The Saint Paul globe., 1900-06-15
LIBRARY BOARD QJARRELS
OVER PROVISION FOR ART
SCHOOL
MUST GO INTO A GALLERY
H the Art Institute Gets n
Place at All Within
the Library
Walls.

The proposition to establish the St. Paul
School of Fine Arts in the new library
building was given a set back at a
special meeting of the library board last
evening, after one of the stormiest meet
ings in the history of the board. In
til recently a most dignifed body, the
library board threw off it's customary Sc
renity, and bitter personalities passed be-
tween several of the members while
charges and counter charges flew about,
and the harsh ward "1ie" was mentioned
more than once. In fact the use of the
word was entirely monopol:zed by Rev
S. c. Smith, who used 1t in characteriz-
ing an editorial in the Pioneer Press,
which he declared was falsehOod from
beginning to END.
There are two barefaced lies in the
first sentence" declared Rev. Smith,
''and the entire article is OF like nature.
IL is a tissue of lies throughout"
Edward Feldhauser, who had taken no
cOgnizance of Mr. Smiths invective
against the article TO this point, inter
rupted.
Il take exception to that statement
Mr.. Smith he declared, and l chal-
lenge YOU to prove it. I had something
TO DO with that article, and it is not a
tissue Of lies
The breakers ahead in an already de-
cidedly choppy sea were avoided by Pres
ident Foster requesting that members Of
the board address their remarks to the
chair rather than indulge in personal
disputes.
a week ago the committee on buildings
reported faVorably on granting the art
school a space of eighteen feet along
the east side of the new building. The
l. ha fs.l- 1D-f
evening.
Rev. 5. G. Smith started the ball roll
ing as soon as the meeting was called
10 order, by rising with a copy of
Wednesdays Pioneer Press in his hand.
The paper contained an editorial which
stated that the art school had applied
for quarters in the new library building
through its president. Rev. S. G. Smith,
who has recently been appointed a mem
Der of the library board.
"I want to say regarding this article,
declared Mr.. Smith, that it is false and
misleading throughout 1t is lie. The
first sentence contains two absolute lies,
and the whole article is a tissue OF lies.
The art school has never demanded space
in the library building. The art scho2l
does not stand before the board as a
mendicant, asking something for nothing.
A place In the building IS desirable be-
cause the art school works along edu-
cational lines, along lines similar to the
library, Is in fact a benefit to the commu
nifty, and VIII add something to the IL
brary. ] have never made a suggestion
nor a request that the art school be
given quarters in the library building;
to be explicit the suggestion, If remem-
Der correctly, came originally from Mr..
Feldhauser."
A look of protestation was shot at him
by MI Feldhauser when he accused the
latter Of being responsible for the suS-
gestion that had caused all of the trouble
Mr.. Feldhauser did not at this juncture
reply to the statement, but when the dis
,.lssfon grew more heated later, he made
am explanation that cast an aspersion
upon Mr. Smiths statement that the art
school was not moving in the premises
through him.
Il did make the original suggestion
announced Mr. Feldhauser, but it was
at Mr.. Smiths suggestion. He came to
me with the proposition that If the art
school could be given quarters in the IL
brary building, it was his opinion that
$1,000 could be gotten as an endowment
from Il wealthy patroness of the school.
This was the first l heard of the plan, and
was the suggestion upon which 1 acted
in presenting the matter TO the board.
Silence reigned fer a brief period, and
then Mr.. Smith. observed:
THAT is a statement that gentlemen
who talk over such things should not
make public"
Then the discussion grew more general.
Most Of the members were of the opinion
that to give the art school the space de
scribed as the north eighteen feet would
be niustifiable. 1t was conceded that the
board had gone on record as favoring
comm0dating the school, If possible, but
since such action it has developed that
granting the request, as proposed by the
report of the committee, would interfere
with some gigantic plans that some mem
bers of the board have in mind for the
financial assistance Of the board.
Mr.. Feldhauser, strongly opposed to
granting the space, announced that he
granting the space, announced
that he would shortly have
proposition to place before the
board whereby 100000 would be available
TO erect an addition to the building, on
the vacant city property north. fronting
WabaSha street. that would permit of
splendid auditorium being constructed on
the second floor of the building utilizing
the space proposed to give to the art
school. The addition can be built without
expenditure by the board, the makers of
the offer being willing to take the pur-
chase price out in rent. With the addition
an auditorium would be provided
with seating capacity of 1850,
where public musicales and 9th
er entertainments could be given at prices
30 that the public could enjoy high class
entertainments reasonably. Furthermore.
Mr.. Feldhauser argued that, as the build
ing stood, the north part would bring a
comfortable revenue to the board, and
he did not believe in giving away that
which would assist the board in its flnan-
cial stress.
In Mr.. Mum the art school had a mild
champion, inclined to grant its wish if
compatible with the plans of the library
board.
Mr.. Richardson was opposed to grant
ing the art school the north eighteen
feet and strongly defined his position.
lie said the property had not been turned
over to the library board to be in turn
given away for nothing. He believed
the space should be utilized in the way
best calculated to aid the board financial
~. He said a prominent business man
had objected to him to the board doing
any ching with the space in the huild-
Ing calculated to effect rents of the rent
ing market.
Or. Bean announced that he was de