The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1898-03-10

In my opinion, public library in this
city would be move in the proper di-
rectlon. A. P. SCHExIAN.
l Will say that l am 10 favor of the
clty's aiding ID the establishment IF
publ library to be supported by a tax.
E. K. RAND.
A Public Library for our food CITY!
That would indeed be an evidence Of opr
progress L heartily favor tie undertak-
ing, and shall rejoice to see it succeed.
Rev. K. MACHMILLER.
A Publlc Library is beneficial to each
and every citizen and will undoubtedly
get the support of all, I therefore favor
10 establish one which will be credit to
our city. CHARLES F. FrcH7pp
am heartily in favor of Public Lii
brary, founded on healthy and sound
principles, that will insure a lcng life of
usefulness to the public.
One OF the fundamental essentials in
the attainment of this end is to have such
library supported by taxation. The
majority Of scholars in our home schools
are denied the advantages OF any higher
schooling. For them alone the benefits
that would be derived from a we'll recu.
lated pubic library would warrant such
tax. As | understand, this library is to
be conducted on we'll tried system. a
system Under which the most successful
libraries in the state have thrived.
MAX RAHR.
Why should free public library be
established in Msnitowoc? Because # ia
the very soundest policy for any com
munIty to try to prevent rather than to
punish wrong doing, to make it easier to
train good citizens than 10 puLish the
bad. Money spent in the pursuit of this
policy Is the height of economy.
L believe 1t is universally conceded
that one of the very worst educational
Influences in the bringing up of boy or
girl Is the street. 1t DESTROYS moral
character, Ii blIghts true manhood and
womanhood and is the enemy of law and
order. Many of the boys and giFls OF our
cities go to the bad simply because the
street forms so large factor of their edu.
cation. That tins fact is well recognized
Is proved by the curfew laws enacted IN
many OF cur cities in recent years. These
ordinances are merely an ATTEMPT to
keep the boys and girls of the streets.
and IN so far as they do this they are
good measures.
But curfew laws are repressIva only
As an educational force they are entirely
negative. They do not in any manner
build up the character of our boys and
girls. And SO | soy that while as far as
they go they may be all right. they by no
means suffice. Some other agency Is
needed, an agency like the home, the
school and the church, positive in It's IN
huence. Such an agency, believe is the
public library. Personal observation in
at least two cities has led me to this con-
cluslcn. During my student years at the
State University, | had occasion almost
daily to observe the large numbers of
boys and girls that patronized the city
library ct Madison. I never spent an
hour there is an evening that there were
not dozen or more of young boys in the
reading room, quietly reading some paper
OF magazine. And L never saw them
there that did not feel what factor for
good that library was ID the community.
Instead of loafing in the street Matching
mischief, the boys here found enjoyable
and profitable pastlme ID reading. TIE
same benefcent results | had occasion
to observe for several years in Grana
Rapids after the opening there of the L.
B. Scott free public library. The library
! reading room becapoe the resort of boys,
many of whom had hitherto spent most
OF tier evenings on the streets ihe
library reached these boys as no other
agency could have reached them Its
lDt1uence for good could not be measur-
ed In dollars and cents.
knowing these facts from personal OBJ
servation, [ wish the Clio Cub God speed
in their attempt to secure free library
for this city. VIM. Fl. LUEHR.