Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-04-22
WORK To RAISE
ART STANDARD
Commission of 7 Men Who
Serve Without Pay, Make up
the Commission of Fine Arts
BY w. s. MANN.

copyright, l9ZV. Dy Inc Washing Ton
Starr
WASHINGTON, April 22.-IhouSn
for the present engrossed with such
issues as peace terms, railroad strikes,
food profteers and a presidential cam
paign, the federal government IS not
negiecting some less spectacular acttvi-
ties, and with but little attention from
the general public seven men of ability
are working to raise the OIL
art and architecture for whieh the
federol government is responsible
above the criticisms that have been d.
lrected against it in the past.
These seven men, who serve without
salaries, comprise the commission or
fine arts and from a samll beginning
their field has been extended until IL
includes passing judgment on designs
for government buildings costing
millions, down to selecting the small
tsVictory Button that an h~onorably
discharged service mall wears on mis-
lapel. The wal with Germany has
I resulted in much additional work
{being put before the commission. and
though essentially a national body,
organized by act of congress, 1t IS CO.
operating with states and municipal
ties in selecting suitable memorials
for those who served the flag.
At the request of the secretary OF
WAR the commission directed the de-
signing of a victory medal that the
government will give to every mai
land woman who served in the army
navy or marine corps during h war,
lit approved the victory button issued
Ito those discharged from the service
land has directed the work of design
ing several OF the medals given FOL
igallantry or distinguished service
OF the soldiers who died abroad it /:
respected that more than 10000 viii
remain buried In American "held o
Honor" cemeteries overseas and a
each grave will be a simple but digni
fled headstone after a design approves
by the fine arts commission.
;, The intention is to have these head
stones uniform in size, alike for OF
hcers and privates, and the deslgi
: (which has been approved is the wori
of Charles A. Platt. The eomnalssio
{ also will be consulted as to the land
Escape treatment of the cemeteries a
well as the gateway and 1agpole de
; signs. :,
: Every man who was wounded o.
enemy fire will be given a certlhcat
: by the war department.. and the mex
{ of kin Of those who died in the ser
l Twice will receive a similar menehte
the design having been selected by tn
, fine arts commission. The navy oe
partment will give a bronze plaqu
Z TO the next of kin of those Wn
died In it's service and the commisaiol
5 is now cooperating with departmer
officials as to its design.
e Even the unframed eye may fin
much to criticise in some of the rae
MORALS erected in Washington 20 Tn
memory of men who served with dis
/ tinction in wars previous to that Wiz
Germany and it is the task or tn
I commission as a matter of regard 10
p the national heroes and considerable
\ for the beauty of the national cap
: ital to see that such Is not true o
! future memorials.
IT The late Augustus Saint-Guaden'
foremost Of American sculptors, wa
once asked If he did not think all tn
efigfes in the public an
Z Iplots of Washington should be place
in one group.
. Yes" was the answer. I'm
should be put on n group ana
d high board fence built aroun them.
Only a few days ago the commits
sion was called oil to say whethe
a carving by a certain French SculI
ttor showing an American marine 1
I faction and entitled "A Crusader re
the Right" was worthy of a place
{ washington, and it decided adverse
lv. This attracted some attention
for usually the commission passes !
Judgment on tho design before II
iactual carving is undertaken.
The large construction operation
now under way which will add vel
much to the beauty of the nations