Los Angeles herald., 1905-06-28
LUMMIs MAKES STATEMENT
New Librarian Tells Conditions Of His
Acceptance

New Librarian Tells Conditions Of His
Acceptance
Chas. F. Lummis, the new librarian,
gave his views on the library case last
night as follows:
when I was asked, many weeks
ago. to accept an inevitable vacancy
In the librarianshlp, 1t was distinctly
understood that 1 should not take the
office until September 1. The explicit
policy of the directors coincided with
my own feeling that the matter should
be conducted with the utmost consid-
Grafton for the incumbent. She was
to be given three months grace for
her resignation, with abundant time.
opportunity and official countenance
for seeking a new position, that she
might go out with credit and delibera-
tlon. The keynote of the attitude Of
both sides was to render not only JUS
tice' but in addition thereto that GER
tain concession which every man is
glad to make.
"When, after twelve days considera-
tion, and after consulting the men who
were best qualified to Judge of the le-
| gal aspects of the case and the needs
of this branch of the public service,
agreed to accept such vacancy, the
same condition was part of the con-
tract and in the same spirit.
II have already printed, over my
own name, my attitude in the matter
| L., oo1 eholI oh n
II accepted an unsought. unexpected
and rather unwecome position because
I can render a public service in it.
While 1 keep 1T 1 shall also render
proper respect and loyalty to my su-
perior officers.
II am not trained bookkeeper or
| typewriter, but have had some train
ing in a good many countries in get
| ting things done, and done right.
have no fear of the competent, trained
clerical force of the library. They
need have no fear of me. Few things
in this world are so good that they
cannot be made better-even the Los
Angeles public library. I believe that
the entire force will join heartily with
the librarian to attempt this worthy
betterment.
IT have today qualified as a matter
of form and of record. There was a
vacancy to be filled, I had agreed to
| fill 1t, and 1 have taken the legal pre-
cautions to safeguard those municipal
officers who have elected me to fill it.
while it was expected that the in.
cumbent should have the benefit Of
this constructive interim, the creation
Of sudden vacancy, by her own act,
does not seem to me, nor to the direc-
tors, to change any material condi-
ton. The status quo can be perfectly
maintained by Miss Gleason, first as
sstant librarian under the old regime,
and now by authority of the directors
acting librarian ad interim. The H.
| brary has an excellent clerical force,
which is perfectly competent to con-
tinue to do what the library has been
doing without depreciation of any sort.
"On or about the first of September
we will see if something cannot be
added to this efficiency. The direc-
tors, the librarian and I think the en-
tire force will pull together. I believe
that the good Of the institution is the
only thing the employees have really
at heart; it is the only thing that has
tempted me away from my personal
independence; it is, 1 am convinced, the
only thing the directors have sought,
and. so far as 1 can discover, it is the
only question that any sane person
will ask in cooler moments"
The duchess of Marlborough's particu-
lar fad is the collecting of artistically