Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1907-03-25
CITIZENS GENERALLY FAVOR AC.
CEPTANCE OF GIFT.
No Reason for Refusing ExCepfia SEN
timcntaI One that is Entertained
bV Very Few HOuSehOiderS. The
Offer has no Embarrassing Strings
to ii as has Been'Stafed.

In lodging the library trustees last
week, to avoid discussing the Carnegie
library proposition, the city council act
ed in what appears very silly attitude.
The cues ion is one OF importance to the
citv; requires the action of the council,
and should be attended to, not lodged.
AS the proposition comes from Mr..
Carnegie, it is different from his former
methods OF making such gifts, and only
requires the city to furnish the site and
maintain the library free, at cost Of not
less than 81 500 year-the old agree.
ments required additional equipment
each year equal to 10 per cent OF the gift,
besides the cost Of maintenance, As
such a building could not be maintained,
with any kind OF library, for less sum
the condition exacted is but reasonable.
MIR. Carnegie simply wants to be assured
the building will be used for the purpose
contemplated.
The council last year adopted the
necessary resolution. and the trustees
went on with the work. so far as to Sc.
cure the lot and have the money rea ly
to be paid on architects estimates as the
building progressed, in sums OF $4,000 or
$1,000, but the resolution was rescinded
bv the present council-whose authority
to do 80 is doubted-leaving the trustees
in the air.
The main opposition to this proposition
seems to come from a comparatively
few members OF the labor unions, whose
shortsightedness would deprive Aber-
deem of a fine building and a useful
library in the deluslon that they are
"getting event. with Andrew Carnegie
+ for labor dispute that occurred a genera
ton ago. In other words, would injure
the present and coming generations in
Aberdeen for difficulty that happened
in Pennsylvania years ago. Not very
wise, is it?
All this talk OF tainted money is bun.
combe, pure and simple. Mr.. Carnegie
accumulated his vast fortune through a
government policy that the writer has
ever considered but legalized robbery,
yet many of those opposing the library
hold the protective tariff as something
holy, and thousands are today reaping
vast sums from the same policy-in-
cluding the Carnegie works, under the
new management.
1t is mistaken idea that prevails in
some quarters that the union men gen.
orally are opposed to this measure. The
members of the union who have chill
dren, and who regard themselves as set
tied in Aberdeen, largely favor the propo.
sition, a fact that can readily be ascer-
tained by such of the councilmen as are
rendered timid by fear OF that myth, the
''labor" vote. Because a few of the
loudest takers in some unions oppose it,
is no certainty that u majority OF his lel-
low workers are of that opinion. The
average Aberdeen union man does his
own thinking-and voting.
Some parties have promised to raise
the money for such building by popular
subscription, but no progress is reported,
nor does the plan meet with enthusiasm
with the business men OF the city, whose
legs are pulled every week or two for
some public object, worthy or otherwise.
II library fund can be raised by sub
scription, let it be used to put REAL
LIBRARY into the building paid for by
Carnegie money. which can be regarded
as conscience money anyhow. since his
extra profits were a tax upon the entire
nation. Ii he is scattering some of it, Il
portion is surely due to Aberdeen, so
that to refuse what is really coming to us
would be silly indeed.