The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1952-06-20
A Last Stand For Russell Art /.
MONTANA, HOLD 1T SAFE!
BY ROSCOE FLEMING
In Denver Post


gene Manlove Rhodes of the visual
arts. Both men had genius. They were
alike in humor, salty perception and
absolute identity with life they por-
trayed. You remember Charley
Russell's career in art began when as
range-rider he sketched the story
of the horrible winter of 1886-'87, in
the form of one starving cow, head
lowered in the snow while the coy
otes lowered near-the "last of five
thousand"
Russell's case of today seems to
me symptom of Montana's illness,
that illness called vassalism. It's more
obvious factual symptoms were we'll
outlined by Thor Severson recently
in The Post. The state has been treat
ed so long as if it were wholly
owned fiefdom of two great corpor
ations that it seems no longer to dare
to call its soul its own, and trudges
along with head lowered, apparently
resigned to being a newer of wood
and drawer of water for those cor
porations and for other eastern and |
absentee interests.
In a material way, Montana has |
been allowed to do less with its
great resources than any other Rocky
Mountain state. 1t lost more people
in the depression, and has come back
less, than any such state. The absen-
tee corporations which rule it even
now screen through copper curtain
what most Montanans are allowed to
earn about their own affairs.
This is on the material side. How
loes Charley Russell hook up? Well,
lie is Montana's greatest artist, a man
whose work will be loved, revered,
narveled at and laughed over, when
er other great" are forgotten.
harley Russell loved Montana. Since
is death his works have steadily left
he state, snatched up by wealthy
eople and art museums, some of
hem used to adorn eastern mansions,
uilt by ex-Montanans with money
rained out of Montana.
Now K. Ross Toole, director of
the Montana Historical society at
Helena, says the famous mint"
collection is being sold in New
7 ork, and that most of the other
fine Russells are long gone. He
appeals to the public to save for
Montana the one notable group
Malcolm S. Mackay coll
ection in the Northern hotel in Bill
ings.
This collection is one of the finest, -
Id its worth is estimated at $780, =
70, but it has been offered to the D
lblic for $4,000. Apparently the II
oney must be raised by popular %
description, and to date only about n
5000 has been raised. Mr.. Toole y
US about year remains to raise
e other $4,000. TO
"This is our last chance" he says.
We produced Russell. 1t was Mon !.
ma that inspired him; it was Mon u
ma that he painted. Our apathy has st
st us most of his work. We ought to
erish our state enough to maintain or
heritage; we ought to be proud pr
ough of our rich background to De
ep the works of that backgrounds to
eatest Interpreter in the state i'm
apathy and lethargy and selfish fe,
interest lose this collection, we
ght to be deeply ashamed" La
So desperate an appeal for rela- thu
ely so little money for so fine eff
Use, highlights the way Montana, sta
serf-state, has lost pride and be
tn in itself. fill,
1t is my thought that people ne
sewhere in the Empire may want mi
send Mr.. Toole a small contri-
Ition to help him save Charley a I
usselPs last work that is available ape
Montana and the west. -
otherwise, we may see one of the ~
ruling corporations save" the r.
sell collection as a public-rela- n
IS stunt. After all, ACM made $50 r.
lion last year, much of it in Mon e
a. n