New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-18
IN REHALF OF FREE ART.
CONGRESS- OF THE NATIONAL AoSOClAllON
srpovG SPEECHES AT THE WASHINGTON MEET
ING-LETTERs OF ENCOURAGEMENT
FROM EMINENT MEN
FRY TELEGRAPH TO THE Tribune

TRY TELEGRAPH TO THE TkIBUNE1
uasb;reton Nav 1.-THE National Art Assocla-
linn. of which Mrs. Benjamin Harrison is honorary
es,dent and the VicePesident and Mrs. Morton are
honorary v.ce-presdents, opened It's hrst congress
hore today In the lecture hal! OF the Columbian UNI
ye,.ity. The aim o! the association and the ooleet
=, the congress are free art Daniel Huntington. oil
York is president. J. W. Thompson, OF TINS city,
treasurer and Miss Kate Field secretary. Among the
,ce presidents are Albert Bierstadt Frank d. Miilel'
Ancustus ST. Gaudens. Edmund Clarence etedhan'
w,mam NJ Chase, Richard NJ Hunt, Stanford Whl'e,
John Armstrong Chanler Mrs Candace Wheeler anu
Mrs s V. r. Cruger, of NewYork; Charles L. Hu'ch-
inson James W. Ellsworth and Mrs Potter Palmer Vi
chicago: Mrs. George Hearst, of san Francisco
Mrs Bellamy Sorer. Of Cincinnati; Mrs H. n Ior.or'
of Pittsburg; Z. Francis Riggs c. NJ F. fo"He 1encl
op Chandler Thomas f. Waggaman, Beriah Wilhlhe,
Charles j. Singer Francis Cotton and NJ NJ fafher' VI
Washington. A.,
In the absence o, President Huntington and at the
request Of Miss Field. Jefferson CHAMBER peiioineu
the duties of presiding officer Mr.. Chanoief III ie"
well chosen remarks stated the object OF the COMPRESS
and then introduced Professor yelling. OF the 'o'i
hin, University who made brief address OF welcome
IN the delegates. Professor yelling was lolo"eu oS
Mr. Halford private secretary to the freHiuen'' VIM
had accompanied Mrs. Mckee and In the absence VI
tho President and Mrs. Harrison invited the alts's
and their friends to visit the White House. Brei
ooch.s in favor of free art we're made by artists
monr the number Carroll Beckwith, W. c. Conn aDd
Frank D. Mllet. Congress was represented Dy Se""'o
Wolcott and Representative Lodge both OF WHO'LL h"ue
interesting and forcble speeches In favor OF leo'e
the tariff on works Of art. senator Wocott "ae par
tcuarly happy in his prophecies and promises decar
ing that from this time he should work Tor free ar
NM no hoped that when the artists succeeded IN re-
moving restrictions from they would remove soie
n, the art now in Washington. Mr. Lodge lrahhiS
advised the artists TO work up consutuehces' io
e,id when Congressman believed their constituents
wanted anything, they were impressed oo'"u'o
there were votes behind the requests maze OoniN''
sionsr Harris of the Bureau Of Education, whie III
tvor .. nrotection said religion, science and art
needed no protection Charles Stewart smith, pfesi-
dent Of the Chamber Of Commerce OF New-lorh' diso
made strong and practical argument in favor OF Tree
art In the course Of his remarks he sad'
7 ,.member hearing some years ago in Paris an a.
dress from the Minister Fine Arts. in which ne al
.,d Tho uolicv ~ larger appropriations on the part
q, his Government to buy pictures and statues or 'he
museums of Paris, business grounds lie sau ua' "
fu the hotels and bring all the wofia 70 'ho wy "
Paris and give prosperity to its manufacturers ana MGR
chants n must continue TO principal art centre
Of the world it admit Of no rival in any European
capital; its galleries theatres and operas must ie
the artistic of Europe; and he referred 10 inc sc'
that the English Government was then spending iaree
rs Of money to increase Of the National
and Kensngton galleries and insisted that the Govern
ment Of France not allow them successfully 10 con
pete with the Louvre and Luxembourg.
Can there be q unwise economic policy for our
Government than TO place duty upon art objects enter
Ing this countryl Is IL not an embargo upon The
knowledge refinement and cultivated taste OF the people
well great pecuniary disadvantage 20 ther future
wage-earning powerl
Miss Field read number Of letters Of regret from
artists unable to be present. and others from dis
tngushed men, expressing full and entire sympathy
with the congress. Among the letters of special in
terest were those Of George H. Boughton, who wrote
C%alrn n
Ward, Edward Moran. Cardinal Gibbons. Whltelaw
Reid Charles Dudley Warner Governor Mckinley, Of
Ohio; George William Curtis, William NJ. Chase and
Daniel Huntington
letter from Secretary Ekins suggested that the
United States Congress authorize the appointment OF
committee consisting Of artists who shall select all
Government. A resolution was passed Endorsing this
valuable and timely suggestion Resolutions We're also
to Miss Kate Field for her efforts in behalf OF the
congress. 1t the general feeling frequently ex,
secretary but from the first has been the moving
spirit which brought the art congress to successful
reality. If the large and DISTINGUISHED audience ana
interest and enthusiasm manifested count as evidence
the congress IS an undOubted success.
Connected with the art congress is National loan
exhibition. The loan exhibit was opened by the
cePresident and Mrs. Morton at o'clock In The
hall of the Smithsonian Institution There are 100
pictures and all are works Of Amer lea , sTt Inc
charming reception was given TO the congress
at the White House from 5 to O'Clock Mr. ana ana
Room assisted by ladies Of the Cabinet circle The
state parors and conservatory open and beauti-
full table laid in the state dining ROOM The doors
were opened the south pOrtco and the Marine Band
played from the lawn just below The DAY Was a
perfect one and altogether the grounds Of the White
hills made in itself great picture that was delight
10 the company