Evening star., 1935-05-18
ARCHITECTS PLAN
TO REORGAN|zE.
Milwaukee Session, May 28
to 81, Includes Impor-
tant Topics.

Unifying the architectural profess
sion, the relation of private architects
to governmental agencies and archi-
tectural education and the membership
system will be the principal questions
before the sixty-seventh convention of
the American Institute of Architects
to be held in Milwaukee, Wise, May
25 to 81.
Plans for a drastic reorganization
Of the institute which would open the
membership to include all Of the l5,-
900 practicing architects of the United
States will be put forward. Repre-
sentatives from 68 chapters located
in all parts of the country will attend.
Favoring unification of the profess
sion through membership in the in
stitute, John r. Fugard of the Chicago
chapter declares that never was the
advantage of organization more ap-
parent. Never was the necessity of
organization more imperative"
Opposing unification. Ralph W..
Gray of Boston asserts that 1T seems
fairly certain that the membership
of the institute would be diluted to
Q lower quality than at present"
Report on Unification.
A committee of the institute, estab-
iished by resolution of the architects
at the 1884 convention in Washington,
holding that "the uniflcation OF the
entire architectural profession in a
single strong national organization
representing numerically the archi-
tects of the country is essential will
report Thursday. May 80, on the uni
fication plans proposed.
The majority of the committee,
composed of Edwin Bergstrom of Los
Angeles, Ralph Walker of New York,
Mr.. Fugard. Mr. Gray and Franklin
o. Adams of Tampa, Fla, will offer
plan under which all members OF a
reorganized institute would be CLASH
fed as corporate or associate men,
bers. Mr.. Gray will present a dis
senting opinion.
Corporate members, embracing the
more active architects who are now
A. T. A. members, would be eligible
for office. Registrant members, with
fewer voting privileges. would include
persons registered as architects,
craftsmen and those engaged in pro-
ducing materials, appliance or equip
nent for buildings.
-Four years ago this Spring, the pro-
fession awakened to the realization
that its business had disappeared, that
the depression was not just another
April shower which would soon blow
over, and that most of US were face
to face with a major crisis" the state
ment by Mr.. Fugard says.
The despair of these days brought
q most critical searching of all agen-
cies involved in our professional well
fare. The institute was subjected to
o revealing light and in many respects
found wanting. The necessity OF
greater professional unity seemed of
paramount Importance and thus was
born the demand for unification.
Seriousness Of Movement.
LET us not delude ourselves as to
the seriousness of that movement.
The possibility of another national
organization was not an idle threat.
That danger may now be dormant,
but the intervening years have not
erased the deficiencies then complained
of and smoldering fires have a way OF
bursting into open flame.
Let no group set itself upon a
pedestal of Righteousness. Let no
chapter retire into shell of Self-suffl-
cheney. Let no member proclaim 'dilu-
ton of membership If all shoulders
are applied to the wheel, we can soon
push this ailing vehicle out of the ruts.
Once on the broad highway of unity,
we will all roll along to surer and
happier accomplishments"
Mr.. Gray, dissenting from the ma
jority report of the Unifcation Com
mittee, states that "the report calls
for two classes of membership having
similar obligation. similar privileges
In the main, except for the right to
vote and to hold Office, but paying
widely different dues.
such a set-up is not stable one
and seems likely to result in draining
the present corporation membership
into the proposed registrant class to
an alarming extent. 1t seems fairly
certain that eventually the corporate
control would pass into the new and
more numerous class"
Hubert G. Ripley of Boston, director
OF the institute from the New Eng
land division in an accompanying
statement warns that "the tendency
toward Government control still
exists. and its implications should be
realized He opposes unifcation by
Government control.
The relationship Of the private ar
,%>J vr-{I
be discussed Tuesday afternoon, May
28. Stephen F. VOORHEES, of New