The morning call., 1894-01-15
MERCANTILE LIBRARY ELECTION

ms election takes place to-day. 1t is
not necessary for outsiders 10 compare the
merits of the candidates on the opposing
tickets. The sole question at issue is
whether the Mercantile Library Associa-
tion shall continue TO exist or whether il
shall be merged into the Mechanics Insti-
tute. The question was raised three OF
four years ago and the mem mbers of the
Mercantile voted, by four to one, to main
tain their separate existence. What is to
be settled to-day is whether they have
changed their minds since then.
The election might be passed over in
silence by the press and the members of
the association left to work out their
destiny In their own way but for demon
stratlon which is quite unusual in the
history of libraries. Within the past few
days the membership roll at the library re-
veals an extensive colonization, mainly
from the City Hail. 1t appears that a
sudden thirst for reading has broken out
among the janitors and other employees at
the City Hall. and that long lists of new
members, in the same handwriting. have
been entered on the roll. This literary
outburst would be matter of qualification
were it not that the neophytes all reckon
lHdt ~ VIII lhSL iIlGS UUuluS anu uU
longer. The new City Hail members
subscribe for one quarter only. and pay
81 so dues. They can hardly acquire
much book knowledge in that short time,
but their membership will permit them to
vote to-day. Whether it is desirable that
the old institution should pass under the
control of such constituency it will be
for the members to decide. Our ex-
perience OF municipal departments hardly
inclines the public to extend the sphere of
their influence.
The party which is soliciting votes on
the platform of fusion with the Mechanics
destitute is not authorized directly or in
directly by that institution to propose any
thing of the kind. Four years ago the
Mechanics Institute was willing TO COM
bine with the Mercantile. At that time
the latter had house which Ii was about
TO sell for a large sum of ready cash; ii
had money and books and nothing more.
Now its condition is involved in grave
comp plicstions, and the trustees of the in
stitute are far too prudent to go out of
their way to share them. They have not
said a word which implies that they would
combine with the Mercantile if the latter
were willing. The librarian, Mr. Wilson,
was quoted the other day In morning Q
contemporary as being solicitOus for
fusion. Mr.. Wilson states that be never
uttered syllable implying such desire.
We have now three libraries in this city
which supply the public with reading.
Each is stimulated TO activity in the per-
formance of its duty by the rivalry of the
others. Between the three city readers
CanRra1iv hoole thoy
So far as the public knows ali three are
we'll managed; there are no men any
where who try more faithfully to perform
their duty than the gentlemen who are in
charge of the Mercantile, the Mechanics
and the Free Library. The knowledge OF
books which they place at the disposition
of readers. and the exquisite courtesy and
patience with which they listen to the ap-
plications of people who don't know what
they want, are worthy of all praise. If OF
these three libraries one is now abolis ed
the healthy competition now existing will
be reduced by one-third. Librarians will
be tempted to economic by neglecting ia
purchase expensive books which they
ought to have. and people who want some
thing better than the catchpenny novels OF
the day may have to do without them. Al
present .he honorable rivalry between the
Mercantile and the Mechanics keeps both
up to the mark. Abolish that rivalry and
the reading public will be az the mercy OF
the survivor.
As to the proposition that concern with
a house worth $4,000 and books that
could not be replaced for 100000 cannot
handle an Indebtedness of S69, 0O0 IT Is too
absurd TO be seriously considered