Evening star., 1938-05-25
ARTISTS DISCUSS
FEDERAL SET.UP
Advantages and Drawbacks
of Government Bureau
Are Weighed.

The advantages and disadvantages
of proposed Government participation
in art were debated at length today by
delegates to the American Federation
of Arts Convention at the Wardman
Park Hotel.
The Coffee-Pepper bill, now pending
in Congress, to set up Federal Bu-
reau of Fine Arts was heartily indorsed
by Arthur Emptage of New York, rep
resenting the American Artists Con-
gress. He reported his organization
had given the measure 'our whole
hearted support"
Mr.. Emptage recommended the pro-
posed bureau as the best measure to
advance American culture to reach
the greatest number of the American
people. It would stimulate public in
terest in art, he said, and help to
create a market for artists products.
Henry White Taylor, editor of the
Philadelphia Art News, warned of the
dangers of such a bureau and proposed
that the Government set up only a
service agency" to help promote the
welfare of the profession of art.
THE profession of art is at stake, u
Mr.. Taylor declared. There are too
many dilittantes, no standards OF ex-
cellence and no specific requirements
for graduation from art schools Ac-
tually, any one can be an artist"
Trial and Error" Basis.
George Biddle. well-known artist
whose paintings have been placed in
public buildings here. laid down the
principle that any new Government
policy should be based on trial and
error" He warned against any de-
parture which would be too far away
from the present separate Government
projects in the Treasury Department
and in the Works Progress Admins
tration.
The supervisory authority of the
present Commission of Fine Arts. ne
proposed, should be taken over by any
new department of fine arts.
Dorothy Crafty, Philadelphia ar
critic, heartily favored the trial anc
error" principle recommended by Mr.
Biddle as safe background for new
legislation. She warned artists they
should keep abreast Of the times anc
suggested that If they had kept theil
prices down to point where the gen.
eral public could have afforded tc
buy their works of art, this might have
been better in the long run for the eco.
nomic standing Of the profession.
DR.. Grace F.. McCann Morley, di-
rector of the San Francisco Museum OF
Art, spoke for the Western Association
of Art Museum Directors.
Philip N. Youtz of San Francisco,
president of the American Federation
of Art, in presiding, explained that
the federation at this session would
not take a specific stand on legisla-
ton for an art bureau. The discus
sion, he said, constituted symposium
of various points of view.
Will End Session Tonight.
The federation will end its conven-
ton tonight with banquet, at which q
committee will report its conclusions
on what should constitute an ideal
Federal arts bill.
The French Ambassador, Count
Rene de Saint-Quentin, will be guest
of honor at the banquet. DR.. F. P.
Keppel, president of the Carnegie
Corp. Of New York, will be the presid-
ing officer, and William M. Milliken,
director of the Cleveland Museum OF
Art, will be the concluding speaker.
At this afternoons session at 2:30
o'clock reports of the years work were
to be presented by the president, di-
rector, treasurer and staff of the fed
Grafton, followed by election of trustees
and report of the Committee on Reso-
lutionS.