Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1916-01-19
MUSEUM BOARD
DOES NOT FAVOR
STAND BY DANA
Librarian Fails in Effort to
Force Expression from Me-
mortal Committee.
SOUGHT TO DEFINE USE
OF PROPOSED BUILDING
Motion Was Calculated to
Cause Trouble, Says Justice
Swayze-PIea for Harmony.

The board of trustees of the Newark
Museum had an opportunity yester-
day afternoon at its meeting to go on
record as approving the stand that
City Librarian John Cotton Dana has
taken in the controversy over the me
mortal building site. and failed to
take advantage of the chance.
An endeavor by Mr.. Dana to in
volve the museum trustees III q con-
troversy with the memorial commit
tee died a-borning at the meeting. 1t
came in the shape of a motion to re-
quest the memorial building commit
ee to make known what its intentions
are with regard to the relation of the
museum to the new building On per
ceivins the reception given his motion
Mr. Dana Withdrew it.
Supreme Court Justice Francis w.
sswayse, former Governor Franklin
Murphy and Christian W. Feigenspan
opposed the motion. Wallace NJ. Scud-
der, publisher and owner of the New
ark Evening News and MIR. Dana S
associate in the recent endeavor to
liscredit the memorial building com
nittee, was half-heatted in his al
legiance to the motion. He seconded
~ DuL pl pitSotu III the lHilt ne WIS
doubtful Of its wisdom. Later he came
out fatty with the declaration that he
believed it premature.
Justice Swayze did not hesitate to
say the motion was calculated to start
a row. Mr. Murphy said Ii was the
memorial buildings intention to in
vite the criticism of both Mr. Dana
and Mr.. Scudder's newspaper The
former governor felt the museum as
soclation lad no need to worcy that
IS interests wouldn't be looked out
FOR.
Hint by Mr.. Swayze.
Incidentally. Justice Swayze hint
I'd his early resignation from the as
sociation might be expected. If any
litigation developed over the museum
collections he would be unable to
continue in the body he felt
The object of Mr.. Dana's motion, it
was understood, was to force the is
sue and have showdown OF the
memorial building committees inten-
ions as to tho disposition of the
museum collections. IT provided not.
Tor consideration of the matter by
he trustees of the association. of
whom there are fifty-five, but by the
entire association. whose membership
s about 500. Only a dozen of the
trustees were present yesterday.
The discussion was begun by Mr..
Dana at the close of his usual report
as director. He said:
Il want TO say something about
the future of this institution. We
are all quite familiar with the sub
iect of the site for the memorial
uilding. First. | want to say this
or myself. that I think the impress
sion is abroad and it Is quite an err
roneous one. tlsat the interest | have
IN the institution and it's future is
hat / hope to get something from it;
perhaps that ] would be asked to
AXE charge when it Is put in the new
building.
"I have repeatedly said that does
not enter into my mind at all. have
repeatedly said the trustees and my
elf are merely nursing an infant here,
ieeping my hand on 1t because 1t is
difficult for two individuals to have
charge of two institutions related as
are these two. I look forward to the
lime when 1t will have quarters out
side, and have said that then would
let go of it entirely.
Absurd Idea TO Stay.
"It would be absurd for one man to
conduct both institutions. Indeed, l
have tried to get people to relieve me,
and the sooner the institution is out
my hands and In those of a competent
director the better | shall be pleased.
4 fortunate thing happened in the de-
Veiopment of the memorial building.
It was supposed that all the museums
possessions would be housed there.
II was supposed that, there being four
members of this association on the
memorial building committee, that
they would consider, not so seriously
my own motion, but that they would
consider yours.
"But 1t has not been said whether
the. institution Is to be in your charge
in that building. A motion to find out
where we stand is the obvious thing.
The city will look to you in the future
20 ask if you have devc'oped 1t prop
orly, have housed it properly.
This institution is almost entirely
r. mtl1icipal one. In the long run the
voters will decide whether you have
so administered 1t that they think it
worth while to vote more money for
il. Although you have absolute
control you have called in 500 other
citizers and have given them to
understand that they are partakers
in the responsibility, and therefore
should share in the decision of inn
podtant questions. This being so, 7
think we should draw them into o
conference now.
II move that we address the me-
mortal building committee and ask
what its intentions are with regard
10 the relation of this body TO the
new building, and then that a special
meeting of the trustees be called to
consider the answer of the memorial
building committee"