New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-04
4 HOME LIKE THE GARDEN
Dir. Smith Pleads for Nezo Home for
PEOPLES Institute.

The crying need of larger home for 'he
Peoples Institute. which has been Ndiio"9'S
Swallowed forth ever since the death OF AOraih
s Hewitt found tangible expression last hBht
al Cooper Union, when. before a dense ana en-
thusiastic audience. Charles Sprague smith, '"e
director of the institute. outlined his plan rof
new temple of democracy" modelled on Maul-
son Square Garden. inviting each one III the
audience to contribute 81 toward radically
new building Edwin Markham. who also ad-
dressed the meeting heartily Endorsed the prof.
ect II was resolved that a meeting be
held on Sunday to discuss the scheme, Mr.
Smith promising that music, drama ana poll
ties should be we'll represented among the
speakers.
Mr. Smith began by saying that America
would succeed as a democracy or ret at all
He continued in part:
What we need is larger home for the feo-
pies Institute. modelled on Madison SQUARE
Gardsn. 1t should have seating capaclty Vi
many thousands. with a grand organ ana d
large stage at one end.
r. should be such a chamber OF music as could
he used far performances By such men as DAM
rosch; such hall could lend ftseif 70 dramas
by all the great men of ancient ana Hodein
times.
It should also be provided with lecture and
reading rooms Further. it should have sum-
garden. .
Do you know the number of those who patron
lied the roof garden at the Educational Alliance
in eleven weeks last year? 1t was no less thah
100000. Equal success might be attained mere !:
Why you ask should have roof garden !
Because must not let the laWg1Vers anu
public men feel lose our grip in the summer
months. The new temple or peoples palace
call it what you will-should also nave an
other feature classes for coming generations
for younger men, who might thus be instructed
in the right principles of republican govern
ment The people need a home consecrateo 10
democracy, that they may win back the demo-
cratic spirit.
You here tonight should not wait for bene-
factor for some patron to tumble from the skies
but should yourselves make start. The PEG
pie themselves should bear a large part OF Ine
cost of this home. that 1t may De truly
their own, because 1t comes out OF themselves
The new home should IN time be associated
with clubs and leagues throughout the length
and breadth of the country. believe thaI III d
stock company were formed, with shares aI
turn of 3 per cent This may not be large. but
remember the objects which the new nome VIII
further. the need ii will fill
The organization at Albany has got to be met
with organization here, and the peoples III
stitute is the one to do it. The new lnstltu VI
should be civic and non-pOlitiCal, devoted 10 tne
interests of home rule, public franchises 10 lhe
obtaining of responsible representatives III e'ely
department in New-YOrk as IN AIbany. II
should set its mark of approval on TINS man
it's brand of disapproval on that watching the
careers of the representatives of the people
This NAV be a dream, but it is my firm bellef
that one day however distant that may be. it
will be an accomplished fact. 1t may be only
a little glimpse, but already forces are 1eeinS
out The Peoples Institute races large Iut
IRE ask YOU to take hands and found sucn
a temple as shall shine for this and all other
lands as a beacon of democracy
Edwin Markham who afterward recited his
verses on Abraham Lincoln, and. in answer to
q ,ocferous call for an encore. THE Man with
the Hoe" by special request, Endorsed MI
Smiths views.