The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1950-05-05

! and Restaurant Employees Union
of Juneau, Local 871.
Never was a more delicious meal
served up to members of the board
-B. Frank Hentizleman, regional
forester; B. D. Stewart. retired COM
missioner of mines, and DIR. James
G. Ryan, commissioner Of education.
There were times when things
looked pretty gloomy to board mem
bers-times when 1t seemed the last
contribution" was in. Big donations
from large companies ranging
from $4,000 down--bought the prop
erty for the structure for $4,000,
located at 1th and Main Streets;
then the job of raising the $4,000
| began.
Weeks would sometimes pass with
nothing in the coffers-but board
members and those in the Rotary
Club didn't give up. They Kept
plugging. Club members contacted
business firms throughout the
Channel area and finally the sum
began to drop.
One by One
Large and small groups through
out the city--fraternal union. So
cial-added bit by bit. Individuals
responded one by one
Then a few months ago, came a
j point when all concerns, most bust
ness men, and all groups had
pledged or given all they could. Still
there remained some $1,000 or SO to
go before the building would become
reality.
Then the sparkplug OF the drive.
Heintzleman, had to leave for Wash
ington on government business. But
Stewart and DIR. Ryan dug their toes
in and set themselves to get that
asst and toughest bit.
The Empire saw the crucial point
the drive had reached, SO stepped
in with typewriter. Each day
story appeared on how the drive
was going-and each day Juneauites
responded with funds which came
At times so rapidly the paper. some-
+: times got several days behind IN re-
porting them. Z \ ~
In fact. we don't hesitate to say
that every person in Juneau was
made so library conscious" that
Just about everyone put some money
in the fund, or was thinking about
it.
Then came the climax.
Donations toward the last were
piling up and there were some funds
not yet reported. A call came from
Mrs. Cledamae Cammock. secretary
for the Hotel and Restaurant En-
ployees, to DR.. Ryan. saying she
was on her way to his office with a
5000 check.
Eager to Raise II
The group, at their last union
meeting. had agreed to donate 500.
but in their eagerness to see the
drive get along, they raised another
500 by the old "tarpaulin muster"
route Everyone dug down-busboys.
mattresses, bellhops, dishwashers,
pantrymen. fountain workers. hotel
maids. elevator operators. clerks.
cashiers. cooks, and resident engi-
neers. Thirty-two attended that
particular meeting.
When Mrs. Cammock appeared
with her check, the three men rum
ing the drive in its final stages
were gathered by happenstance in
DR.. Ryan's office-Stewart and the
reporter for The Empire.
A little~ quick figuring revealed
that after this check was in. just
1881 remained.
Hope I'll Be Back"
I'm going TO the union hail."
said Mrs. Cammock breathlessly,
you'll hear from me in about five
minutes. I've got to see sonS
people"
She called to tell DR.. Ryan thai
she was writing a check for just
that amount, which meant the job
was done.
With ISL members, the union is
the largest organized group in the
city. They don't get much money
in fact, many Juneauites make more
in a day than they take home in
a week.
But waiting on the public as they
do-and no job is harder than that
they perhaps typify the efforts
by everyone to bring the library
into being. and no more representa-
tive group could have put the fund
into home plate.
julius Heineman. the unions pre-
sident. signed the checks with Mrs.
Cammock.