Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-24
LIBRARY AND WoMAN'S CLUB
Recent Resolution About the Decorn-
ton Of tbs ChiIdren's Room
Explained.

The following letter. which explains
itself, has been sent TO the editor Of the
World-Herald with a request for It's pub
llcation:
OMAHA, March 29.-To the Editor Of the
World. Herald: II had been my intention
to ignore the misrepresentation injected
into your reports Of the action Of the
library board with reference to the con-
tributions by a section OF the Woman's
club toward the decoration Of the children's
room in the public library building, but as
your persistence in repetition might make
false impressions permanent l will ask to
be allowed TO present a few corrections.
In all the publicity over this affair to me
is ascribed the sole credit for the deter
mination Of the library board to exercise a
direct supervision over the decorative work
in the children's room. This would be de-
cidedly complimentary to me were It not so
uncomplimentary to the other members Of
the board, all Of them older than myself
and men OF mature judgment and tried
business capacity. 1t is true that l intro
duced the resolution in question. but only
as chairman OF the executive COMMITTEES,
which had previously discussed the matter
at a fully attended meeting and unani-
mously instructed me to report as / did.
The only discretion l used was in Offering
It as a resolution instead Of as q committed
report. In the board meeting the resolu-
tion was again fully discussed and passed
without a dissenting voice, yet with due
appreciation OF the fact that busy-bodies
would try to make the women believe It TO
be an affront to their uRselfsh zeal.
So far as l am concerned / believe that
under the circumstances the board took
the only proper course-it simply declared
that responsibility for the management and
contents Of the library rests upon the
board. that its powers and responsibilities
should not be sublet except subject to it's
ratihcation-and the rule applied to it's
clubwomen is precisely the same as that
applied to all other friends Of the library
who have donations to offer. The board
very recently refused to receive a stuffed
ounalo rendered by the park board, but the
park commissioners failed to discover any
Insult in the refusal.
The clubwomen seem TO have overlooked
the fact that the library board NAV have
plans for the children's room with which
their independent work might conflict.
While not claiming any special credit be-
ieve the suggestion Of the present chill
dren's room as a separate department came
from me, and that l had more TO do with its
establishment than any other member OF
the board. We have to look ahead to the
rurther development of this department and
naturally require some unity Of purpose in
the arrangement OF the shelves and the USE
or floor space for tables, racks. etc. N
which any plan for decoration must con.
form.
My record as a member OF the Iibrar,
board Is a source Of pride to me because
l am conscious Of having DISCHARGED IN,
duties at all times in the exclusive Interest
OF tho institution and its patrons. When
therefore,, you attempt to ascribe cover
aims and personal malice, to my action,
In the board you entirely overshoot tn,
mark. At the time I introduced my resolu.
tion, / had no knowledge that the womer
had ordered a cast of Diana and therefore
could have had no objection TO their selee.
ton OF the figure. While had heard tina
they were contemplating the presentation
Of a piece of statuary, I had no Information
that they had decided on the venerabI,
Diana. had however learned that IN.
money to pay for this gift was to be RAISED
by selling tickets to a series Of lecture:
and l objected to having the library PLACED
In the position OF a charity object by hay
ing the public solicited to buy tickets TO
benefit for the Omaha Public Library.
AS to Mrs. Keysor, the head Of the ar
department / have always entertained 70
her none but the kindliest feelings and tn,
intimation that / was trying to put an OBJ
struction In her way to the presidency O
the club, must have been as surprising I,
her as 1t was to me as I was quite un
aware even that she was aspiring to tn
position. / studied under Mrs. Keysor whei
I attended the High school and from m,
own personal association and knowledge O
her abilities do not hesitate to say tina
no more representative or better qualIae
president could be found in the clubs mem
, bership.
|, The Omaha Public library has Away
done all 1t could to promote the work @
the Woman's club by extending to its mem
bers every privilege granted to the mos
favored patron and the club women hav
not been slow to take advantage of its IA
%cilities. l feel sure they will continue I
; use and appreciate the library whether Q
not they have exclusive guardianship owe
the children's room decorations. Respect
: fully, VICTOR RoSEWATER.