Evening star., 1899-03-23

are Melville Dewey. librarian of the state
library of New York; William L. Foster,
Providence Public Library; Herbert Put
nam, Boston Public Library; William II.
Brett Cleveland Public Library; r. r.
Bov:ker, editor of the LibTury Journal; Ed
win II. Anderson, Carnegie Library. Pitts
burg; Mary W. Plummer. director of Ii
braries. Pratt Institute, Brooklyn. n. V,
and Frederick M. CruEden, ST. Louis Pub
lie Library. The opinion of the council.
which was submitted to the President as
memorial on January 30, ran, in part, as
follows:
We recognize as essential qualifications
for this position sound judgment. knowl-
edge of men and affairs, tact. firmness and
energy. but above all administrative ability;
and we hold that the possession of these
qualities as applied to the management Of
a library is best attested by actual eXper-
fence in library work.
Var. lanes Visit to Washington.
Not certain that this expression of opin-
ion in writing would be thoroughly effec-
tive without some personal representa- ton
to President Mckinley, several officers and
members of the association thought it
would be a good idsa for Mr.. Lane to 20
to Washington and look into the situatio
He went there on February 3, and by Sen
ator Lodge was introduced to Mr.. Mcnfn-
ley, who tod him, without hesitancy, that
he he'd the opinion which the librarians
had advanced and also that it occurred
had thought Of, for the librarianship of
Congress would be Mr.. Putnam Of the
Boston Public Library. And the President
tod Mr.. Lane that he understood Mr.. Put
nam would not accept the appointment to
the place. Mr.. Lane replied that he was
not in a position to say, as Mr.. Putnam
had not been personally sounded ON the
matter: but that he was Immensely pleased
with the Presidents appreciation OF Mr..
Putnam's fitness. Mr.. Mckinley then au-
thorized MIR. Lane TO offer the appointment
to Mr.. Putnam. declaring that he intended
that as far as it depended on him, the
library should be kept out Of politics. and
as it was tht opinion of the Speaker Of the
House that the library might be admin
istered Independently Of political obliga-
tionS. there seemed to be light ahsad 10
encourage the undertaking.
Offered to Mr. Putnam.
On February Mr.. Lane communicated
with Mr. Putnam on the Presidents offer
of appointment. Mr.. Putnam asked for
two days in which to consider.
Just at this ti1ne-how. it is difficult to
say-the newspapers began TO contemplate
Herbert Putnam as the next librarian of
Congress. and in consequence, letters and
kilograms came to Mr. Putnam urging him
to accept the appointment if ii were offered
to him, even at the expense of re.inIuish-
ing the chief position in his profession IN
the United States and his c.ose personal
rela ton ships in Boston. There were letters
from congressman, some of whom he had
never met: from librarians, from proml-
nent literary men and from others, women
as well men, Interested in the subject
AS q matter of fact the pressure brought
to bear on Mr.. Putnam in these letters was
so uniformly weghty that he was, finally,
on February 4, moved to notify Mr.. Lane
that he would accept the appointment. This
decision was sent to the President at once.
MIR. Barrows' Candidacy.
While all this was going on Secretary of
7 ToJkn
Lodge were looking after the interests of
Mr. Samuel ]. Barrows with asstduity, of
which Mr. Putnam had no conception.
However, an hour or so after he had noti-
fled Mr.. Lane that he would accept the ap-
poEtment, Mr.. Putnam, in New York, re-
ceiVed a telephone message from Mr.. Lane
that led him to believe his acceptance
might be construed unfair to the can
d:Gacy of Mr.. Barrows. whereupon Mr..
Putnam instructed Mr.. Lane to withdraw
his acceptance at once. The withdrawal
accomplished.
Then the Presidents private secretary
telegraphed Mr. Putnam to the effect
that the President received the with
dl avail with deep regret. as he felt that his
appointment would be most fitting, and was
anxious that the library should have the
benefit of his ripe experience. And there
the whole matter ended as far Mr.. Put
nam felt that he was concerned He was
through with the whole business. He was
pleased that he was to remain in the Bos-
ton Public Library. At a meeting of the
trustees just afterward, on the 10th, there
was general jubilation.
The next thing in the celebrated case
was the arrival of President Mckinley in
Boston. At the dinner given to him at the
Algonquin Club, where Mr.. Putnam was a
guest, the President said to Mr.. Putnam
that he was sorry he had declined the offer
of the appointment, and asked whether
Mr.. Putnam thought 1t would have been
wrong to accept. Mr.. Putnam replied that
perhaps it was Mr. Barrows' place TO say
whether it would have been right for Mr..