The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-04-28
SALT LAKE BOARD OFLAB0R
IT'S FREE READING ROOM. LIBRARY
AND EMPLOYMENT BUREAU.
History of It's Decentralization 1t
is Supported-An Institution That
Deserves the Support of Both
Employer aud Employees.

room. Library and Employment Office
was formally opened to the public or
the evening of October II, 1894. Hon
R. n. Baskin, mayor; Councilman LIE
Grand Young and Councilman W. P.
O'Meara where present and spoke COM
mending the objects in view. And let
4 tiers of regret at not being able to be
present were received from Hon. C.
c. Goodwin, George @. Cannon and
others who heartily endorsed the estab-
lishment of such an institution. l wish
as briefly as possible to give history
of the formation of the Board of Labor,
it's aims and objects.
The question was first brought to the
attention of the Building Trades Con-
gress by one of its members January
| 20, 1894. The member stated that his
reasons for bringing the subject before
congress was on account of the great
amount of restitution and want then
prevailing in the city which had I'M
fortunately thrown hundreds of men
| on the streets with no money where
with to buy bread, and many of them
with no bed to lie on at night. The re-
suit was that large numbers congregated
around the warm stoves of the saloon
and other places morally bad, and end
| ing with the plea that some steps should
| be taken to provide a room where such
men could meet and spend their time
| improving their minds, rather than to
| be forced to seek warmth and comfort
| in places where everything they see and
hear are morally debasing.
The members plea was successful in 50
far that committee was at once ap-
pointed to look out for suitable rooms
| and report as to cost This committee
! reported at the next meeting in favor
| of establishing free reading room, but
! the cost was so heavy that it was found
! impossible for the Builing Trades con-
gress to establish the reading room
alone. Therefore the Federated Trades
was requested to take part; that bodT
readily consented, and committee of
three from each body was organized
! But the labor depression had so taxed
every union in the city to support its
own members, that it was found i'm
possible at that time to raise funds for
the purpose. The joint committee con-
tinued it's efforts, and arranged for
picnic at Calder's park on the Fourth of
July. Believing that business men were
too often called pom to contribute
prizes and money 20 such entertain
ments it was agre d that all prizes
should be bought ~ the committee, and
we would rely entirely on our own re-
sources. Unfortunately when the time
came, circumS tanceS were against u.s.
our boys where still without money even
for one days enjoyment The picnic
prGyed a failure, and we found our
selves after weeks and months of labor
SO behind. Nothing daunted the COM
mittee continued its labors and arrang-
ed for q picnic at Saltair on Labor Day,
Our efforts this time were crowned with
success in so far that we were enabled
to pay back losses incurred on the Fourth
of July, and had a balance in hand of
S113 with which to open the present
premises. In the mean time members of
the Federated Trades Council and men,
bers of the Builing Trades Congress had
found through the joint action of this
committee, also through the harmonious
action of the joint committee of the two
bodies on legislation during the last
session of the Utah legislature that
there were no differences between
them, that could not not be easily
remedied. by a change in the constitu-
ton. on which both parties could con-
solidate, and steps were Immediately
taken through d joint committee with
that object in view. and new consti-
tuition to which all branches of labor
could subscribe and new central Or
ganization was formed under the name
and title of the Utah Board of Labor,
under whose auspicies the Board of
Labor Reading Room. Employment Of
flee and library now exists.
Some of my readers will undoubtedly
think that board of management had
great nerve to undertake the opening OF
such an institution with the sum of s1i3
in the treasury. But the men who had
spent many months of their time with
the sole object of establishing an insti-
tuition for the benefit of their fellow
workingmen were not the men to draw
back under a small difficulty. According
ly the first floor OF Mr.. Davidson's
building, 46 East Second South was
rented. But many alterations had to be
made to adapt the premises to its pres
ent use. Partition walls had to be
taken down and the second floor safely
secured. Many days of labor were
freely given to this work. The public
can never know the personal sacrifice OF
many members of this committee made
for their benefit. By the time the place
was ready for opening, the funds of the
treasurer were gone but the two
central bodies came nobly to the rescue
and our treasury was again replenished
Shortly after this during the heat of
political party. strife Judge O.. w.
Powers challenged the Hon. C. c. Good
win to a debate in the Salt Lake theatre.
and to their generosity we owe our best
thanks for granting part of the pro-
ceeQS 10 lHlS lllSulullOl. Anu lLuS VIC
believe the Board Of Labor free employ
ment Office. free reading room and
library has become a permanent institu-
ton for good in Salt Lake city.
Our Ojects Are:
First-To establish a home where all
men can meet and spend their leisure
hours with pleasure and profit. We are
sensible of the fact that the place we
now occupy is far too small and not so
we'll adapted as we could wish for the
purpose. 1t is our intention TO have a
large conversation room in addition to
the reading room as soon as funds can
be raised for the purpose. We believe
there is no better means of drawing out
the best qualities of a man than by
conversation with his fellow man, and
for that reason we wish to have a room
where our workingmen can meet and
discuss the questions of the day without
interfering with the pleasure of others
who wish to read. This reminds me of
my younger days in England when I
used to attend the British workmen's
rooms, the sign over the door read
something like this British Workman
No. l. a public house without a drink,
where men can sit, read, talk, and
think, then quietly home return" Those
houses can be found all over England,
and have been the means Of bringing
many bright minds to the front that
otherwise would have remained in OBJ
security. Why such places should not
be established throughout the United
States has long been. a mystery to me.
Those places were always the most pro-
life feeders to their mechanics institu-