The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-08-04
ARTISTS LEAGUE
To GIVE COMST0Ck
FIGHT To FINISH

New York. Aug 4-Anthony Comstock
who went over the head OF Police Cap
tain Zimmerman OF the West Forty-sev-
enth street station and raided the Art
Students League In West Fffty-seventn
street. Thursday, hurried away to the sol-
itude OF Summit, n j., yestrdaye after
noon just about the time the artists be-
gan TO telephone from nearby resorts
that they were coming back TO see about
IL.
All day long the league steps were
sprinkled with artists, some famous and
some that are going TO be. and all were
OF one opinion about this latest raid" by
New York's self-constituted moral street
CLEANING department.
At noon Arthur ~. Fuller, president OF
the league. telephoned from Boston that
he would leave for New York immt Hate
ly 10 consult with the Art Schools law
yer. r. G. Crowley, and some officers OF
the league at a meeting TO be held I'M the
Fine Arts building in the evening. Presi-
dent Fuller. Mr.. Crowley and three offi-
GERS OF the league. who refused their
names came TO the school office about 8
o'clock and retired TO one OF the meet
ing rooms upstairs where they discussed
what action they would take.
An hour and q half later the meeting
adjourned TO a restaurant, where a state
ment OF the leagues views was prepa red
over the coffee and things. Then the meet
ing returned 10 the Fine Arts building
and the lawyer gathered the reporters
around him
II am authorized by the officers OF the
league began Mr. Crowley rs he took
his stand without a blush directly be-
meath life class study I'm oil OF a girl
supporting a copper urn on her shoulder
a nd In l-k& n
give you the following statement o. the
leagues views OF this affair."
Then. while the reporters sat with their
backs TO the picture. Mr.. Crowley dicta-
ted as follows:
In view OF the unwarranted and alb.
surd action OF Mr. Comstock in relation
TO the Art Students League catalogue a
few facts concerning the league will be
OF interest
The Art Students League of New
York stands at the head OF the art schools
or the country The corps OF instructors
contains the names OF men Of marked
character and distinction. II has for years
maintained the highest standards In It's
Instructors and government. ana neorIy
all the principal artists OF the country
are its graduates
Ihat school OF this character should
DE subjected 10 this sensational attack
py MT Comstock is outrageous The
league had not the slightest intima tion
that its publications could be considere,
in the slightest degree Objectionable until
Comstocks sudden arrest OF an entirely
innocent and unprotected girl employe.
concerning the pamphlets themselves
copies OF them were transmitted through
the mails with the full knowledge ant
consent OF the postal authorities This az
TACK is not on the league alone, but on al
arusts' and 1t Is needless TO say that IN,
league Will push the fight vigorously.
L am satisfied from what / know q
the case at present., continued Mr.. Crow
ley. that Mr.. Comstock, although tech
nlcaily within the law, has acted with ex
cessive zeal. and we shall fight this ca .
| to the limit"
Most OF the artists were out OF town
out those who could be found were unan
imous In declaring that the raid was ont
rageous and that II would do much 70 "a
tard the efforts OF local art workers n
make New ork an art centre.