Springfield 1636-1886, History of Town and City, by Mason A. Green ...

494 SPRINGFIELD, 1636-18SG.
even appointed to carry on the agitation. The special grievance was
the heavy taxes.
After the exciting Fremont campaign in 1856 the local leaders
anticipated an easy time in electing their candidate, N. A. Leonard,
mayor of Springfield; but Ansel Phelps, Jr., had made a good
mayor, and he was elected to a second term. Charles O. Chapin
that year came very near beating Joseph Ingraham for city clerk.
The aldermen were reelected except the fifth, sixth, and seventh
wards, where Joseph Hannis, James Warner, and Henry Poniero3%
democrats, were victorious. The common council organized with
George Walker as president and Charles O. Chapin clerk. Mr.
Phelps was reelected mayor in December, 1857, George Bliss, the
republican candidate, not being able to take a popular position on
the subject of free rum. The venerable William B. Calhoun was
placed in the mayor's chair in 1859, an honor to which his distin-
guished services had entitled him.
The Cit}^ Library Association was formed in 1857. The libraries
of the Young Men's Literar}'^ Association and of the Young Men's
Institute formed the foundation of the City Library. This library is
interesting to students of municipal government from the fact that it
is really an independent association, recognized by the city, which
makes annual appropriations, and at the same time receives gifts and
bequests from private persons. The experiment is a perfect success
in this regard. Rev. William Rice was the first, and thus far has
been the only, librarian. He combines the rare qualifications of
wide reading, good executive ability, and perfect devotion to the in-
stitution. The Springfield Public Library, in fact, will be his
monument.
The western JNIassachusetts editors organized themselves into an
association about 1853, and their annual dinners were occasions of
cordiality and good cheer and wit. The dinner of 1856 was held at
Worcester, and Samuel Bowles was made president. They called
themselves "Editors and Printers' Association."