The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-02-01
MODELS OF sHERMAN's STATUE
VIII Not be EIhIbltsd-suocss'f"l Com
prtitor objects 10 tho scheme.

DtllAut OulfNAh ~ AAAN
NEW YORK. Jan. 3l.-It is definitely
announced that the proposed exhibition
OF the models for the Sherman statue
10 be erected In washington, between
which the award was finally made and
announced by the National Sculpture
Society some months since. Will not De
Mr.. Barr Fcrrec, secretary OF the So
cIetv. with reference to this. makes the
following statement: The National
SCULPTURE Society deeply regrets that II
must Withdraw It's announcement that
The models In the anal competition Tor
the Sherman statue are TO be eNhlpliel'
but feels il Is without blame IN the mat
ter. The announcement was not mace
uptU ali concerned. Including Mr.. Carl
Rohl- smith. the successful competitor
had consented 10 this use OF their mod
,Is and the delay was caused BY Mr..
Robl. Smiths absence In Europe Every
thing seemed favorable FOR an effective
ryhIbitl0p which must have been not
only Interesting but Instructive 70 the
arr world Of America, when letter from
MIR. RoM-Smith makes further action
impossible.
"Writing from Chicago. under'late OF
November q, 1896. to the secretary OF the
the society. h says. MY last inter-
course with the National Sculpture So
clcty was IN exchange OF telegrans
upon tho day after my model was chosen
Iy. thc sherman statue commission, IN
which / stated that | would exhibit my
sketch model. together with those OF the
other competing artists when ! return
ed from Europe IN the fall, Since then
the action OF the National Sculpture So
clety tw0ards me. member OF the so
ciety and towards the Sherman statue
commission has been such as 10 make II,
unJar Tho circumstances, impossible for
me TO takep art in any further eNhibl-
t!on OF models
.'Nir Rohl-Smlth certainly wrote un-
der a singular misrepresentation OF the
case. since the National sculpture So
cletv has never. in any way, rejected
anon his character or standing, person.
ri or. professional. nor questioned the
artistic merit OF his work, nor even crit
IrIscd his procedure. II has not called
him TO account IN any way, nor has II
taken any steps 10 which he as an
artist or as man, could take the slight
est exception.
"Vhnt The society did object 10 was
tho mnpncr In which the competition
Tor the statue was closed and the award
made II objected TO the assumption
on the mart or committee OF soluIeIN
nnd civilians that they. the soldiers and
civilians. knew better than committee
of sculptors aud nrchitects-men chosen
by thcmselvgs and who had especially
studied the original modcl-which was
The right design II objected. moreover
to Tho apparent breach Of faith by which
competing sculptorg who had every
right To expect that the award would
he given according TO that chosen cN-
pprt opinion. yet which was given
partly IN disregard OF It, partly in de-
spite OF Il.
NO one has blamed Mr. R0hl-Smith
for accounting a commission which was
nTrred him nv those having legal power
10 max, the orIcr Those whom the 500
clrty has blamed are the officials who
selected a work OF art FOR other than
artiEtic reasons.
at rs not necessary 90 speculate as 10
tho motive Of those who have mislcd him
into taking such a stand. They have
succeeded, however in furnishing an
oihrr example as TO methods which, Ia
tlis instance, the society has deplorcd.
ana has d0np everything possible 10
preclude oven helpful criticisms until IL
Is too late 10 be OF use"