Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-22
NO PLACE FOR F[|RTS
Statements of Officials of Con-
gressionaI Library.
RECENT CASE OF MARINES
Claimed That They Were Not Elected
From Building.
MERELY ADVISED TO LEAVE
Young Girls in the Reading Room
Had Been Annoyed and Compelled
to Change Their Seats.

While Secretary Metcalf is conducting an
investigation of the complaint of the two
marines who alleged that they were elected
from the Library of Congress because their
uniforms were too conspicuous, it Is pos
sible that Librarian Putnam may carry on
an inquiry in order to vndicate his officers
and watchmen and to show to the public
the peculiar difficulties under which they
labor. Already, it Is stated at the library,
he has called upon the officers Immediately
in charge for detailed reports of what
transpired and also has requested patrons
of the reading room who witnessed the oc-
currence either in whole or in part to favor
him with similar statements.
Some of these statements by private
parties have been filed, and, it is claimed,
wholly bear out the charges of the library
officers as to the conduct of the marines
not only on the night in question, but on
previous occasions So persistent had been
this Objectionable conduct, the library Off
GERS allege, that more than once the person
In charge of the reading room had thought
that he would be compelled to ask an Off
Ger to put the offenders out of the build
ing.
The following is the library account: The
matter was discussed at the central, or
administration, desk. and Capt. Wurdeman
was notified several days before the one
on which the alleged "ejectment'' occurred.
The captain passed around the two marines
in order to be able to identify them and
to keep his own eye on their conduct, when
possible.
The Marines Warned.
Before the climax came Capt. Wurdeman
approached the marines in the rotunda and
quietly intimated to them that they had
been making a mistake and that they
should be more circumspect or they might
not be able to avoid trouble.
While he was talking to them the lieu
tenant of the watch came up and said
Captain, these are the men who have been
giving us SO much trouble
The captain then renewed his suggestions
to the marines, when the latter became
boisterous and threatening. Capt. Wurde-
man then more positively Informed them
that they must cease such conduct or there
would be trouble, and left them with the
Waterman or lieutenant
Soon after there was a commotion at the
outer door of the basement, and Wurdeman
left his office to inquire about it. The lieu
tenant had at last informed the marines
that they ought to depart and thus quiet
matters, and the marines had retorted
with threats to report the place and
have 1t investigated"
The lieutenant replied that the sugges-
ton was wise-to make the report.
1t is claimed that there was no actual
ejectment; the marines accepted the lieu
+ tenants advice and departed.
Young Girls Annoyed.
The statemnts thus far givn to the libra
rian indicate that the two marines in ques-
ton have been annoying young girls in the
library for time to such an extent
that library patrons have observed and re-
ported 1t; that two girls had been advised
to leave the reading room proper and sit
at a table IN adjoining alcove in order
to escape the attention that was being
forced upon them and that they did SO
that other young women felt compelled to
leave the building altogether to get away
from the "mashers,' and that still others
shifted their seats for the same purpose.
Girls were followed to the drinking foun-
tans TO the cases in the print room and
from place to place in the reading room, un-
til the matter became intolerable.
The Uniform Welcomed.
In commenting on the case a leading
library official declares: Nothing could
be more absurd than to say the two marines
in question, corporal and a private, were
elected from the library or asked to leave
it or to keep still because of their uniform
They have been coming here for weeks anG
other marines and soldiers have beer
coming for years by the score in thell
uniforms. and we are glad to have
whatever books they may wish Generally
they are polite, quiet and gentlemanly, anG
the remark has been frequently made tina
it was gratifying to soldiers and marines
come to pace Of instruction instead OF
caroustng about the city.
Men in uniform have been here today
in fact, are here this very moment. Theil
uniform is not in the least offensive; it 1.
attra ctive; but the conduct of the two
marines in question became intolerable. ant
they may regard themselves as fortunate
to have escaped as easily as they did,
Clearing House for Washers.
Capt. Wurdeman. in commenting on tn,
general situation, observed:
These marines are not the only offenders
This library is regular clearing house fol
Washers and f1irterS of the high Schoo
i grades; and, l must say, many young grl
come here for no other purpose than t.
pick up a filtration. The youngsters crowc
to the back seats, rooSt in the alcoves hid,
behind the high catalogue cases. loll in tn.
corridor windows and fill the benches in the
rotunda. This is public place and we d,
not know just how far to go in checkin,
these performances. 1t Is delicate matter
but when, as in the case of the two ma
rlnes, conduct becomes notorious and often
sive to the general public, tuere is nothine
to do but interfere and put a stop to it, anc
we do SO.
Our position is rendered doubly difficult, ;
concluded Capt. Wurdeman by the fac
that when We ask persons who make com
plants concerning offensive conduct in tn,
library to give their names and aid us ii
bring the offenders to book, we are i.nyari
ably met with refusal. We can't SCI
everything that occurs, and If those who de
see, and especially if those who are offend
ed, Will not aid us We cannot break up thu
offensive practices Without a much larger
force than we now have. The case of The
marines. however, may be of material hell
to u.s. as 1 understand that private partie.
are coming in with statements detailinf
what they observed, thus sustaining tn.
watchmen."