Evening star., 1915-05-12
ARTS DEPARTMENT
FOR j. s. IS URGED
Former Ambassador White
Would Put a Member of the
Cabinet at Its Head.
CITES POSSIBLE VALUE
IN NATIONS GROWTH
Speaks at Opening Session of Ameri-
can Federation of Arts Con-
vention Here.

The establishment of department
of arts in the national government,
similar to the departments in the gov
ernments of France and Italy. was
strongly advocated by Henry White.
formerly United States ambassador to
Italy and France, at the opening ses-
sion of the sixth annual convention of
the American Federation of Arts in
the New Willard Hotel today.
The establishment of department
or arts, with a member of the cabinet
at it's head. or, at the very least. the
esta blishment of a bureau of art in
the national government, will go far
toward 1urtherlng the proper de-
velopment of the artistic in this conn
try said Mr.. White. He declared that
the American Federation of Arts was
in a position to do much toward bring
ing about the realization of this sug-
gestion.
Value of Art to Nation.
Mr.. Whites subject of discussion be-
fore the federation was The Value of
Art to a Nation" He said that art was
of inestimable value to any nation !:
that the appreciation and cultivation of
art had played leading part in the
development of all nations which had
made progress during the history of
the world.
Art and culture go hand in hand
said Mr.. White. The most civilized
countries are those which have attain
ed the highest in art and culture l
cannot. perhaps: claim these distinc-
tions for the United States at this
time, but ] hope that such a claim
may be justly made in the future"
Of Benefit to Humanity.
! Mr.. White said that the country had
first begun to realize its possibilities
| in matter of art development at the
Chicago exposition. which was planned
| by a group of celebrated American
artists and architects. including Au-
| gustus ST Gaudens and Henry D. Burn
| ham He said that until recently 1t
had been generally believed that only
chosen few could benefit from the
| development of art. This misconcep-
White. '"rhe people are rapidly find
| ing out that the faculty Of seeing
beauty is not confined to the few. but
| can be developed in all Art is the
greatest benefit to humanity 1t ele-
| Yates the thoughts and creates a
| brings about a more human way OF
thinking. The whole community should
| be brought to appreciate art If 1t is to
| be of value to the country. Public
| buildings and parks should be made
| artistically beautiful and the exterior
aud interior decorations of the homes,
| however humble. should be made pleas
| ing to the eye"
Mr.. White said that the American
nation. due largely to the ideas OF the
| Puritan fathers and to the fight made
| in the early history of the republic to
develop the material resources of the
| country, had been hard and dry" SO
far as the artistic was concerned
Change in Recent Years.
| But there has been complete
change in recent years" said Mr. White
This country is now becoming by far
| the most interesting country in the
world to live in. owing to vast de-
velopment in art and science and cul-
ture. 1 believe that the population OF
great artists and of appreciating ar
| tistic beauty"
| Mr.. White complimented the fine arts
commission upon the work 1t has done
in Washington and elsewhere in the
| country Already 1t has prevented
| some artistic horrors in the matter OF
statues and buildings from being
| erected in Washington, similar to some
| which now desecrate the city" he said
| He spoke of the beauties of Potomac
| Park which had recently been a hid
| eous spot. He urged that laws provid-
ing for the development of the artistic
| be enacted in the various states.
Turning to the more material side, he