The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-01-02
RARE Art WORKS
HARD TO REACH.
CAPITOL CLOSED WHEN PEOPLE
COULD VISIT IT.
Well-Known Men Deprecate Plan of
Paying Over Hundred Thousand
Dollars for Allegorical and Historical
Paintings and Then Excluding Pub
lie on Days of Leisure.

!. Hundreds of people who desired to
inspect the state capitol at st. Paul yes
terday were turned away at the doors
by the guards with the statement sThe
capitol IS not open to visitors Sundays
and holidays. =
The front door was kept unlocked for
the benefit of state officials who desired
were disappointed. This is in accord
ance with rule adopted last spring by
the capitol commission, closing the capi-
tOl to visitors on Sundays and public
holidays. This rule has caused consid-
cradle adverse cOmmmenlt on the part
of the public generally. Allegorical
and historical works of art of national
repute in the Minnesota capitol cost
over $ll1,000.
If the art riches can be sufficiently
guarded from vandalism, and I believe
they can, | would certainly favor let
| ting the public visit the capitol Sun
/ days and holidays said E.: w. Her
rick, the Minneapolis attorney, today.
I "Of course, it would be lamentable to
have, the vandalism Of the opening
and various little things taken by SOU
venir hunters repeated, yet it would
seem that by employment Of suffi-
| cient number Of capitol attendants, a
repetition Of such vandalism could be
prevented. Opening the building on
holidays and Sundays will let in a GER
tain element that would come at no
other time, but the advantage to the
and who are employed during the hours
on week days when the building is
open, should be kept in sight: The ex-
pertinent might at least be tried. If it
is found now that vandalism cannot be
i prevented 1 believe public sentiment
will call for the closing of the building
! again. But give the people the oppor,
tunlty once more.''
! q. G. Gale, prominent member OF
the Society of Fine Arts, is also in
| favor of throwing the capitol open tc
! ri should like to see the capitol KEEP
open holidays and Sundays within rea
:; sonable hours,'' he said. FPerhaps
would be well as far as the Sundays al
concerned. to have it open only after
Moons. This would give the capito
guides half the day, and would throw
the building open after people have bee
the time to visit the building. The Gus
tom of the day is to open all art ex
$ hibits to the public Sundays and hol
days, as such public exhibits are highl
J educat ional. Why then. should the cap
! toll be an exception9 Thus to close tn
:, capitol is like an echo of the past.''
> John De Laittre, the Minneapoli
T member Of the capitol commission,
q not averse to having the building KEEP
: open every day. s-.- ~. IT,.
f IF there is a general demand tina
g the building be opened Sundays an
f holidays, do not think the capitol con
t mission would oppose the desire,'' h
d said this morning. "There are, how
g ever, two sides to the question. Sue
: action would mean that the capitol en-
ployees would have to work seven day
l. in the week and every day in the yea
= which they doubtless do not desire t
n do. Of course, too, there would be a.
!. ditional expense. The employees wou]
l. have to be paid. for their extra tim
8 the building would have to be heate
q and the lighting would be quite an tier
l., Then there is the matter Of damage
8 the building by hoodlums. They wou1
! have more chance Sundays, than wee
I 4 days to get in their bad work. Sunda,
4 all the offices would be closed and on
! the corridors open. I would not fav'
: having the governors reception roo
opened Sundays and holidays unle
l. someone is on hand to watch things ar
protect it. To tell the truth, 1 ha,
= given the subject little thought. Y
y [ am sure the capitol commission do
y not intend to be arbitrary and go co
y trary in the matter to what the Peep
= generally desire and what is at the san
= time best for the protection of the w
= liable things within the building.''