Evening star., 1937-05-11
ARCHITECT HITS
MEMORIAL PLANS,
ASKS AUDITORIUM
lescaze Urges Competition
to Evolve Jefferson
Structure Design.
PRESENT PLANS
ARE CASTIGATED
Arts Federation Hears Existent
Federal Building System
Attacked.

Asserting he does not believe the
Thomas jefferson Memorial will be
constructed at the Tidal Basin site,
William Lescaze, eminent architect,
addressing the twenty-eighth annual
convention Of the American Fedora
ton Of Art, which began a three
day meeing at the Wardman Park
Hotel today, suggested that an audi
borium in which presidential inaugu-
rations might be held would be "a
nne and intelligent way to honor JET
ferson." He advocated competition,
20 that architecture, representing mod
srn America. might be secured in
the design.
Lescaze revealed that he has ad-
dressed an open letter to President
Roosevelt, discussing the whole sub
yet OF the future OF architecture in
the United States.
quoting his letter to the Chief
Executive, Lescaze said:
How long. Mr.. President, must it be
before our Government realizes that.
as Nation, we have outgrown imita-
Llon classical buildlngs-Greek, French
OF Italian? An enlightened gov
eminent must realize that the stir
Which the announcement of the pro-
posed Jefferson Memorial has occa-
stoned Is not due solely to the Jeffer-
son Memorial itself, but is due in
large measure to the pent-up feeling
against long series of dreary, costly,
pretentious, inefficient and dishonest
buildings, which Federal, State and
city governments have built - ="
Bad Points Listed.
commenting on the work of the
Memorial Commission, Lescaze pointed
out that things did not go in the
natural, democratic way"
What happened instead makes a
strange tale" he said Stranger
still are the consequences of the pro-
posed design: O Thomas jefferson,
simple man in his manner of living
and IN his own work, hater of pretense,
would be immortalized with the very
pomp and pretense he always fought;
10 the traffic circulation, already far
rom ideal at the Fourteenth Street
Bridge, would be further needlessly
complicated; CD the japanese cherry
trees that each Spring draw thousands
Of tourists to the Capital would be
mutilated; 90 in all likelihood, the
appropriation OF $4,000 900 would be
exceeded; cost of foundations alone
would be abnormally great due to diff
dcult soil conditions, and 60 if you
will allow human interest touch,
the president of the American Fedora
ton OF Art has finally succeeded, as
director OF the Brooklyn Museum in
removing the Al steps which adorned
the entrance of his museum. It might
take so directors at least, of so mu-
seums. to remove the 81 steps of the
proposed design. ="
He Is Well Applauded.
At the conclusion of Lescaze's ad-
dress. he was we'll applauded by the
federation. Officials disclosed that
John Russell Pope, architect of the
Thomas Jefferson Memorial Commits
sion, had been invited to address this
mornings session of the convention,
but was not able to be present. Neither
was he represented by a spokesman.
Applause greeted statement of
Representative Wearin, Democrat, OF
Iowa, that the memorial, as well as
all other public buildings erected by
the United States should be the result
Of competition.
The Representative, who was not
listed on the formal program for this
morning. has resolution pending be-
fore the House Library Committee to
halt proceedings Of the Memorial
Commission until an architect is
selected by competition.
Meanwhile, it was learned that the
question Of why the Government
should pay s2o,oo0,o 900 toward a $40
100000 Jefferson Memorial in st.
Louis, with the city paying the other
third, and only s30o0,000 for such a
memorial here, was asked by Repre-
sentative Rich, Republican, of Penn
sylvan1a during hearings on the In
terror department appropriations bill,
Ine committee declined to make the
S5,2oO,ooo appropriation requested for
the Jefferson National Expansion Me-
mortal in st. Louis, where there AL
READY is monument to Jefferson.
d. c. Ignores SIums.
Another speaker at the morning
session OF the Art Federation. devoted
TO public buildings and monuments
was Prof. Carl Feiss of Columbia Uni
versity, who declared Washington
ignores some Of the worst slums in
the country"
Pleading for elimination of sluns.
Felss declared the American people
do not need more commemorative
memorials and monuments"
Danger OF throttling initiative in
the f1ne arts through bureaucratiza-
ton was stressed by Hobart P. Up-
john, president of the New York
Chapter, American Institute of Archi-
tects.
Wilford s. Conrow, national secre-
eary OF the American Artists Pro-
feeslonal League told the convention
the Congressional Library probably
Will last thousand years. Americans,
he said. should create in their public
buildings "the mind Of America" 50
that future generations might read of
the progressive steps in the civiliza-
ton Of the United States.
A business session was to occupy the
convention this afternoon, followed by
a visit to the Washington Cathedral,
where tea was to be served in the
bishops garden.
This evening the delegates will be
guests of George Hewitt Myers, direc-
tor Of the Textile Museum of the Dis
trict: Chalk talk" by Clifford K.
Bergman, cartoonist for The Star,
and a talk on textiles by M. D. c.
Crawford Of the Fairchild publications,
Hill b. heard