Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-12
RECALLS HIS ASSOCIATES
Mr.. Norris Says italian Management
Acted in Bad Faith.
PAINTINGS IN DANGER OF FIRE
Would Have to Remain in Unin-
sured Pavilion in Order to
Share In Prizes.

RUNE November Il.-IrouDie which
had been brewing at the International art
exposition for some time boiled over to-
day and Harrison S. Morris. the Amer
lean commissioner. withdrew, at the same
time recalling his associates on the Amer
lean jury. William Henry Fox, art d.
rector, and Joseph Pennell, the artist.
Mr.. Fox, according to Mr.. Morris. re-
fused to resign and was dropped. The
American pavilion has been closed.
In a statement issued tonight Mr.. Nor
ris intimates that the Italian manage
ment acted in bad faith, with the result
| that the American exhibits. valued at half
a million dollars. must have been ex-
posed to a possible loss by fire if the
artists were to share in the prizes. He
explains that the insurance on the ex-
hibits had been permitted to lapse. fore
ing the closing of the American pavilion
On the last day OF October. In order that
It's contents might have the protection
which still covered the removal OF the
works to the United States.
Promises to renew the Insurance were
not fulfilled. he says while the manage
ment deliberately delayed the award of
prizes in order to keep the exposition
open. Meantime. It developed that Amer
fcan exhibitors were to be debarred from
open.
Other Nations Withdraw.
This rupture has caused a sensation
which has been increased by Mr.. Morris
statement, in which he says that Eng
land. France. Germany and Spain also
have withdrawn. The president of the
exhibition committee is Count Di San
Martino.
The American pavilion was opened April
e by King Victor Emmanuel and Queen
Helena, and has attracted much atten-
ton. October % his majesty purchased
Joseph Penneil. In his statement Mr..
Norris said:
1.-THE American pavilion was withdrawn
| from competition and the American
| Jurors have been recalled from the gen.
| eral jury of the international art exposl-
| ton. England. France. Germany and
Spain also have withdrawn.
THE American commissioner general
was willing to remain In the compel. ton.
but discovered through a London insur-
ance agent Of the italian committee that
a very large part of the premium on the
| firm insurance was still due and that all
the insurance on the American works
| would lapse October 81 If a balance of
$4,000 due was not aid Immediately. The
American commissioner could hold the
insurance on his $4,000 worth of pic
| lures and SCULPTURES only by closing the
American pavilion October 81, thus TAX
ing advantage of the transit insurance,
which was still good for two months.
Decide to Withdraw.
"The Italian committee was tremen-
dously active In trying to keep the exposi-
ton open during November. and pur-
posely delayed the award of prizes in
order to cause the various nations In the
competition to hold open beyond the an
nounced date. to obtain prizes which
should have been awarded last June.
1.-The American commissioner pressed
the Italian committee to pay the insur-
ance and promised to remain open. un-
der certain conditions. until November
Il If the very grave problem Of insur-
ance was solved The Italian committee
had not paid anything up to October 81.
and thus the American pavilion was
closed.
..The three American representatives
ON the jury were in ignorance that the
American works were not to be con-
sidered in the competitions unless the
American pavilion was open. and were
allowed to begin their duties when 1t
developed that the American pavilion
would be omitted by the Italian commit
tee.
Delayed Awarding Prizes.
The cause for closing the paVlnon
again was stated. and as no offer was
made to remove the very dangerous con-
ditions affecting other nations besides
the United States it was decided to
withdraw. recalling the American jurors,
/ Harrison 5. Morris, William II. Fox and
Joseph Pennell. from the jury. Mr.. Fox.
| who was placed on the jury by Mr. Nor
| ris as one OF his representatives, when
directed to resign, refused and was there
| fore dismissed from the service"
Notwithstanding the withdrawal OF the
| Americans, Mr.. Pennell has been elected
| a member OF the final jury of ten to make
n rdS