New-York tribune., 1906-04-30
CONNECTICUT
CANNOT USE YALE HALL
NesC Haven Federation Likely to-
Continue Meetings ELse7chere.

New Haven April 20 (SpeciaD-Within the last
few DAYS some MISUNDERSTANDING regarding the
use of Yale's assembly hall for Sunday meetings
by the Associated Societies of the city have been
cleared up. with the result thatsa different light is
now shed en- that situation. AS the Sunday public
meeting question stands it is probable that Woosey
Hall al Yale will not be used for such purpose
next year, and 1t is more than probable that such
meetings will not he held in Woolsey Hall either
on Sunday any other day of the week. That is TO
say Yale University is to withhold from the Civic
Federation its moral support, least so far as be-
coming sponsor fer ii goes-through the permission
given II 10 meet in a university buildng-and will
content itself with being represented in that public
movement simply through individual members act
ing independently of the institution ard through
its Yale Law School Club The change of attitude
the part of the university is based a rule
which has been invoked occasionally before. that
the university auditoriums not to be used for
other than university functions functions for
which the university stands before the public as
sponsor.
That extremely delicate situation has evolved
from the protest of the New Haven clergymen
against the holding of these Sunday good govern
ment meetings is recognized by such of the movers
both for and against these meetings as have been
closely identified with the situation. Had the ques
ton of holding these meetings Sundays not been
brought up it is likely that they would have been
continued next year under what has been prac-
ticay this the auspices of Yale University.
with the result that the use or w OOlSey Hall WOuId
again have been permitted. The protest of the
cergymen. however. to the officers of the Civic
Federation created situation which bound to
result in definite action way the other the
part of Yale. Had that protest again been what 1t
was originally intended that it should bea private
and not public protest-it is probable that Yale
would not have been forced decide the pro-
priety involved in the question Had the clergymen
individually protested and had they not adopted
formal resolution of protest. there again might
f.a
part of the university.
But whether it wise not, the protest
made placed record In a formal way and
became public property through it's publication in
the press. with the only possible result that
university was forced settle the question. AS
result Of this fact the university authorities
understood have decided that the rules gov
ernng the institution forbid the of its great
auditorium for public meetings of the kind Unless
successful pressure is brought to bear the Yale
Corporation and the corporation votes to suspend
its ruling, the Civic Federation will have to look
elsewhere for the opportunity to meet Sundays.
With the university. however, it should be added
that its final attitude the question is not de-
termined especially by the propriety of Sunday
sessions The rule which has been invoked will
apply as much to other days in the week as to
Sunday
What will now he done by the Civic Federation,
in the line of continuing ats public meetings on
Sunday afternoons, is not known. 1t is possible
that when the facts stated ABOVE are Hldue
known to those in control Of the organization an
attempt will be made to get the Yale corporation
TO suspend its ruling in the particular case in hand
Or in order avoid the stirring up of the delicate
situation involved il is possible that the Yale end
of the matter may be dropped and the meetings
held in another place, If continued on sundays
Professor Kent. of the university, Is the othclal
head of the movement, and a number of Yale grad
yates are interested In II. 1t is to be expected.
partly that account. that the matter will be
allowed to drop. In spite OF what may be regarded
as a general public sentiment for the use of the
university auditorium for these meetings, II Is
probable that under the circumstances the senti-
ment will be against any further effort 10 secure
from the university reversal OF the position oat-
lined above
An interesting side issue of the Civic Federation
movement for Sunday public meetings in this city
has come in the proposal of leaders uf the local
Trades Council, who withdrew from the federation
when it was organized to hold similar meetings
on their own account. Whether these meetings will
be of the socialist type and will be held on sun
days in public hall rival affairs to the
federation sessions, Is not yet known. The
thorny path which TO have confronted the
thornier. The federation. however is in earnest
1t organized by representatives of the best ele
ment in the city, among whom were men and
women who have always taken a wide and broad
present to New Haven people of all classes oppor-
tunites hitherto lacking to meet common
ground in the study OF ways and means of local
Improvement As far as present plans have been
and broader plan than this season
Politics, SUCH is not in the programme. but
ways and means of civic improvement and II
is along that line that the officers of the federation
Use for movement that will both help in awaking
the public mind TO opportunities for public better
ment and. a consequence, secure such improve
ment