The Anaconda standard., 1899-09-02
AFTER THE LIBRARIAN
Discussion by the
Board of Trustees.
FERNS SPRUNG A SURPRISE
To the Victors Belong the Spoils Is to Be
the New Policy in Relation to the
Library-Even the Janitor and
Engineer Removed.

The library trustees held a meeting
last evening, and contrary to the usual
order of things, it was a rather lively
and interesting session. An action was
taken which makes it pretty certain
that Librarian Davies will not much
longer be at the head of the institution.
1t consisted of the resembling of the
resolution adopted at the time the new
board organized declaring the inten-
ton of the board to make no changes
in the personnel of the library attaches,
and the removal of the engineer and
janitor and appointment of men to fill
their places The action was not taken
without strong opposition, and at times
the debate on the subject was acri-
monious, to put it mildly. All the mem
bers were present and the matter went
along smoothly till the bills had been
audited and all the routine business dis
posed of. Then a surprise was sprung
by John Ferns of the aldermanic side
of the board. Mr.. Ferns prefaced a mo-
ton he intended to make by saying he
thought it was time some changes were
made in the employees of the library.
He then moved that the resolution
adopted providing that no changes be
made be rescinded.
Trustee Clinton H. Moore jumped to
his feet to protest. He read the point
of order that Mr.. Ferns had voted
against the resolution and therefore
could not make such a motion.
President Medin said he had voted
for the resolution and would make the
motion. 1t was seconded by Trustee
Kelley and Mr.. Moore then arose to op-
pose the motion. During his remarks
he charged President Medin with bad
faith. He asked if it was not fact
that Mr.. Medin had come to him and
asked>him to vote for him (Medn) for
president of the board, saying that if
he was made president there should
be no changes made at the library. Mr.
Medin replied that he had voted for
the resolution, but that he had since
changed his mind. He believed that
Ito the victors belonged the spoils." and
he favored some changes. Mr.. Moore
made an argument against allowing
politics to enter into the conduct of the
library.
Mr.. Medin replied, saying that when
a republican mayor put the library en-
ployes in office good care was taken to
see none but epubicans were ap-
pointed.
Trustee Courtney spoke in moderation
against the idea of resembling the reso-
luton and the motion was then put and
carried with the votes of Trustees Me-
din, Kelley and Ferns.
A motion to declare the position of
engineer vacant was next put and car
ried, and James Kelley brother of
Trustee Kelley, was elected to the posi-
tion by the same votes which rescinded
the resolution, Trustee Moore voting
no and Mr.. Courtney refraining from
voting.
Next a motion to vacate the position
of janitor was carried and Samuel
Thompson was elected to the position
by the votes of the aldermanic men,
bers, Mr.. Moore not voting and Mr.
Courtney voting for Jerry Duane.
No further changes were made, but
it is not denied that it is the intention
to replace Librarian Davies by new
librarian in the near future. This ac-
tion must come through the mayor,
who. when seen last evening, did not
say he had decided to appoint sue
cessor to Mr. Davies, but admitted that
there was possibility that he might.
President Medin of the board Of trus-
tees, when seen after the meeting,
stated that there was no intention of
removing any of the ladies employed
in the library.
In the regular business of the trustees
meeting the resignation of Mrs. Luella
Parker was accepted and Mrs. Mary
Holland elected to fill the vacancy.