Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-04-06
FREE TRADE IN ART.
A National Art Congress Proposed to ne
Held Here Next Month.

A National Art Congress Proposed to Re
Held Here Next Month.
The National Art Association, which haa
grown out of the fight to put art works on the
free list, proposes to hold an art congress IN
this city May Is The plan contempiates the
organization by the government OF a commis-
sion of art and architecture and the holding OIL
q national loan exhibition of paintings by
American artists. Il 10 announced also that 9
reception at the Executive Mansion VIII
be rendered to those attending the con-
gress by Mrs. Harrison. The most acnve
worker against what 10 claimed to be the unjust
and unwiss tax on art is Miss Kate Field VINO
has argued the case very forcibly before com
mittees Of Congress, and who has been mos'
successful in interesting influential people in
the movement
The officers of the National Art Association
are: Honorary president, Mrs. Harrison, Ex-
ecutive Mansion; President, Daniel Hunting
ton, ex-president National Academy OF Dssieh'
honorary vice presidents. Hon. L. T. Morton,
Vice President Of the United States. and MRS.
Morton; vice presidents, Albert Bierstads. r.
d. Millet, Augustus ST. Gaudens. VIM NJ Chase,
E. +. Riggs, c. ID. FfouIke. +. Cotton, Jener-
son Chandler. Thos- E WaggamaB. NJ ii. far-
ker, C. J. Singer, C. L. Hutchinson, James W.
Ellsworth, Edmund Clarence ssedman, Beriah
mer. Mrs H. z. Porter, Mrs Candace Wheeler,
Mrs. Bellamy Storer, Mrs. s. V. r. Cruger;
treasurer, s. W. Woodward; secretary, Kate
Field.
The case Of art is set forth in Kate Field 8
washington as follows:
Keeping out foreign art decreases popular
interest in art, deprives home artists OF lnspir-
ton and renders their work less valuable and
less profitable. To claim that this tax falls
solely on the rich is to ignore artists who are,
as q class, poor. II is to forget the people who
are dependent upon public sales, exhibitions
and museums for their knowledge Of the beau
tiful. whereby they become better educated
and consequently make better citizens. Not
only this but it il to forget all artisans who are
prevented from attaining high standard OF
work in many industries.
Not the least Objectionable feature OF this
outrageous tariff is the resentment it inspires
in foreign artists and the difficult position in
which our own art students abroad are thereby
placed Our young men and women go to
Paris and are received with open arms, never
paying sou foz their education, SO far as pub
NC galleries and instruction are concerned.
Their works are well hung and generously
treated They make reputation, which brings
them fortune more or less great At the expo-
sition of 1889 American artists received 104
medals and recompenses, the largest number
this magnanimity by virtually slamming our
doors in the face OF Europe. We
said to Mullet when sent here for exhibition
an exhibition Of incalcuiable benefit to the ar
fists and public-"Remain in bond longer than
year and you must pay into our custom
house 30 per cent Of your value" So this won
derful educator was galloped through the
country, in order to get back to New York in
time 70 take Q steamer before the twelve
months we're up!
I'VE don't want = tariff on foreign art ;"
sing American artists in chorus Wool grow
ers may want . tariff. but We object. 1t is our
ruin" "As long as wool is taxed you shall be, 4"
reply demagogues. You represent the rich,
wool represents the poor" So pulling wool
over the eyes Of their free-trading constituents
they pose as friends Of labori Farmers cannot
long be hoodwinked by such sophistry. Give
the United States free art and the sons and
daughters Of the soil will learn that the fam
lily chrome ia but the-dawn Of beauty.