The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-07
BRINGS UP RACE QUESTION.
ATLANTA.S PUBLIC LIBRARY PEG
PIE IN a PRETTY STEW.

80 Doubt That NeGrOes Gould De-
mand Admission Since II Is 10 he
supported by city Funds-AtIaRtn
MAY Have to BuiId n Library for
the NcErOes-Presbyter Minis
ter VIII Conduct street French
ing Crusade in Atlanta.
Atlanta. May 6-The merging of the
Young Mems Library into the public IL
brary 10 be established through the Car
nee!e gift of 100000. has raised a question
thai has caused a good deal of disquietude
Namong members of the library ciaton,
though discussion of the matter has been
studiously kept out of the local newspa-
peIs.
IL is the race question.
Many people are beginning to see trou-
bic ahead for the new library on this ac-
count as some of the Young Mems Ii
brary members are fearful that they have
given away their property worth 100000.
and more. rather hastily.
II Is being pointed out that since the
new library will be a public library under
the terms of the Carnegie gift, and sup
ported by direct appropriation from the
treasury of the city. the color fine cannot
be legally drawn. If colored citizens de-
mand admission to the library as matter
OF legal right, they cannot be kept out.
This may cause trouble for the new insti-
tuition.
The point has been raised both in the Ii
brary association, and in the City Council,
but the determination to take advantage
OF the gift OF Mr.. Carnegie was so strong
that the advice of those who saw the
shoals ahead and pointed them out had
Attle effect.
Mayor Woodward was asked about the
matter to-day, and he said that he sup
posed if the colored people made de
nand, something would have TO be done
for them. a special department fitted up,
Or something of that sort.
That matter" he declared, will take
care of itself"
The point is one upon which the advo-
Gates of the public library do not want
TO have much to say, until after the Car
negie money is in hand, at any rate. On
next Monday the formal transfer on the
property of the Young Mems Library will
be made to the city, and then the Car
negie gift win be available.
VIII Have to Provide for Them.
1.-THE upshot of the whole matter will
be-" said well-posted member of the old
library association, that once the city
has the library on its hands, 1t will be
obliged 20 go down into the treasury for
a library for the colored people, or else
the present plans will be knocked into
chaos, for there are enough smart col
oTed citizens in Atlanta TO make stand
against the public support of an institu-
ton from which they are barred out, as
they will have to be from the public
library.
THE Young Mems Library Association
is not donating it's property for the use
of colored people and if Mr. Carnegie
should happen to take sides with the coll
ored citizens, should they claim admission
there would be pretty mess. That
why some of the conservative people of
The. city opposed the acceptance of the
gift and the establishment of the public
library from the start"
VIII Preach on the Streets.
The Presbyterian Ministers Association
OF Atlanta has adopted a street preaching
campaign, and will lnaugurate IL to-mor-
rev afternoon. All the leading ministers
Of that denomination have agreed to con-
duct street services in the heart of the
city Sunday afternoons, taking turn about
al the work
Tomorrow Rev. Theron Rice of the Cen
trai Church. the largest in the city, will
lead off in the crusade, taking his stand
at the corner of Marietta and Peachtree
streets, where a few Sundays ago the
police made a raid upon some of the old
time street preachers, who had been hold
ing forth there, because they did not have
permission from the Mayor to exhort.
Street preaching is a novelty among the
Presbyterian ministers, and the announce
ment of the crusade has stirred up con-
siderable interest.