The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-01-26
ARoHI n Z CONTRIBUTIONS J,
\ Card From Ono OF Them on tho Board
OF EducntIon's Actlonu An Interesting

"A Card From Ono OF Them on tho Board
OF EdueatIon's Actlonp An Interesting
Statement. 81 y Il X M
TO tho Editor Of he hl,diigenctr. "a
slR:,-1 respectfully ask space in your
( columns that l may contribute my mite
to dispcl thccvidont dclusion that the
board Of education Of this city islabor.
ing under, in regard to tho resolution
adopted by tho Association Of tArchi-.
tects, recently formed In this city,for
mutual improvement and protection.
The offensive resolution Is rs follows,
I signed by tho entire membership. and
ostrespcctful!y sent to tho board:
I'm View Of the fact OF the unfair manner In
! which the competitions for public work huys
been conducted, whereby mon WHO Rrc totally
nnacguainled with drawings have tho privilege
7 OF judging designs submitted by architects who
= have spent much time and great labor upon the
periecting OF the same, that Il be therefore,
",Resolred, That tho architects off Wheeling
Will refuse to enter into any future competition
unless thcrU nte competent judges who will dc.
edo strictly upon Its merits and select thu most
crcditablc and perfect design submitted IN ne
coruanco with INSTRUCTIONS etc., giyen BY par.
Ties asking the competition" StI &;
II. will be seen at a glance that no
reference, or hint was made tol the
Z action OF the bourd in any OF its awards
or findings in tho late or former COM
4 petitions. The resolution Is but ono OF
many, adopted by our association ut
I this meeting, which arc now in course
Il OF preparation for tho printer, and MS
! Roon as finished will DO put in the
hands OF MI parties interested.
There was no oilcnso intended in
sending this resolution to the board in
/; SO scemins!y premature manner; 1t
was simply to notify them OF our intcn-.
tions III tho future; FASTENED by tho
fact that soon, no ono knew when, the
3 project OF building q high school would
y be sprung, and in all probability an
other competition desired.
That tho competitions OF the past have
been unfair is evident to any one who
& will Sivcth mattera moments thought;
few lninutesis given the competing
architect 10 explain his plans to tho
committee, who ask some Indifferent
questions in very indifferent manner;
these being answered he is hustled ont
TO make roomyfor anotlte. competitor.
who goes through the same process, and
SO on until all are heard. Tllcn two or
three ballots aud the award is made, the
whole transaction not consuming moro
time than IN ordinary private individ-
ual would consume in negotiating for a
rod OF board fence. Indeed, on several
occasions, | am sure not onc.halt tho
committee paid the least attention to
any OF the questions or answers.
The committees are not experts, nor
do they claim to be, and yet with an
j inconsistency that is surprising they
\ sit and decide on matters OF this sort
with an alacritv and prompincss that
Z strikes Il proficient man dumb with
amazement; but they have 4 preference
,sand prerogatiyc, and in good time
they express their preference and eXer-
! cise that prerogativc.
Now, the only mistake these commit.
I tees make is in not expressing the one
and exercising the other prior to invit-
ing architects TO acompetition in which
I they have not the least show OF preicr-
ence. In this manner they would have
saved aworld OF expense, worry, work
I and hard feeling.
lam now speaking OF all competitions
I held in this vicinity lately, and the
rule is general throughout the country
Z i will add, that the action. OF the archi-
tects in their own defense lis general
also. Enough has been written ON
these competitions to fill volumes, and
; will not take up your space by airing
my own particular views, only to say
that radical change from the above
manner must be made in the future;
otherwise there will be hard feelings,
bitter words and general luminosity,
where nothing but good fellowship
should exist. If nothing better sug-
gests itself to these committees, let
them elect their architects las any
other Officially first, and vote on his
designs afterwards. In this way much
trouble and expense would be spared
the Others WI $50
]; have this to say OF the boards ac-
tion regarding the resolutions sent them
by our association. L had expected bet
ter trcatmont at their hands in matte.
OF SO great Importance to us. regret
very much that some members should
have expressed themselves as they did.
lhope they will make suitable repara-
ton for their thoughtless and hasty ac-
: ton, and receive the communication in
1.-THE same spirit in which it was tender.
. ed. Let them examine the offensive
Z document, analyze it, seewhat it means.
The unlucky omission Of an does not
change It's sense, nor doesn't affect its
) meaning or intention. all we ask OF
iF this, or any other board, is fair play
]. and tolerance in tho exercise OF
Y our rights. Every association, trades
union, craft and guild, has its rules
land usages, and the public as 4 general
thing respects them, and they are not
considered rs insulters OF public dicni-
ity, when that same dignity is called
upon to hear them and asked in a re-
spectful manner to acknowledge and
/ observe them as far as practicable.
Y That's all the architects Of this city ara
asking, and VIC have Alright to respect
- ul hearing. Nm conclusion, allow me
to Say that I fully endorse and share
\ the indignation expressed by my col.
leagues, Messrs. Franzheim, Leiner and
Faris in the Sunday press, at the un-
\ callcd-for actions OF some Of the mem
beers OF the Board OF Education in their,
treatment OF the resolutions so respect
fully sent them.
Very respectfully yours.
y. 4. CHAs. P.%HAMlLroS.
Wheeling, Jan. %. tE5
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