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to be of the greatest social value -- not only to American artists, but to the American people as well.

Mr. Cahill on this score declares:
"Science and Art have Twin statues erected to them in the parks of all our memories. And quite appropriately. They are the twin flowers of any civilization. Indeed, they are the sign and symbol of civilization. In a sense, they are civilization itself. Why, then should there be any question or doubt in the public mind as to the propriety of the Government's action in coming to the aid of its artists in a time of great economic stress?

The question is wholly legitimate, and deserves a candid answer. No one, I take it, would deny that the question exists. We, in Washington, hear it daily in many forms. Why all this boondoggling? What good is art, anyway? You can't eat it. A still life butters no turnips. Why should some long-haired starving artist - who apparently has to starve to paint, anyhow - why should he come in for this special petting? How can you be sure that what he produces is Art?

This last is the knock-down question. The answer to it is, You can't be sure. Would to heaven you could be. If art could be produced by pressing a button, every government in the world would be justified in going into the business of button-pressing tomorrow.

Why can't you be sure? A candlestick-maker produces candles; a steel maker produces steel; a cotton grower produces cotton. Why doesn't an artist product Art - invariably, and as a matter of course? The only quick answer to that is, candles and steel and cotton are not art.