The Detroit times., 1913-02-01
Attorney James Swan for w. G.
Weber Furiously Attacks
Donaldson Plans
LIE is PASSED IN
LIVELY SQUABBLE
Weber Accused by Bryant Walk
er of "Wilful and Delhi
crate FalsChOOd"


tentative plans for the new art
museum, and that there are wide diff
ferences. OF opinion as TO how the
first 81 100000 to be devoted TO an
art center shall be spent, was held in
Mayor Marks Office, Friday after
noon. Representatives were present
from the board OF trustees OF the De-
troit Museum of Art, the School OF
Design, the Detroit Federation OF Wo-
mems clubs, various musical organiza-
lions and the plain people. DR.. Eugene
Rodman Shipper. pastor OF the First
Unitarian church, summed up the
situation when he said
You have given the work OF hous-
ing three different institutions to the
board OF trustees of one OF them.
/ They have given US design for a
great art museum. II seems to me
/ that the interests OF education In art
and those OF the musical public have
not been considered. It might be
we'll TO appoint body representative
OF the three interests. and have it
adopt plans subject TO a proper refer
endum to the people"
| The feature OF the debate were At
torney James Swans presentation OF
the case in behalf OF William c. Web
sr. insurgent member of the board OF
I trustees OF the Museum OF Art, and
the attempt OF Bryant Walker, presi'
dent OF the board, to excoriate Mr..
/ Weber
Mr.. Swan said that Il Is necessary
to keep faith with the people who
have subscribed s25. 5000 for the School
OF Design. and that TO construct a
/ building which contained nothing for
the school but two toilet rooms IL q
breach OF faith. He declared that
the trustees never had in mind any
thing but separate buildings until the
present plans were adopted. He charg-
ed that the plans Of Donaldson q
Meier almost duplicate plans which
Minneapolis discarded He charac-
tcrized the building proposed for the
first unit OF the Detroit scheme as re-
sembling a large dill pickle.
sir. Walker. in reply to Mr.. Swan
and to Mr.. Weber's printed pamphlet
in opposition to the boards plans,
said that there Is no intention of plac-
ing the heating plant within the art
museum.
| Il might comment" he said, ION
the consistency of man who with
out conjunction would put In the
center OF this building all the scenery
and infiammablo material connected
with an opera house, and then say
that he had proper regard for the
safety Of our art treasures
There was an argument over some
letters which, 1t was claimed, had
been lost.
IF this were the time for discus
sing ethics" said Mr.. Walker, 81
would now discuss the pure motives
and the abiding faith that the end
justlfes the means, that a man must
have who publishes and circulates
the paragraph which shall now
read"
He read froa Mr.. Webers pamphlet
concerning the loss Of the letters.
THAT statement Is absolutely and en-
tirely untrue, and Mr.. Weber knew II
when he wrote II and printed It," he
said.
Mr.. Weber leaped to his feet.
May l interrupt" he aDked II
deny that statement In toto"
Il said that lost the letters" Mr.,
Walker came back. You say that
Mr.. Donaldson suppressed them for
his own purposes"
81 say nothing OF the Sort" retort-
ed Mr.. Weber
Mr.. walker brandished the pamph-
let.
The letters are lost?" Mr.. Weber
inquired, suavoly.
They are" Mr.. Walker replied.
Mr. Weber sat down, while his sup
porters applsuded. Mr., Weber then
cxi lained how he, not Mr.. Donaldson.
had lost the letters. and how he had
told Mr.. Weber Of the situation.
Il apologized for my carelessness
and Mr.. Weber said that he had
copies" said Mr.. Walker.
IL did not tell you that had
copies" Mr. Weber said.
II think you did" retorted Mr..
Walker Your printed paragraph
here is a wilful and deliberate false
hood and a scurrilous insinuation. a
wicked and malicious libel for which
Mr.. Donaldson could bring proceedings
against you In a suit at law"
There Is no insinuation." cried Mr..
| Weber. II would not insinuate that
Mr. Donaldson did anything wrong I
have the highest opinion OF Mr.. Don
a!dson."
| Mr.. Walker denied that the museum
trustees had ever held a secret SEES
sion. to which Mr.. Weber had not teen
| invited. He explained that he had
! invited few friends. who happened
TO be members OF the board, TO din
ner, but denied that they had talked
bver the muFeum plans.
Dropping Mr.. Weber. Mr. Walker
then explained the attitude OF the
trustees He said that the plan OF
civic center demanded that as there
4, is 10 be a single library building.
! there must be single building oppo
site It. built on the same axis. lie
! produced letters from Charles L.
Freer Carl Melchers and Frank c.
! Baldwin In support OF his contention
1 He said that Frank Miles Day, OF
Philadelphia, who has been employed
! by the public library commission as
its special advising architect. IL ex-
aiming the museum plans, and will
soon report on their harmony or lack
o. harmony with the library plans
IL think II Ill-considered 10 hold a
many-sided public discussion when
those in charge OF the work arc un.
, able 10 crystallize their own cpir.
ions" Mr.. walker said II regret that
'"is rneetino hos been called before
3, Mr. Day can formulate his report"
Mr.. Walker declared that the music
han is subsidiary 10 the art museum,
as II also the School OF Design He
said that one thing had been definite.
" decided-that no provision would