The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-06
From the New York Sun.

From the New York Sun.
IN NTHONY COMSTOCK, who went
WIN over the head of Police Captain
Zimmerman of West Forty-sev-
enth street station and raided the Art
Students League in West F'ifty-seventh
street on Thursday. cut for the tall tim
Der of Summit, N. J., yesterday afternoon,
just about the time the artists began to
telephone from nearby resorts that they
were coming back to see about it.
All day long the league steps were sprin-
killed. with artists, some famous and some
that are going to be just as soon as they
get their Stride and all were of one
opinion about this latest raid by New
York's self constituted Moral Street
Cleaning Department At noon Arthur n.
Fuller president of the league telephoned
from Boston that he would leave for
New York Immediately to consult with
the Art Schools lawyer. e. C. Crowley
and some officers of the league at meet
ing to be held In the Fine Art Buildings
last night And all day long Miss Anna
Robinson, the comedy little bookkeeper of
the league, whom Comstock arrested for
handling ''obscene illustrations" began
to tremble at each platoon Of the camera
brigade arrived on the job and unslung
their weapons for action
President Fuller, Mr.. Crowley and three
officers of the league who refused to give
their names came to the school office
about 6 O'Clock last evening and retired to
one of the meeting rooms upstairs, where
they discussed what action they would
take. An hour and half later. the meet
ing adjourned to Pabst's Circle restaurant
where a statement of the leagues Views
was prepared over the coffee and things
Then the meeting returned to the Fine
Arts Building and the lawyer gathered
the reporters around him.
II am authorized by the officers of the
league" began Mr.. Crowley as he took
his stand without a blush directly be-
meath a life class study in oil of girl
supporting a copper urn on her shoulder
and dressed in sunlight and shadow, ito
give you the following statement of the
leagues views of their affairs.
Then while the reporters sat with their
backs to the picture Mr.. Crowley dictat-
ed:
In view Of the unwarranted and absurd
action of Mr.. Comstock in relation to the
Art Students League catalogue few
facts concerning the league will be of
interest.
"The Art Student League of New York
stands at the head of the art schools of
the country. The corps of instructors
contains the names of men of marked
character and distinction. 1t has for years
maintained the highest standards in its
Instructors and government and nearly
all the pi incipal artists of the country
are its graduates.
THAT a school of this character should
be subjected to this sensational attack
by Mr.. Comstock is outrageous The
league lad not the slightest intimation
that Its publications could be considered
In the slightest degree objectionable until
Comstoclx's sudden arrest of an entirely
innocent ard unprotected girl employee.
Concerning the phamphlets themselves
copies of them Mere transmitted through
the mails with the full knowledge and
consent of the postal authorities. This at
tack is not on the league alone. but on all
artists, and 1t is needless to say that the
league will rusi. the fight vigorously.
NOW gentlemen" said Mr.. Crowley
when he had finished the statement. that
is al the eT,iters OF the league Or myself
care to say on the subject.
Earlier in the day, however. Mr. Crow
ley had said a few more things, araorg
others that the arrest of Miss Robinson
would be used rs .est case; then when
her case is thrown ont of court, as Mr..
Crowley expects It will he. the Moral
Street Cleaning department will be
charged with false arrest and anything
that can be lodged against him.
II am satisfied from what know of the
case al present." continued Mr.. Crowley.
:that Mr.. Comstock, although technically
within the law, has acted with excessive
zeal, and we shall fight this case to the
limit"
Everett Shinn, the we'll known lllustra-
tor and mural painter, held an indigna-
ton meeting on the steps of the Fine Arts
building yesterday afternoon. Mr.. Shinl
has rented one of the large studios in the
school for the summer, and when word