New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1917-01-10
The J !! {, Ope en- F rum
To the Editor of the Review:

Germans, both in America and in Ger
many, are known for the great number
Of thinkers, philosophers and scholars
that abound in their midst, wherever
they may gather, and from experience
covering more than a thousand yeats of
research and 2discriminativ investigation
they have been ever on the lookout for
superior methods Of instruction which
would present to the scholar the highest
standards Of efficiency and thoroness.
Great men are secured as professors at
our universities, great libraries free to
the public are provided, and material
aid in the shape Of scholarships is
granted to scholars Of ability who have
the ambition to forge ahead in their
chosen line of work. The greatest Of
these. boons to the student and scholar
is the ability to read and study the
writings of those men who are acknowl-
edged great in their particular field, be
| it literature, science, or art. 3
We have in New Ulm good school
system; and one Of the finest high schools
in the state, and yet we have not even
at the disposal Of students and others a
library that is worth using. But you
Isay we have a libraryfor the use Of
students. Correct, but where. is it and
what is it? Should a stranger in the
L ~. E 18TH ~ -
city desire to spend a few hours profit
ably, instead Of lounging around pool
hall Or saloon, he would baby have
some difficulty in ascertaining just where
1.-THE library is. He may be told that it is
| in the High School, building. Good,
so far. Now the question is how is he
Ito get into the library and what q mass
Of red tape must he unreel before he
comes to the fulfillment Of his desire?
admitting, for the sake Of argument,
that he does gain admission to the high
school library does he find it lp-t date?
Does he find current magazines, late
scientific reference books OF fiction?
This is question that the. writer cannot
answer for he has never been brave
enough to dare to enter the sacred
precincts of the school since he left there
many years ago. It will be argued that
the citizens of New Ulm, and transients
too for that matter, should feel that the
high school is a public place, maintained
and cared for by the money paid by you
and me in the shape Of taxes, butt main
tain that the average person does not
feel that he wishes to intrude himself
into places where he will be made to feel
that he is being tolerated. Is it not
better, New Timers, not to look at this
proposition from the point Of view that.
the library would be a loungmg place
for loafers, and for that reason unde-
sirable, but to look instead upon the fact
that great good would come to those
who might care to take advantage of the
foresight shown by our men in authority,
which same men, my friends, were placed
in their position Of authority by YOU
and can be removed by YOU it YOUR
wishes are not respected
The writer fully realizes that this
question has beensup many times before
and that it was even made an issue ina
political campaign not very Long ago,
and that thru the Vaccinations of a, few
the many were deprived Of boon that
should have been provided to them, and
which was and is rightfnlly theirs They
were only deprived Of a library because
SO many did not take enough interest in
I the matter to instruct their men to vote
properly for progress and learning The
objection was pade that taxes are al
ready high and that the citizens should
not be taxed any more than necessary