The New York herald., 1922-03-24
City Would Have to Pay
$150,0OO to Evade It's
Obligation.
SCULPTOR EMBARRASSED
Granddaughter of Donor In
sists on Erection of Mrs.
Cranes Gift.

'1hhiiS tiOA W ttQcIICh 3
vigorous young man striding forward
10 civic virtue over the writhing forms
of ignored sirens but to no less a per-
son that the Mayor, leader of the pack
which bays at MacMonnies's cele-
hrated work. and to the Mayors indi-
Gated intention Of preventing the
statue from being set up over the
fountain in City Hall Park.
Not a leg" repeated Henry Smith
firmly. THE vagaries of that remark
able mind now functioning or seeming
TO function in the Mayors Office have
never provided anything more weird
or grotesque than the opposition to
Mr.. MacMonnies's group and the rea-
sons on which the opposition purports
70 be based.
Let us assume that Mr.. Hylan's ia
miliarity with traditions OF art in Great
ing symbolisms and his cultivation in
every possible esthetic side OF life might
still permit him sincerely to object to
the McMonnies group on the ground
that it would be offensive to woman in
Eer new status.
Commis ission in Authority.
Even so. can it be possible that the
Mayor Of New York and a one-time
judge is ignorant of the specific defini-
tons Of law that apply to this contro-
versy and to all matters touching the
location of municipal art? The sole au-
thority Is the Art Commission.
Chapter u. Section 637 of the Greater
New York Charter provides that Here
after no work Of art shall become the
property OF the city of New York, by
purchase. gift or otherwise. unless such
work OF art shall first have been sub
mitted to and approved by the COM
mission No existing work Of
art in the possession of the city shall
be removed, relocated or altered in any
way without the similar approval OF
the commission, except as provided in
section $50 of this act
I'm 1909. when 1 was Park Commits
sioner, the site was chosen and later
the design was accepted by the Art
Commission. The Park Board gave its
approval. Every condition of the law
was met.
The Mayor can amuse himself maxi
ing gestures. the sort that are attractive
TO certain kinds of people-the kind that
never heard OF the Medusa and be-
licve that Lorelei is the name of a
Pullman sleeping car-but he is power
less to inflict on the people the con-
sequence Of his peculiar mind so far as
art goes.
Now in the case OF MacMonnies's $
Civic Virtue what will happen is this
When Mr.. MacMonnies gets ready to
bring his work down from the studio
of the Piccirilli brothers in The Bronx,
he will apply, dare say, to Park Com
missioner Gallatin for A permit. this
being the usual course. II Gallatin re-
fuses a permit, then II will be Mr.. Mac
Monnies's plain duty to go to the SUI
preme Court and secure writ of man
damus compelling the Commissioner to
issue the permit.
Sculptor Embarrnssed.
There has been n lot of amusement
squeezed out of this episode. but how
about justice to a great American artist
Frederick MacMonnies? / happen to
know that although Mr.. MacMonnles
has received only $4,000 of the s61-
600 he was 70 receive for the work un-
der contract with the city, he has never
theless spent several times that sum.
Carrere Hastings. the architects, have
large bill against him, and Mr.. Hast
ings assures me that his sympathy for
Mr.. MacMonnies is such that he will
not present bill for fees.
"Once more I emphasize that neither
the Mayor nor the Board Of Estimate
has an ounce OF authority in this mat
ter. They are making themselves the
laughing stock of New York and or the
whole country by this time. II Is about
the biggest absurdity that THE New
York HERALD has called TO the peoples
attention in many years"
Mr.. MacMonnies was at work in Leo
AVTt1 tfc Gts ia
on his beautiful design for the Marne
memorial statue when a reporter called.
Customariy reticent and always amiable
and courteous, he hesitated TO discuss
tho hearing of Tuesday or the whole
controversy. Finally. however, he sail
II confess I cannot understand alto
gether what the people mean who abuse
the group. Its symbolism and its in
nocence OF offense TO womanhood are
perfectly obvious. The controversy has
troubled me. 1t has embarrassed me.
J have thought that perhaps Il would
be better to sacrifice myself for the city
n that was the way most people felt
about my work But my friends say
no. that most people do not feel that
way about II, that only a certain kind
~ people feel that way. And 80 ] I'M
encouraged again. Altogether have
paid out $4,000 in the course Of making
the group, and there 40 large Dills
still to be paid.
There came TO me to-day" the sculD-
tor went on, "a message which pleased
me greatly. II is from the only living
granddaughter of the lady whose be-
quest to the city made the fountain
group possible, Mrs. Angelina Crane
and here is the message as received 4
"'Sroux FALLS. $. -. March %. tg22
Frederick MacMonnies Statue
wonderful. Insist that It be placed City
Hall Park.
"'SARAH ANN FrxoNs KrEFER.'"
Inquiry by THE NEW YoRK HEnALr
revealed that there IL only one possible
vny for the Mayor 10 evade the neces
sity OF placing the MacMonnies grouI
IN city Hall Park. but Il is way tha
would cost the city more than $50 900
b. paying 100000 20 MacMonnies ane
by returning 10 the heirs Of Mrs. Crane
the beduest OF 100000 with interest.
ono OF tho parties TO the issue tina
has been greatly embarrassed by th'
controversy is the Park Commission Y
Francis n. Gallatin. lie believes IN,
MscMonnles conception Is beautiful anS
lappropriatu. He thinks the objection
1 IL. ufIl