The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-27
CHIEF OF FAIR SCULPTURE OUT
T.. ". RtCkSTtHL SAYS M WAS
INTERPRETED WITH.
Accuses the Director Of Works Of 1r,inE
10 Make Him a Mere Clerk--Fcars
FiascO for the ~. Louis show and
Talks Of q CORNER Grocery" spirit
There-Kari Bitter In Ills place.

ST. LOUIS, Mo, Dec. Frederick W.
Ruckstuhl Of New York. chief Of sculpture
for the Worlds Fair. has resigned on ac-
count, of a disagreement with the Elk
position directors.
Karl Bitter has been appointed chief Of
sculpture Mr.. Bitter made the sculptural
decoration for the Administration Building
OF the Columbian Exposition and was di-
rector Of sculpture for the Pan-American
Exposition.
Dissatisfaction with the treatment ac-
corded TO him by the exposition officials
is given as Mr.. Ruckst uhls reason for re-
signing. His resignation was rendered
on Dec. II and was accepted a few days
later. but il was not officially announced
until to-day
For some time pas, there had been az
parent friction bet ween the chief Of sculpt-
uros and the fair officials. The reason
therefor is currently reported TO be that
sufficient funds were not allotted to Mr..
Ruckstuh to carry on the wojk Of his de-
partment in tho manner in which he be-
lieved il should bc conducted.
President Francis refused this evening
to discuss the resignation. Secretary
'''VNthS Sdhi 'IdN WI i'b'NH'"' ''N''"
give out the grounds of his dissat isfaction
If he cared to, He added that the resignation
of Mr. Ruckstuhl was complete surprise
to all the exposition officials.
Director of Works Isaac Taylor wanted
to give out the letter Of resignation, but he
was overruled by the other directors. Mr..
Ruckstuhl has gone back to New York
In answer 10 questions about his resigna-
ton Mr.. Ruckstuhl dictated this state
ment to a Sun reporter last night:
Il went out to st. Louis with the in
tention OF handling the largest sculpture
problem that has been handled in the last
one hundred years intended to do this
in a way that would he satisfactory to the
Exposition, to the profession of sculptofs
and to the country at large.
Everything went we'll between myself
and the management with the exception Of
Isaac s. Taylor, the Director of Works.
Even with him had no serious differences
and was firm in my faith that | would he
allowed TO he the real director Of sculpture
until two days after the Advisory Com
mittee, composed Of j. Q. A, Ward. Au-
gustus St. Gaudens and Daniel G. French,
had examined my scheme for the decora-
ton Of the exposition and made most
fattering report on IL
Then began on the part of Mr. TAYLOR
a series Of humiiations and an attempt
TO deny me certain privileges agreed upon
beforehand and to demand certain things
that had previously refused TO do.
sAll Of this was utterly inexplica Bile to
me except a. an evidence Of fixed in
tention. apparently suddenly arrived ct,
to degrade me from the position of the
director Of sculpture To that of mere
clerk of Mr.. Taylors. I refused to submit
to this and demanded that should be- in
measure freed from the direct orders 81
Mr. Taylor, 10 the extent Of having he right
10 appeal to the Executive Committee
should any serious difference Of opinion
between Mr. Tayler and myself arise
As far a. am able to Judge. Mr. Taylor
IL trying to be the whole thing 10 the build
ing of the Exposition, and his ton is the
result only OF jealousy. He no doubt saw
that by the mere force Of circumst ances
the director OF sculpture. even though
his official title was merely that Of chief
Of sculpture. would become increasingly
prominent as the months rolled on.
-Mr Taylor's influence, | felt was suf-
iciently strong to prevent the executive
committee from granting my final de-
nanus, out nOpeu tnat IL might he other
wise I made them, nevert heless know
ing that | would have either complete
liberty and cease my connection with the
Exposition company, or | would be made
sufficiently free ~ an agent Of the COM
pany to save my department from making
a fiasco of the sculpture scheme as worked
out between the architects and myself
This scheme is the one that received the
strong approval Of the committee Of eminent
20 ilptors appointed to pass upon it,
Il have no quarrel with tho Evposit ion
company as some Of my very hest friends
are members of the board Of directors
My quarrel IL entirely with Mr.. TAYLOR
believe that If the plans as prepared by the
architects and myself could be carried out
tho 81. Louis Exposition would be a mag
nihc mt success.
Il very much fear that a partial fiilurc
is in store for St Louis unless the Office Of
Director Of Works Is managed on broader
basis and with more national purpose
than can ever obtain in a corner grocery"