Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-28
FOR A PUBLIC LIBRAR
Views of President McHugh of the Fedora
ton of Labor.
He Heartily Endorses the Project
What He Has Observed In
Other Cities.

Interest on the subject Of the establish
ment of great public library in Washing
ton is growing among the members of the
societies of organized labor in the District.
President James F. McHugh of the Fed
GRAFTON of Labor at the national capital,
upon being asked by Star reporter for
his views on the matter, said: Certainly, l
am in favor of the proposed new public
library. We cannot have too many libra
res. They are the peoples universities. 1
think it should be the duty of Congress to
grant at once a liberal appropriation for
the erection and endowment of such an in
stitution. 1t Is the duty Of every govern
ment to cultivate a taste for reading and
study among its people, but much more
so in this country of ours when the safety
and stability of our institutions and the
science of good government depend on the
intelligence and enlightenment of Its citi-
zens. 1t is the duty, then, of Congress to
create such free public libraries. With the
general adoption of the eight-hour working
day l believe that the time is not far dis
tant when the laborers and mechanics, and
not the lawyers, doctors and storekeepers,
Will be the great readers in this country.
Such popular taste for reading once ac-
CURED would so long way toward bring
Ing about that reform which temperance
people are striving hard to realize.
Following my trade a stonecutter
have worked in almost every principal
city of the United States and Canada. 1
found in the greater number of places l
visited many cities even with less than
N.eo0 Inhabitants had their public libraries.
"Washingt ton, the capital of this great ma
tion and which should be the very foun-
tain source of enlightenment for the whole
country, is deplorably behind the other
cities CT the country In this respect, espe-
cially in the west. Take the city of Mime
apolis, MINI. Ii has q magnificent public
library, a certain portion of the taxes rails
ed each year going to its support Every
ward III the city has three or four SUBJ
stations where books can be secured for
the asking. The CITY has thirteen wards.
SO that. practically, there are from forty
TO fifty free libraries In It. Just think of
it. fifty free libraries and Washington not
one. If the lawgivers of that western
state see the great necessity of populariz-
ing education, surely Congress should not
lie behind in affording the people of this
city ard the large number of visitors from
all parts of The country who come here an
nualiy equal facilities for the requirement
of knowledge. ] do not believe that the
establishment of such a public library
would IN any way interfere with the sue
cess of the wurkirgmens library and la
Dor bureau at present In existence here.
"Eoston has a similar institution in
fiourishing condition. and the. number CT
other libraries in the city together with
its magnificent public library recently
built, in no way interferes with its success.
The workingmens library in this city
will be iii the nature Of a club OF a home
and when 1t becomes better known it will
not lack fSf<A pport.'