The Somerset reporter., 1906-11-08
The Public Library vs. the Town
and O. A X
Editor Of RRPoErgK

AhV ubiIC IIbFhIy vs. me own
and q. A X
Editor Of REFOETgks
10 recent articles published b. the
HEPoKTEK, great STRESS il laid On the
fact that The town had made its appro-
prIatl0n II 600 dependent Oh the col-
ditlon that the Library management
comply with tie mandate Of the town
and allow Russell Post q A. K. II &C
cupy quarters in the building. az origin
ally intended-that this action war
asked for by the Post. Russell Post in
not disposed 70 shirk any Of its respon-
sIbilltles III this 81 any eihef matter, but
II II proper 10 call attention TO the fact
that the matter fes now az il ALWAYS
has between the town and the Trustees
OF the Library
To begin with Russell Post did not
ask for The original appropriation Of
t3OOO II II far 10 suppose that the
arucle IN the warrant which brought
the matter before the town was inserted
at the instance 81 the Library TrusteeA
though without doubt they did consult
with individual members Of the Post in
regard TO IT. This appropriation was
made Tor a purpose, VIZ: Memorial
Han IN memory Of the dead aud for the
use OF The living soldiers # the war Of
the Rebellion The money was paid to
the Trustees and according TO their re-
| port they expended some 5000 or $500
of il. What use was made Of the rest Of
| the money We d5n't know; they never
/ have accounted for it to the town. and
Tor this reason We suppose, the town
refused its approval Of the item regard
ing it.
There is no dispute az to the intention
of the town in making this 5000 appro-
priation though it is said that the rec
ords do not show il to be as above stated
Fhe matter however is not 80 old that.
the memory Of the voters cannot be de-
pended on, and if the records are incom-
plete or incorrect, that does not affect
the rights of the town
To come down To recent developments.
Town says to Trustees-carry out the
purpose for which you received the ap
preparation of $4,000 Trustees neglect
or refuse to do so. Town says-comply
with our mandate or go without this an
nusl appropriation of $500 Trustees
say-we cant. If we did, some dreadful
Qegal thing would happen. Well now,
10 the common sense of the people this
looks foolish, absurd. What possible
harm can come to anybody through the
consent of the Trustees to right the
wrong? even If the wrong is OF II years
standing.
When the Library building was APP
preaching completion and it became
known that Russell Post was not to be
allowed to occupy any part of it, there
was naturally some indignation among
its members and citizens generally
But some of the wisest (perhaps) said
what do We care about the Library
buildingp We did not ask for it, we
have good hall of our own and are able
to pay for it Let them have their
building and do as they please with it;
and this counsel prevailed. Russell
Post then had membership of nearly
$50, most OF them not much past the /
prime of life, and they felt that they
could run their own affairs. Now the /
membership is reduced one half and the /
strength and vigor of those days give |
place to old age aud debility If they .
ask now for their right in this matter is .
II any wonder2 They may be a little /
thin skinned and may not like to be told /
that their occupancy of the Library 4
use of the ladies, or that the Trustees |
don't wish to encourage people of their !
class to frequent the place, or to be I
twtted of the fact that the town gave
them for Memorial Day purposes the
sum of 1925 or $50. OF course they
don't like this kind of thing, and their
natural resentment, has led to a feeling
that if il was made reason for CHASING
them as "beggars", "paupers" etc
they might, for the future, refuse to ac-
cept any appropriation by the town for
Memorial Day and do what they could
by themselves with such help as
was proffered them They are Grand
Army men, and as long as any survive,
Memorial Day will be observed But
Skowhegan has always been liberal to
Russell Post, and when its members re
fleet that such talk as is spoken of above
does not express the sentiment of any
considerable number of the people of
the town, they will no doubt conclude
to GO on in the even tenor of their way
and "let the dogs bark"
ONE OF EN-