New-York tribune., 1910-12-29
BAR HOWE PORTRAIT
FROM FANEU|L HALL
Action of Boston Municipal Art
Commission StirS Up
Hornets Nest.
MAYOR DEMANDS HEARING
Rumor That Board Feared Suf-
frage Fight-ohn Elliott,
Engaged to Paint Au-
thor's Picture, Ill.
[By Telegraph to The Tribune.1


Boston, Dec. 28.-Members Of patriotic
local suffragists, politicians and many
others are up in arms over the decision
Of the Municipal Art Commission of this
city that d portrait of Mrs. Julia Ward
Howe should not be added to the col
lection of notable persons whose por-
traits adorn the walls of Faneul Hall.
Mayor Fitzgerald said tonight: i
shall demand public hearing Of the art
commission in this matter"
II could not talk on this matter and
retain my dignity" was the only COM
ment Of Mrs. Maude Howe Elliott
daughter of Mrs. Howe anG wife Of John
Elliott, the artist who was to paint the
portrait of his mother-in for The
Cradle of Liberty"
Mr.. Elliott is now SO Ill at his home
in the Back Bay that his wife dare not
tell him of the decision of the art COM
mission. fearing the disappointment
would prove dangerous to him in his
weakened condition.
The commission met and decided that
a more appropriate memorial to Mrs.
Howe would be bust and that more
appropriate place for the bust would be
the Boston Public Library
Statement from Chairman.
THE commission has considered the
broad question Of the memorial itself and
the place for it, said Thomas Allen,
chairman Of the art commission. THE
commission has given no reasons for its
decision. There are several reasons and
if the public is anxious to know them
I believe that the commission will make
them public. The commissions decision.
however, is not final in all matters of
art"
The art commission consists besides
Mr.. Allen. of J. Templeman Coolidge, jr.,
Alexander w. LongfelloW, Arthur F.
Estabrook and Charles D. Maginnis.
Nothing that has taken place at the
City Hall for years has caused more sur
prise than the action of the art COM
mission. Friends of Mrs. Howe and
those who knew her only by reputation
expressed Indignation that the commits
sion should reject any proposition to put
in Faneuii Hall an oil painting Of the
author of The Battle Hymn of the Re-
public
Many declared that there was no more
appropriate place for Mrs. Howe's por-
trait than Faneuil Hall, where it might
be put side by side with those of Wash
ington. Samuel and John Quincy Adams,
General Warren, John Hancock Daniel
Webster, Abraham Lincoln, Wendell
Phillips, Charles Sumner, Governor An
drew and Edward Everett. Friends of
Mrs. Howe declare that the placing of
her picture In such company would be a
distinction which Mrs. Howe. the con-
temporary of some of those named. richly
deserves. Mayor Fitzgerald believes
that in grateful recognition of the
American Womanhood of which Mrs
Howe was SO eminent type, place
should be provided for her picture in
Faneuil Hall. The fact that the art
commission rejected the plans for an oil
painting after a commission had been
awarded to Mrs. Howe's son-in- law, John
c. Elliott, is also remarked on.
Rumors at City Hall had it to-day
that the commission rejected the propo-
sition for two reasons, one that there Is
no room for the painting there and an
other that a portrait cannot be ade-
quately executed in Boston. An unoffi-
cial explanation given at City Hall was
that the art commission feared it might
raise womans suffrage question
It was the Julia Ward Howe memo
rial committees plan to have a portrait
Of Mrs. Howe in Faneuil Hall. The COM
mittee includes Governor Draper. the
Rev DR.. Samuel A Eliot, Mrs. James T.
Fields. Governor elect Foss, Francis
j. Garrison, Professor and Mrs. James
Geddes. jr. Ex-Governor Curtis Guild,
jr., Major Henry l.. Higginson, Professor
Theodore p Ion, Mrs. Mary Morton ke-
hew Bishop Lawrence. Joseph Lee and
Governor John ID. Long.
Only Three Hours from Broadway
To Atlantic City. Pennsylvania Railroad
through trains from new Pennsylvania Sta
tiop Special returning trains January 2