Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1919-12-04
COMMITTEE FINDS
RADICAL BOOKS IN
STATES LIBRARIES
Librarian Says That All of the
Books on Socialism, Anar-
chy, Free Love and Sabot-
age Were Not Sent Out in
Every Box.

tigating Representative C. B. Burt
commission, dominated by the state
board of administration, has prepar-
ness charges that the public library
ed for distribution thru circulating
libraries destined for the use of coun-
try schools treatises advocating free
love, socialism and anarchism, met
following a visit to the public library
commissions office and an interview
with the deputy librarian last eve
ming and agreed upon the following
points:
1. That all of the books whose IT,
ties were read in the house by Rep.
Burtness were actually in the library.
2. That practically all of the books
known were found to be in the trav-
cling libraries, designed for use in
the rural schools.
3. That the deputy librarian de-
Tended the presence Of these volumes
in the library, declaring them to be
by reputable authors and to be good
material for the travelling libraries
which furnish the rural school chill
dren of the state with their reference
works.
On point four, submitted for
agreement by Rep. J. F. T. O'Connor
of Grand Forks, minority member
of the committee, there was warm
argument. Mr.. O'Connor submitted
the fact that the books found in the
list read by Rep. Burtness were found
in the travelling library, in travel
ing library box No. 107, or on top
of the same.
At this juncture the majority men,
bers of the committee blew up. They
insisted that this proposition created
an inference that these books "were
actually being sent out to the
schools"
Rep. O'Connor replied: "What
we're interested in gentlemen, is
facts, not inferences. Here are the
facts: Travelling Library Box No
1O7. the books in that box and on
top of the box; you can read the
titles for yourselves. There are the
facts, gentlemen; and that is all the
house of representatives asks of this
committee"
The committee met early this af-
ternoon to decide upon it's full re-
port to the house. 1t is not believed
there will be any necessity for div1'
sion as to the facts, which minority
members declare clear and incontro'
vertible.
In Two Divisions.
Miss Peterson, the deputy librar'
Ian, recently brot here from Ne"
York, explained to the committee
that ther are two classes Of volumes
in the public library, those classed as
educational and those which make uI
the travelling libraries, which are
sent out to the rural schools. She
testified that not all of the works o.
socialism, anarchy, free love, sabo'
tage, positive criminalogy and syn
dicalism were always sent out In the
same box, but when request came
in from a country school for informa'
tion on sociology she selected from
these works volumes which she fell
would best answer the purpose.
She declared that travelling librar.
Box 107 had, been assembled and CIV
en- a place near the, door Of the IL
brary for the benefit Of the legisla
tors. whom she regarded as "men o.
discretion and whom she was con
fident would be interested in these
subjects. These works. which she
declared she had ordered on her owl
initiative and. responsibility. were
she said, the latest and best on the
subjects covered socialism, anarch
ism, free love, sabotage. positive
criminology, syndicalism. Marxism
the Russion soviets, Bolsheviki and
worlds peace. Trotzyism, etc.
New List Is Live One.
An invoice Of these --latest and
best works, = which is dated Novem'
Der 26, has been furnished members
of the legislature. "This list shows,
said a member Of the committee this
morning, ''that the library commits
sion, with is under the direction q
the state board Of control, is order
Ing only books that breed contempt
for the government and which tea teacf g
.distrust of the courts and and q con con