Evening star., 1921-05-18
FREE ART LAUDEO
ASPUBL|C BENEFIT
President of Federation, in
Session Here, Notes Great
Increase in Collections.


Increase in Collections.
The present policy of free art for
the United States has more than
justified itself: has resulted in an
! astonishing development of art col
l.ctions of all sizes. and has Increased
the opportunity of every man. woman
and child TO see. learn and enjoy. ac-
cording to Robert w. De Forest. presi-
dent of the American Federation OF
Arts. in his address from the chair
delivered this morning. AT the nrst
session of the three-day twelfth an
nual convention of that organize tlon
All business meetings are hello IN the
Corcoran Gallery of Art.
President De Forest reminded ms
hearers who included artists. art
lovers and patrons and representa-
tiveS of most of the museums OF art
that this free art policy is one LOT
which the federation stands. and ex-
horted every member. as an ultimate
consumer" to fight against any re-
currence of a tax on art.
His remarks were supplemented by
.Iohn Quinn. repreSe nting the ASsocla"
ton of American Painters and Sculptors
who is himself a notable collector and
sentative Oscar w. Underwood in writ
ing the art section Of the tariff which
restored free art to this country. Both
agreed that it is 'finConceivab!" that
the American people should have to
wage this fight all over again.
Progress in Activities.
Notable progress in all the fedora
tons activities, despite disturbed post
war conditions. were set forth by Miss
Leila Mechlin. in her report as secre-
tary. Chapters, she announced. nave
increased from 23S to 2,3. She said
700 individual new members have been
added and a new branch established
at Lincoln. Neb. Illustrated lectures.
portfolio service for remote sections.
literature for the establishment of art
centers. were all reported as increased.
while the exhibits of paintings. etchings.
federation were during the past year
more numerous and more varied than
ever before.
We must think with. rather than
for. people said Miss Mechlin in ref
erence To the present craving for sem
sation and novelty which evidences
itself in art as in every other realm
of life. The federation's function. she
emphasized. is TO help and guide art
hungry citizens and to take seriously
such actual inquiries as these: Were
American artists noted in Titian's
day. and If so. who were theye' and
Can you tell me some one able to
furnish us with a comprehensive ff-
teen-minute address on Art Past and
Present.
Welcomed by Col Sheriff..
Lieut.. Col. c. o. Sheriff.. officer in
charge Of public buildings and
grounds and secretary Of the Com
delegates. The report of the treas
urer and Of the extension secretary
and A report on the progress of the
western Office also were given at th..
morning session. which closed with a
demonstration of the illustrated lee
lures circulated by the federation.
Following luncheon at the Hotel
PoWhatan. residential headquarters,
the convention met again at pm TO
listen to addresses by Ross Crane of
the Art institute of Chicago: l.. VI.
Churbuck, director of art of the
art department of the st. Louis
Library: Allen Eaton. specialist in ar,
in the schools. and John p. Braun,
president Of the Philadelphia Art AL
lance.
At O'Clock the delegates will in
spect the British arts and crafts ex-
hibition at the Corcoran Gallery
while tonight. from until IL o'clock
they Will attend d reception at the
National Gallery of Art in the New
Nationa! Museum and view the ex-
hibition Of war portraits by eminent
American artists. Three sessions are
hedUied for tomorrow and the con-
vention will close Saturday with cx-
cursions to Mount Vernon Ar!ington
and th- Cathedral and dinner at
RauschsrS.
OfEirers Of Federation.
Other officers Of the federation are:
Charles l. Hutchinson FIRST vice pres
1d Int iaiE a hHI
secretary: Charles u. Norton. treas
urer: Richard +. Bach, extension See
rotary. and Irene NJ. Richards, as
sistant treasurer
White. Washington: Cecilia Beaux,
New York; w. X. Bixby. ST. Louis
+, II Blashheid. New York: Glenn
Brown. " Washington; &. 7. crocker
san Francisco; \. r. GalIatin New
York; William O. Goodman. Chicago:
EFT, Sante Fe: Archer NJ. Huntington.
N-~ YORK: Alexander X. I.awton
Savannah: John f.. Lewis Philadel-
pt..a; =, II. Libhey. Toledo: William
3, Sanders. Cleveland; J. Il. Van Der
lip. Minneapolis and \. y. Hamcr-
sCh1ag. Pitts sburgh.
The board Of directors is composed
of Mrs. john ". Alexander. Andrew
Wright Crawford. John W Beatty,
Charles l.. Hutchinson. II. W. Kent,
Florence y. Levy. EiIhu Root, Joseph
, i Wid"ner. James Barnes. Helen &.
f'rick. Cass Gilbert. Francis C. Jones
Charles Moore. Charles D. Norton.
duncan Phillips. Edward Robinson,
Herbert Adams. George q. Booth.
Charles A. Coolidge Robert W de-
Forest. OTTO H. Kahn. Charles Allen
Mum. Mrs. Gustav Radcke and G.. u.
Seymour.
Host-S~es for the visitors are: Mrs
Mlnnirerode Andrews, Mrs. H. X.
Bush Brown. Miss Haiti. f. BurcIette
Mrs. X. - Cheney. Mrs. George f:us-
tis-corcordn, Miss Catherine Critcher
Mrs. +. a. Delano. Mrs. Charles NJ
tf"u!ke. Mrs. William H Holmes. Mrs.
Walter Bruce Howe. Miss Lesley
| Jack son. Mrs. l.. Norris I.eisenring
! Miss Bertha Noyes. Miss Rertha r,
! pcrrIe. Mrs. Charles ". Richardson,
| Mrs, L. MacD. Sleeth. Miss Grace Lin
| colin Temp!c and Mrs Margaret Zifn