The San Francisco call., 1903-01-20

the election judges announced that
the regular ticket, which stands
for the maintenance of the library intact
had won by an overwhelming majority
The figures were: For the regular ticket
2G5, for the opposition ticket 3d. Ihere
are GOO members and $50 voted. The re-'
suit was received with intense delight
by those who have made UP their mind
TO stand by and push forward the library
as il stands to-day.
Probably never before in an election
of officers for the association has SO
great an interest been taken as during
the voting yesterday The result meant
much, for there were two factions-one
the regular ticket, those who would
stand by the old institution and main
tain it, and on the opposition ticket
were the men who had desire TO merge
the Mercantile Library into the Mechan-
les Institute Library or. CarneGie-like
present the valuable collections Of books
to the people of the city.
a few OF the great old men who sur
vive to tell of their connection with the
library from the first day of its opening
came specially to vote for the regular
ticket yesterday. They came to stamp
their approval on the deeds of those who
had had the affairs OF the institution in
hand and they entertained the younger
members with stories of the early strug
giles of the book home which they had
helped to found.
Annis Merrill was one of the great old
men. and he told of his ninety years OF
life he gazed proudly around the gal
lery of volumes and, shaking his head,
said: NAY, nay, this institution shall
not be given over in such manner 1t
is a landmark; its name is honored with
the history of the past of the city. 1t can
not go"
William G. Badger. one of the members
who signed the charter fifty years ago.
boasted of his eighty years, but reSrettea
that there should be even breath whis-
pered about disposing Of the library. He
was against such a proposition. and he
declared he would never vote for those
who would think of interfering with its
existence. Mr.. Badger could not find a
reason for the desire of some members to
scatter an institution which he said was
dear to so many in the city.
The voting went on while "reminiscences
were exchanged and throughout the day
until after O'Clock at night the election
judges-John H. Dooley. w. P KimbaIl
and A. E. Gray-kept close scrutiny of
the proceedings.
Edmund Marks, an old member, said :
This result Tonight Is an eEnphat1c sue
cess and ought to give us a rest against
the opposing force. The minority must
now finally see that the members do not
intend to part with the library. Our de-
cision is emphatic.
Alexander NJ Robertson. who was on
the opposition ticket for vice president
said after the judges had announced the
election of the regular ticket: Il think
that there is no question that the
verdict nv the members means that the
Mercantile Library Association can be
made to succeed as it has been conducted
in the past. 1 may say. however, that 1
90 not change my conviction"
The regular and successful ticket is as
follows:
President Thomas c. Van Ness; vice presi-
dent f Miles; treasurer, John r. Smith:
recording secretary. Latham McMulin; cor
responding secretary. DR.. +. J. Lane. trustees.
d D. Shattuck. l. H. Bonestell. William c..