Of a free
library, such IN other cities Of much less size
and pretensions have freely provided for the
public well-being."
TALK WITH Mr.. OYSTER.
Mr.. Oyster, in conversation with STAR re-
porter on the subject yesterday, said: ''The
workingmen Of Washington want a library.
They need one, and they are willing to work
for one. This movement, which was started
three years ago, would have succeeded had we
found somebody generous enough to have given
our efforts the support they deserved. A Joint
committee was appointed from among the vari-
Gus District assemblies and from among the
business men Of the city, and we worked to-
gether for about a year and half trying to
raise subscriptions for the purpose Of erecting
a library building. Then. ~ there did not
seem to be much light ahead of us, the business
men dropped out, one by one, and was prac-
tically left alone. Il made final effort in the
matter by sending out q couple of thousand
letters to people whom hoped to interest but
there was no general respone, and SO came to
the conclusion that it was useless for me to
waste my time and energies in the matter and
l reluctantly gave up.
''What We wanted was to build a suitable
structure. and then to gradually establish a
library tina; would serve to furnish reading
matter to the men who cannot reach any Of
the libraries Of the city by any possibility We
did not want to antagoniZe any of the existing
libraries, but to found one that would be indie,
pendent OF the government and self sustain
ing. We already have too much paternalism
here. and we thought that il would be well to
get up an Institution that could stand alone
without asking any favOrs from the govern
ment- OF course we did not hope to have very
many DOCKS at hrst. but we were sure that as
soon as We got u building the books would come
fast enough.
The largest contribution was 81 ,OOO Alto
gether We had not more than "a COO subscribed
when we quit, the result of over two years
work. We needed, it was estimated. at least
sl3o,OOO In order to endow the library in q
proper manner.
Il hope that the present movement to estab-
lish a city reading room and library will be
successful, and am sure that the laboring men
OF the city, through their organizations. will
lend all Of the aid In their power to make it
such.
HOW wokKINGMEN MIGHT BE BENEFITED
lone of the best features Of our scheme
think, was that there should be established, in
connection with the library and general read
ing rooms, a room which should be o sort of
headquarters for the laboring people of the
District where they could read while they we're
waiting for an opportunity to work and where
employers could go with u certainty OF always
finding good men. Such a room would be not
only a benefit to the men, but also TO the COM
munity, for it would tend TO increase the
| chances of the workingmen finding employ
ment, ~ well rs providing for them resort
where their surroundings would be Of a health
| full and eleyating character.
1T seems to me that If TEE STAR could
manage to find some public-spirited man
sufficiently philanthrop;cal to give a fund
| for library, or half dozen or
ten such men. it would be far better than to
| trv to make up a fund out of small contribu-
tions. which ~ always a slow way and not very
successful here or elsewhere. approve Of Col.
Wrights idea Of getting, If possible, half of the
books from the Congressional Librarv, that is,
the duplicates which they keep, far as they
would be Of any value to such library a. we
would like to see established here"
The Equity Court has ordered writs de In.
| natico inquirendo to issue in the cases Of O. W.
Sommervilis and George B. Edmunds.