Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-04-27
-Four Freedoms Paintings Placed
On View at War Bond Exhibit
Preview Attended by 800, Followed
By Reception for Norman Rockwell

ny NeSePtIOH IOI ~
Norman Rockwell's famous -Four
Freedoms paintings, in which the
artist reflects in his rural Vermont
neighbors the meaning of the four
freedoms outlined by President
Roosevelt, went on public display
for the first time today as an exhibit
to aid the sale of War bonds opened
a Naticn-w wide tour at the Hecht Co.
department store.
Mr.. Rockwells four oils are the
main attraction in collection of
original Saturday Evening Post art,
which after a tWo-Week showing at
Hecht's will be exhibited through
out the country under sponsorship
of the magazine and the Treasury
Department.
Today's world premiere public
showing was to be high lighted by
personal appearances of Mr.. Rock
we'll at II am. and pm. After
autographing bonds purchased at
booths in the store, the artist is to
tell of the night in rural Vermont
when thoughts of the four freedoms
caused him to rise at 3 am. and
roughly sketch the entire series Of
pictures before daybreak.
Auction Slated Tomorrow.
In the exhibit room at pm. to-
morrow Dave Elman of the Hobby
Lobby radio show will conduct a
Victory auction in which all bids
auctioned off are IL original manu-
scripts, autographed by the authors,
War stamp books autographed by
movie stars and box of Prime Min
lister winston Churchill's cigars.
Other famous entertainers, writers
and public figures will appear at
Hecht's each week day until May 8,
when al of the paintings, drawings
and cartoons on exhibit will be given
away. One ticket for this grand
drawing will accompany each $25
worth of War bonds purchased at
the store during the two weeks of
the exhibit
In addition. each purchaser of a
War bond at the exhibit will receive
a full set of prints of the Four
Freedoms paintings, suitable for
framing, and a commemorative bond
envelope, printed in color by the
Treasury Department. Persons who
buy bonds or stamps as the exhibit
is shown throughout the country
will sign special Freedom Scroll, >
which is to be presented to President
Roosevelt.
$500 at Preview.
An estimated 500 persons, special
guests of the Treasury Department.
were given a preview of the exhibit
last night when they attended a
reception at the store in Mr.. Rock
wells honor.
In a program at the reception,
which marked Inauguration of the
-Four Freedoms War Bond Show"
official Washington paid tribute to
the distinguished artist. Broadcast
from coast to coast over Station
WMAL and the Blue Network, the
ceremonies featured an address by
Associate Justice William o. Douglas
of the Supreme Court. A Treasury
Department award for distinguished
service in behalf of the war savings
program" was presented to Mr.
Rockwell by Undersecretary of the
Treasury Daniel w. Bell.
In his speech, Justice Douglas
pledged that America will remember
the murder Of its flyers who par
ticipated in the Toxic raid "as it
FORCES its terrible, swift sword of
retribution"
The japanese people, as we'll as
the rulers, must answer for the
crimes, the justice declared.
People Guilty With Officials.
Their rulers have committed these
high crimes against humanity" he
said. But let no one say that the
japanese people are guiltless because
they were not consulted before the
murders. They may not be absolved
of the treachery of Pearl Harbor, or
the brutality of the rape of China,
for the conscious outrage of this
present murder. For they not only
flung away their rights, they have
refused and woefully neglected their
responsibility.
"A state is what its people wish
1t to be or suffer 1t to become. Until
a people casts off its tyrants it must
stand at the bar of justice with
them"
MIR. Douglas said that while I'VE
will not degrade ourselves and our
civilization by emulating the ex-
ample Of the enemy" America will
not forget the crimes of the Japa-
nese. ~
Pointing out that the Toxic raid
ers were put to death by an offlcial
act of the Japanese government, he
declared this has brought home to
all of us that the Japanese state is
q mockery Of decent human gov
eminent and that we are dealing
with q society which is throw
back to the dark ages"
The Chinese tried to tell us this, !"
he continued. THE men on Quad
alcanal learned 1t early. But 1t was
not until the japanese had admit
ted and boasted with perverted
pride Of the murder OF those boys
Of ours that We came fully to UNI
derstand what We had 1een told"