Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-27
News of Music
News of Music
Newest Fine Arts Bill
Is Fascinating Reading
By Day Thorpe

1t is difficult to keep abreast
of projects in behalf of the
fine arts in which Frank
Thompson, ir., member of Con-
gress from New Jersey, is in
terested.
Mr.. Thompson's latest bill.
introduced March z. and known
as the American National
Arts Act" is entirely distinct
from the one discussed in this
column two weeks ago. which
would create a commission to
consider the matter of a civic
auditorium here in Washing
ton.
The new bill. H.R. 1888. is
characterized by the impa-
q. thence with detail and the lack
of direction often associated
with the sublimest visionary
schemes, and also by a rela-
lively unfamiliar relationship
between the Government and
the fine arts. There are prob
ably few bills before Congress
that make such fascinating
reading.
Bold General Premises
1t opens with a statement OF
findings in which the picture
as it now exists is reproduced
in bold strokes. Congress finds
that great contributions can
be and are being made by the
{ fine arts to the morale, health,
and general welfare of the
Nation; that as man cannot
live by bread alone All
education which includes the
humanities is essential to
political wisdom; that lit is
the humanities, more than
highways, science, or statistics
which provides the real answer
to communism"
Congress goes on to say that
"there is an important princi-
pie which we should ever keep
in mind-the principle that
freedom of the arts is a basic
freedom. one of the pillars of
liberty in our land" and. car
ried away by the intoxicating
sound of the word freedom"
launches into an irrelevant but
not undramatic peroration:
There is no aspiration, no
dream on the horizons of mans
hopes and beliefs and faith,
that is so strong and SO vivid
as the dream of lasting peace.
There is one thing that
educators cannot afford to
forget, and that is this element
of understanding as opposed to
mere knowledge.
1--WE must make the effort to
understand something of the
culture of other peoples, their
history, their tribulations, and
the trials through which they
may have passed, for unless
we understand these things we
will never comprehend why our
motives are so often misunder-
stood.
Peace is not primarily in
the hands of elected political
leaders. 1t is in the hands of
the family and the home, the
church and the school,"
It's Stirring Writing l.
We seem suddenly to have
gone far afield from American
national arts, but it is stirring
writing. misunderstood motives
or no. 1t is to be hoped, how
ever, that Congress will not
ue guilty of such pusillanimous
buck-passing as trying to es-
cape the primary responsibility
of peace. If peace is not pri-
marily in the hands of elected
political leaders and their ap-
pointees, family, home, church
and school have been shame
fully beguiled.
Having surveyed the existing
scene, Congress now quite logi-
cally says what it proposes to
do about it. 1t is the purpose
of the act ito assist the several
States "a State is defined as
a State. the District of Column
bia. Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto
Rico or the Virgin islands, in
developing projects and pro-
grams in the fine arts in order
to serve better the needs of the
people of the United States,
and to encourage the growth
and development of the fine
arts throughout the United
States for the purpose of de-.
veloping greater knowledge,
understanding and practice Of
the fine arts:
"To establish a Federal adj
visory commission on the arts
within the Department of
Health. Education and Welfare
to advise the Federal Govern
ment on ways to encourage
artistic and cultural endeavor
and appreciation, and to pro-
vide for awards of merit
whereby we can honor our fell
low citizens who make great
contributions to the advance
ment of our civilization and
our country.
ITO facilitate the formula
ton of plans for the develop
ment of the fine arts in time
of war. depression, or other
national emergency. in order
to prevent our cultural in
situations from shrinking in
Importance or passing out of
existence and to avoid the
often deplorable standards
exemplif1ed by art projects of
Federal agencies of such times
in the past, and in order to
offset declining employment
nv providine for Federal as