Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-07-24
MEREDITH IS TAKEN
TO TASK FOR VIEWS
ON WAR MEMORIAL
Marcellus Wright Pleads That
Virginia Architects Be
Given Chance.
SAYS OPEN COMPETITION
WOULD BE FAIR METHOD
Protests Will Be Renewed Be-
fore Joint Commission on
August IL.

views expressed 81. Wyndham T.
Meredith, member o.: tic War Mcnn-
''hI commission. and Jonn Il. Wilson
head or the construction company 10
winch has been awarded t,nta;iyoIv
the contract FOR the erection -. m,
>2.pOD.oO0 library-auG torlum as -
monument /" the services OF Virgin
lans in the world war. tina, none I'm,
an architect OF national reputation
should be selected to design The
ht Hiding. and tina; he should be chosen
without competition. drew the nr.
last nigh; Of Marccllus Z: Wright.
wc''-known Richmond architcc,
MI. wright makes plea for ,hc
members OF his profession in Virginia
declaring that it is only fair and iust
TO give them the chance 10 sbow
whether or not they measure nm IA
the professional standard So, for the
man who shall! submit the design for
the building which is TO be erected
with tn" money or Nirginiany to
nem"riaiizc the valor and patriotism
OF those men ana women OF thcir
own state who answered tn. call to
service in the great war.
DisHgrccs With Meredith.
Mr. Wrights views in the matter
are expressed by him as follows:
AT the meeting on July 20 of the
War Memorial Commission and state
Library Board. Mr.. Wilson. in his -c
marks made ii appear that all the
architects of national reputation in
tervicw by him approved OF the
boa'i's method OF selecting the ar
chitcct and were opposed to a com
petition.
IT is apparent. from the reading
OF letter received by me from enc
OF the gentlemen approached by Mir.
wilson. that he represented himself
IS one having authority TO select .ne
architect Ina sinc amy architect be-
Ing approached by a man represent
ing himself as above. holding in his
hand tac commission To design a
s"'O"O.0oo structure. and seeing the
probability or his selection as the
architect Tor such = gliding without
competition Would . %; ne foolish
20 dcnouncc such a method and urge
the holding oC competition? II he
had any Intelligence whatever. he
would say. DO not have a compcti-
ton. but YOU should by all means
select me as your architect
MIR. Wilson aud MIR. Wyndham Il.
Meredith urged the selection of an
architect who had had wide expert
ence in the designing of large build
ings and one VINO had a national rep
utation, thus eliminating every
architect in the state of Virginia.
II this principle was adhered TO IN
the handling of all building projects.
ell the work in the country would
soon be confined To some ten or
twelve architects. and the rest of us
+" ouid soon starvc Ia death or seek
ether employment. We have ALREADY
Begun 10 realize, in this connection.
uat to him lat hath shall he given
ara from him that hath not shall be
taken rwny even that which he hath
FINALLY. these few nationally known
architects would die ont and the pro-
!t:sion OF architecture would bc 4,
thing Of the past.
Hind {" HcEin Somewhere.
Th" present architects OF national
reputation had to make Il beginning
somewhere. and none of them would
ever have designed large and i'm
crtant building without having been
given Il chance. The architects OF
Virginia are pleading for such ct.
nance. and submit that there is no
Otter way I" Civ" this chance 10
grove our ability except to hold a fair
competition acco. ing to rules agreed
r1on ny th' W"inbcr| ,nc Amcri-
Continued OF rage IL. Col! p
Fifteen fcnrs for hank Ru,brry.
HAMILTON. ALA. July o3.-IIarlin