The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1913-04-18
THE MINISTERS AND PEOPLE OF NASHVILLE
WANT LIBRARY ON HIGHER GROUND
Petition Sent to Commissioners Praying Them not to Ac-
Cept the Sight Proposed
18th Avenue and Hynes Street Most
UndesirabIe-ln to Be
Reached From All Sections
Negroes Moving Out.


The Negroes of this city are max
ing it known beyond doubt that
they look with disfavor on the pro-
posed site for the Carnegie Library
for colored people.
At the meeting held by the Negro
Board of Trade last week, when the
chairman of the committee that was
sent out to solicit subscriptions to be
applied to the purchase of the library
site, made an infamatory speech that
was misleading in many respects.
The persistency Of a few members OF
the Board of Trade to thrust down
the throats of the people thing they
do not want is meeting with stubborn
resistance. 1t is known by the sup
porters of the Twelfth Avenue and
Hynes Street location that they are
going against the will Of the people,
and in fact members of that commit
tee have admitted that they them
selves do not like the site, but with
a seeming ambition to rule or ruin
the leaders of the small faction have
endeavored to create an impression
that unless the Negroes accept the
proposed site they will be deprived
of the library. The commissioners,
with few exceptions, are anxious
to place the library where it will be
pleasing to the colored people. There
is only one of the commissioners
who seems anxious to put it down
in the bottom. That gentleman was
at the meeting referred to above and
in a characteristic speech landed
himself to the skies but he made II
clear in his remarks that he did not
not want to be worried with colored
people any longer.
A deal was said in that meeting
about graft and such things, but nc
one seemed to be excited about that;
the people, however, are looking al
both sides of the proposition, and are
wondering If there is any graft any
where, and if there is, who the guilty
party is. The attention of the peo'
pie has been attracted and their ears
are to the ground and they are watch
ing, and if the grafters are caught
up with, woe will be unto them.
The committee that went out tC
raise 81 1000 succeeded in doing so
This was due largely to the heroic
efforts of Hon. A. N. Johnson. The
people responded literally to this ap
peal and they are being commended
for it, and since they have responded
and have shown by their liberality
that they are interested in the library
they are now asking the question il
/ it is not fair to them that their wish.
es be considered and that the inter.
est of the people be put above the
personal ambition of any man or men
They know the committee from the
Board of Trade who publicly express
ed themselves in favor of the pro
posed site, do not favor it, and the
opinion is gaining ground that
selfshpess is causing these people tC
make the steps they are taking. The
/ impression is being made that the
nnterest Of the people has been en-
tirely lost sight of and that a few
have allowed themselves to be made
tool by individuals.
The library is considered by the
people a most valuable institution
and they desire to have it located
in a section Of the city that will make
the building commendable, and where
the people will patronize it.
The excitement that has been ere
ated will die out in a few days ant
the people are begging the Commits
sioners not to do a thing that will
be ann everlasting shame on Nash
vile. It has also been stated tha
if the library goes In this location
that an effort will be made to put the
High School there also. There seems
to be a lowland element Of Negroes
who think that any hole or swami
is good enough for the rank and file
but who themselves would like tn
very best of everything.
A certain gentleman who is know
to favor low lands for public instl
tutions was told on the night of tn,
powwow meeting that he had won
great victory. The statement ha
put the tongues to waggIng Thl
low land swamp crowd is being spotted
and their numbers taken. The peo
pie do not want this institution sit
uated in an undesirable locality, a
it would be both inconvenient to tn
patrons and a discredit to the city
and every effort will be put forth t
induce the Commissioners to turr
down the undesirable site, annd it /
believed the appeal Of the minister
and the people will be heard.
Following is the petition of the pee
pie:
Hon G. Fl. Baskette, Chairman, an
Members Of the Carnegie Librar
. Commission, Gentlemen
CONTINUED ON Page "a