The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-15
CARNEGIE FUND
MUST BE|::.A.C|'C''[||PTED| !
DR.. j. 6. Mctcalf, in a Ringing
Speech, Presents Reasons
for Library.
''cRlMINAL
INDIFFERENCE"
Mr.. Kennedy Tells What State
Library is Doing and 1t
Will Do.

Not to accept Mr.. Carncgic's offer
OF a public library for Richmond would,
IT seems to mo, be little short OF criminal
indifference to the educational and spirit
ual claims OF the people OF the city of
Richmond" declared Or. J. C. Metcalf,
before the State Library Association at
It's meeting last night. Our greatest
need is s,.., 2 l,nrge public library for the city
The growth of large public Libraries in
the South, continued the same speaker,
during the last ten years, thanks to Mr..
Carncgie's liberality and generous public
spirit has been phenomenal. Not ono
of those cities has the situation or the
traditions to mako it a great literary
center at all comparable to Richmond.
When we got a great public library
In Richmond land the cheering news that
Mr.. Carnegie has added n hundred thous-5
and dollArss to his long-standing offer must
mean the speedy realization OF the dream
the uniflcatlon4 OF our literary activities
!. will come about. rs
Richmond Is pre- e-eminently that city
in tile South which. both by traditions
and present conditions, deserves to be IN
literary center was another statement
with which DIR. Metcalf rubbed 1t into
the opponents OF n public library, good
StS kN6 d dpJlttuSf
Was prolonged proving that the speakers
stand was the sense Of tho meeting.
Meeting Fine One.
Tie meeting: was the most enthusiastic
and most largely attended in the history.
of the association. Able addresses were.
made by State Chairman John Pcndleton.
Kennedy, by John s.. Patton, of the.
library OF the University OF Virginia; by
William II. sargeant. OF Norfolk. and by
DIR. Metcalf, professor of English litera-
ture in Richmond College.
Throughout the session the attention OF
tito nudfcnce was profound, and all the
speakers were literally appfn ded.
Assistant State Librarian Edward Step.
toe Evans introduced two reso outions OF
great Importance in a short, but thought
full speech. He said that in he life OF
every city, came q critical period when
the CITY must decide eithersfor progress
and life. or for retrogression and stagna-
& stion. He declared that the condition now
faced Richmond, /, which If we took 1t t
\ its flood. would place us on, the pinnacle
hut whichiii we let the offer pass un-
hooded, would result only in our own
harm. 5s .ssi
Resolutions Adopted.
Tie. resolutions offered by Mr. Evans
and adopted unanimously by the asso-
citation. are, firstly. with reference to n
public library for edmond. and follows:
a Whereas, It is understood that citizens
OF Richmond are making .. united effort
stoEobtain public library for their city;
And. whereas. this association Isl natur-
ally interested 4 IN any such h movement,
and our experience has shown us that
stands second only to the schools. and
that to obtain n library is 81 progressive
business mea sure which every city should
adopt.
And, whereas. swc agree with Carlyle,
that the GUniYersity OF the prescnt day
is collection Of books, :. and that tho
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