Evening star., 1896-06-22
WORKINGMEN ACTIVE
Printers Discuss the Annual Election
of Officers.
NOMINATIONS MADE IN ADVANCE
Affairs Of the Workingmen's Library
and Labor Bureau.
AN OPEN ONFEREN CE

Inc meeting OF Columbia Typographical
Union, held yesterday afternoon. was one
OF the most earnest and enthusiastic ses-
sions that has taken place for some time.
This was attributed largely to the fact
that the time for holding the election of
officers for the ensuing year and delegates
to the International Typographical conven-
ton at Colorado Springs is rapidly ap-
preaching. President George A. Tracy pre-
sided. Most of the meeting was taken up
with discussions about nominations for the
various offices to be filled and for the office
of president there were five nominations
Messrs. Charles E. Miller, T. A. Bynum, a.
J. Arnold, J. d. kenoe and Robert H..
Smythe. For the vice presidency, Messrs.
Robert K. Youngblood and ]. NJ. Kreiter
were named. For the office of secretary,
which is the highest salaried position in
the gift of the union, the candidates are
Mr.. Z. NJ. Robinson, the present incum-
bent, and Mr.. c. E. Jones. For the place
of serseant-at-arms there are four candi-
dates, Messrs. b. Rowlett, r. T. Hard
wick, W. $. Sills and William Beck; for
docrkeeper. Messrs. Granville Hartford and
\. Z. Stoops; for trustees, Messrs. +. ii.
Melick. Alpheus Sholl, John +. Webster, j.
h. Knapp and James +. Bright; for dele =
gates to the Information convention, four
to be elected, Messrs S. z. Triplett, ]. j.
Sullivan, l.. A. Shrimp. William r. Brom-
ley, Shelby Smith, +. c. Roberts. Thomas
r. Hogan, John H. O'Brien E. w Patton
j. b. Brodnax. John j. Hogan, T. NJ Ring,
Charles S. Spencer, j. L. Roder, John Nc
Cormick and +. S. Lerch, and for delegates
70 the Central Labor Union, Messrs. S. J.
Gompers, Edward T. Toner, w. f. Scholi.
John T. Hurley, A. L. Moulden and j. W.
Cross.
A resolution was adopted that the union
purchase 100 tickets for the excursion,
which is to be given at an early date for
he fan mill of
who were killed at the commission house
fire.
Dfscussfng the WOrkinsmen's Library
The open conference, in the interest of
the bureau Of LABOR and workingmens Ii
brary, which was held Saturday evening
at the rooms Of the association, No 3I6
Sth street northwest, WAS well attended
President n. G. Sprague presided and
made an address, in which he reviewed
the work accomplished up to the present
time, and spoke hopefully Of the future of
the institution. In the course of his re-
marks, Mr.. Sprague said, in his judgment
1t was a mistake to have such small
representation from each organization af-
f'lated in the enterprise, and expressed the
belief that If there were more delegates
from each local body to attend the meet
inss of the board OF directors, much more
interest would be taken in the affairs of
the Institution by the labor people general
!y, ard that its prosperity would be cor
respondingly greater
Manager {. A. Maiden presented a state
Hlent OF the hnaHc;al condition of the Ii
brary and bureau. He also dwelt with en-
phaSis on the fact that the directors
Were compelled, on account of the limited
means provided for the support Of the in
sututlon, TO rent the rooms on certain
nights during the week, the sphere of use
fGilcss OF the library considerably
curtaIled, as men employed during the day
had frequently no opportunity whatever
to enjoy its privileges. Mr.. Maiden fur
ther recalled the fact heretofore referred
to by him that the officers of the Wash
ington Free Library Association have Of
thirty or forty volumes each week for the
use of the members of the latter and he
recommended the establishment in the
course of few months of a night school,
under the auspices of the association.
Suggestions Opposed.
Some of those present opposed Mr. Maid
ems suggestion that the library rooms be
kept open at night on the ground that they
did not believe that the patronage that
would be received would justify the addi-
tional expense.
Mr.. j. H. Thompson of the machinists in
an earnest address, pointed to the unlimited
good that might be accomplished by a
really successful workingmen's Institute
commenting any and all endeayors to in
crease the educational facilities for work
ing classes.
Mrs. Jennie l.. Monroe who has taken a
great interest In the library and bureau
since its inception. and is one of its most
enthusiastic supporters, said she could not
indorse the IDEA of having free teaching,
which would probably be expected if a
nlght school was established, because it
would almost certainly injure some of the
public school teachers by depriving a por-
ton of them of their means of support and
this, she said, was contrary to the princi-
pies of the knights of Labor. To illustrate
one OF her reasons for taking the position
she did, she stated that the opening of a
school by Wimodaughsis had resulted in
taking so many scholars from certain of
the public schools that some of the teach
ers thereof had lost their employment In
concluding her remarks, Mrs Monroe ex-
pressed the greatest confidence in the fu-
ture of the library and bureau of labor and
said she hoped to see the time when they
would own hall, have a night school with
well-paid teachers, a good circulating libra
ry and well-equipped gymnasium.
Not "a United Support.
Mr.. Frank Dent of the Railway Assem-
bly, made spirited speech. dwelling on the
fact that while there were forry-seven as
sociations of workiEgmen in the District,
as yet the library had teen supported en-
tirely by fourteen, and he requested more
interest from the delegates and suggested
that officers and delegates alike agltate the
institution on every possible occasion. Mr.
Dent said he would gladly do all in his
power to help the enterprise along, and he
would approve a change in the bylaws SO
that laboring men would be permitted to
take book from the library to their homes
for certain length of time.
Mr.. c. A. Holmes of the Eccentric Engi-
neers and a member of the executive COM
mittee deprecated the fact, which he said
existed. that not as much interest as for