Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-05

erected in Washfr gton, is in nowise dis
turbed by the threatened protest of the
National Sculpture Society. He indignant.
ly denies the charge that favoritism was
shown him by tina Dodge committee. and
says the cutlery raised in New York oveI
his success is due solely to sectional jeal-
ousy in the profession,
He declares that he has never had 9
pull In Washington, and has had no one
working there in his interest That such
action should be taken by the New York
artists. or even talked about. he thinks
reflection against them, rather than mat
ter that should demand attention on his
part.
''Favoritism!' exclaimed Mr.. Smith. "The
charge Is not less libel than an insult.
have had no assistance of any form OF
shape in securing the contract for the mon
ument. 1 simply put in my design the
same as the rest of the artists, and was
content to stand the same chances. My
plans were accepted, and have no hesita-
ton in saying that, SO far as I am con.
cerned. the decision was based on merit
and merit alone. I mean by that I resort
ed to no tricks and sought no ones infu-
ence. defy any one to adduce single
scrap or evidence to the contrary.
The drsinuation is MADE that l got the
prize through the friendship of Gen. Dodge
1t Is also said I got the contract for the
iowa state monument in the same way
dalton. l never met Gen. Dodge till year
after had been accorded the contract fol
the Iowa state monument and that was
once when Gen Dodge was passing through
chicago, al d I met him at the old Crane
Pacific Hotel. The only bust of Gen. Dodge
l ever made was for the monument 1 have
been speaking about, and 1 did not know
for months after 1 had gotten the contract
that Gen. Dodge was to be one of the gen.
erals to be represented on the work.
then got his portrait, and that was my
first Introduction to him.
"Of course have been in Washington or
the matter as have the other artists who
entered the competition. / returned froE
there yesterday morning. But to Say thai
is simply to say that / did just as the
others did. That there has been much bit
ter feeling and profes sional jealousy owe,
the competition everybody knows. 1t has
cropped out time and again, and this last
step in the matter Is no surprise to me OIL
to many another who has followed the
progress of the award.
IF the New York artists see fit to rule
me out or file protest it is their privilege
and l am quite willing they should do so
l will say this, however, they will do thaGa-
selves mere harm by SO doing than they
will me. l entered the lists with the others
should have taken it gracefully-as grace
fully as 1 could. My plans were chosen
with three others cut of twenty-six, ano
from these four mine were again chosen
That is all there is about 1t.
II think the time has gone by when New
York can claim everything, or when fn:",::
members of the National Sculpture Society
can dictate to the country what it Should
or what !: snail have in the way of art
works That apparently is what some 81
the artists III New York would like.
Il should rather not be quoted on the
dispute at all, for it seems to me a Ques-
ton for the committeeman to fight out.
have taken part in no log rolling, and
would rather not be pulled into the wran-
gle. If the members of the National Sculp-
ture Society want to they can. That they
should feel sore is natural. That they
should want to vent their spite Is perhaps
Just as natural"