New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-17
WOMEN At WAR WITH
ARCHITECTS INSTITUTE
Members of University Club
Perfectly Furious" Over
Circular Sent Out.
NEW CLUBHOUSE CAUSE
Charge Resented Is That Organ
ization with Home in Madison
Avenue Violated Rules for
Architectural Competition.

Perfectly furious" is the way mem
bers of the Women's University club.
in Madison avenue, said they were
feeling last night about circular
which the New York Chapter Of the
American Institute OF Architects has
issued to its members. The circular
referred to the manner in which the
women selected the plans for their new
500 900 club as "A violation Of the rules
for architectural competition, even to
the extent Of being "a singularly ila-
grant instance requiring special and
unusual action"
The women further declare that the
opening paragraph Of the circular is
an absolute mo. The paragraph fol-
lows:
The committee on competitions is in
formed that q competition is being, or
is about TO be. held, for the WOmen's
University Club. The committees at
tention was directed some time ago to
the programme for this competition,
which. as it failed entirely 10 comply
with institute requirements, could not
receive approval.
TO prove how untrue the paragraph
is. the women say the competition is
not being held nor even about to
be held" but as "A matter Of fact is all
over with. Moreover, 1t was not
competition at all II was just the Sc
lection of an architect 10 build their
nd ha pit nh
members cannot understand why the
Institute Of Architects should have any
say.
The American Institute of Archi-
tects has nothing to do with it, said
G. Grant La Fargo. president Of the
New York chapter, last night. He
added.
However. the local chapter is bound
by the rules of the parent BODY in re-
gard To- professional and ethical con-
duct These rules govern competitions
I'm the interests Of fair play both a.
between the members Of the profession
and the owners 81 buildings. We eN-
pregsly disClaim any attempt 10 dictate
10 owners. although We 90 advise own
ers as tn what the institute believes 10
be wise conduct iu regard 20 compeu-
tiuus.
Rut with members II is different
They are told under what conditions II
is proper and what opproper for them
To- enter competition. the pro-
grammc of this competition was SUB
u,ittcd 10 the proper committee Of the
local chaptcr of the institute, which
found that 10 was not in conformity M
any respect with our rules II was
therefore improper for any Of our mem
bers 10 participate.
IN our circular 10 members We state.
you viii please take notice tnat par
tiripation in this competition under
the circumstances at present existing
will inevitably be AN act Of improves
slonal conduct, demanding prompt ana /
thorough action on the part OF the
chapter authorities Tho penalty for
vIolotiuc the rules Of the institute may
be anything from mild crnsure 4" rN-
pulsion from the organization.
The Women's University club, said /
Mr.. la Fargo. had nothing TO do with
the matter, nor did the institute have
ANYTHING TO do with the clubs building
project. He said he did not want to
engage in any controversy with them.
He declared it was purely matter OF
internal discipline, and although the
institute would do nothing in regard to
the club Il would investigate the con- /
duct OF it's members. The matter Of
the competition was now under In
vestigation, he said, by the proper COM /
mittee.
Mrs. william Il Hayes. Of No. 969
Park avenue, president OF the realty
company Of the Women's University /
Club. which -as charge Of the build /
ing Of the new home, gave out for pub /
LEGATION last night the contents Of a
circular recently sent TO members OF
the club. The circular is as follows:
The Joint building committee Of the !
Women's University Club and the
Realty Company. having now decided
by vote upon the architects for the new
clubhouse and accepted their plans. |
desire To inform all club members of
this action and the reasons therefor.
In consequence of a somewhat widely |
EXPRESSED sentiment among club MEM |
bers. the cOmmttee felt that IL would !
be wise to hold q formal though unpaid
competition among certain number OF
reputable architects, according to the /
rules of the American Institute OF
Architects. These rules require. in the
first place. the employment Of an archi- |
tcctural adviser, and after careful con-
sideration Mr. Austin w. Lord, pro-
fessor Of architecture at Columbia |
University and a member Of the firm of
Lord, Hewlett 81 Tallant. was invited
to act i'm that capacity. His advice was
strongly against competition, his
chief reasons being, first, the expense, !
and. second. the delay.
Even I'm a so-called unpaid" COM
petition the expenses are considerable, !
amounting to at least $500, and al |
though the cost might have been met |
by private generosity. there still re-
NAMED the delay which Mr.. Lord |
thought would be very detrimental to
our scheme. At least II would be two |
months before plans could be submitted !
and a decision reached then the max !
ing Of working drawings and getting |
of builders estimates would SIN fur
Their delay us. so that the actual be- !
ginning Of work might easily have been !
postponed until 1pring.
A large number Of architects had |
made application to he considered, and |
a list OF these was given to Mr.. Lord |
who chose from among them ten any |
one Of whom would meet his approval |
From these your committee has chosen |
nv ballot the firm of Nelson & Van |
Wagenen.
The club has $4,000 already sub
scrihad toward it's building and is |