The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-15
NO CHAPTER in MINI.
North Star Architects May There
fore Be Left Out Of National
Institute.
Light on Recent Action of Institute
Expected From Harry w.
Jones, to Return Soon.

Minnesota architects will probably take
a more active interest in the American
Institute of Architects in the future than
they have in the past, after Harry W.
Jones returns and tells what was done at
the annual meeting of the institute in
Washington, D. c., last week. Mr..
Jones is expected to tell something of
the rapid progress made by the institute
in gaining favor with the government,
and how architects who are not members
will find it more difficult as the years go
by to secure government work.
Among other things, the annual con-
vention decided that hereafter member
exceptions, should only be possible
through state chapters. This will cut
out Mr.. Jones and other twin city archf-
tects who have kept up their connection
with the institute as individuals, since
the dissolution of the Minnesota chapter,
in 1894. If there is no chapter in Mime
sofa, there will be no members of the
institute from this state, for it is prob
able that no Minnesota architects can
comply with the conditions imposed upon
those who desire to become members as
individuals, apart from the chapters
One Of those conditions is that the APP
plicant must be graduate Of some fecog-
niZed school where architecture Is taught
Systematically and thoroughly, and after
being such graduate must have prac-
ticed at his profession for ten years. I'm
der certain conditions others may come in
if they are able to pass a very severe eX-
animation. These conditions are purpose
ly difficult. Very few few architects, in
the west especially, have graduated from
schools Of the kind recognized and prac-
ticed for ten years since. The large ma
jority of American architects are not
graduates of any school such as the in
stitute will recognize, or else have gradu-
ated within less than ten years. .,
Institutes Influence. .
In larger way, year by year, the nat
ional institute is exercising an important
influence on the national government. 1t
was back Of the elaborate scheme for the
identifying rof the national capital; in
fact, it suggested it and practically die
tated the several sets of plans
1t has had a controlling hand in the work
of selecting and suggesting plans for the
buildings at st. Louis exposition. 1t has
secured the adoption Of its ideas in a
large way by the supervising architect OF
the treasury, and is responsible fol
changes that have been made in late
years in the style of federal buildings al
over the country. Rapidly the day is APP
proa ching when the government will moi
invite bids for any government work from
architects who do not belong to the nat
ional institute, and when that day comes
all architects who are then situated as
the Minnesota architects are situated now
will find themselves prevented from hav-
ing share in the most profitable and II
every way most desirable class OF WORK
that there is in the country.
The Minnesota chapter went to pieces
during the second year Of the last finan'
cial panic. All building Of Importance
| was stopped all over the country, the ar
chitects suddenly found themselves with.
out work, and those in Minnesota felt thai
| they were too poor to continue paying
| the national institute dues; consequently
| the chapter went to pieces, and it has
not since been revived. The action O.
| the national chapter this year, however
| will practically compel every architect O.
standing in the country to belong to {
state chapter, and in Minnesota 1T will
probably compel the reorganization of ths
old chapter at an early day.
Mr.. Jones Made Flight. :
Mr. Jones made hard fight in the an
| nual convention last week against tn
amendment to the bylaws throwing GU
all architects not members of state chap
| ters, but without success. The amend
ment was made in the interest Of raising
| the profession to higher levels, and wa
| adopted by a large vote. Unless the,
come in through chapter there is hard
! ly an architect in the state, or in an,
| western state, who can belong to the nat
ional institute, on account Of the har
i conditions purposely imposed on those de
string to become members independent
of chapters.