Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-01-11
GIFT CONCERTS AND THE SOLDIERS
UNION.
A Curious Expesitisn.

Edi.oT Stdr,-The successful preparation OF
recent imposition upon the public and the
Soldiers and Sailors Union of the citv O,
Washington has emholdened few Of the per.
petrators 10 make another essay upon the good
nature of the public, and sound again the
depth OF forbearancs, or-as these schemers
regard 1.-THE guliibiiity OF the people. This
last move also affords an opportunity OF aoing z
what has been too long delayed-exposing the
enfire humoug TO the victims and to those
whose well meant efforts to benefit them haye
been frustrated-and at the same time yindi.
cate the Soldiers and Sailors Union. a hith-
erto useful association, from the odium that is
now rapidly but surely impairing its useful
ness and crushing IL ont OF existence.
The recent enterprise, 50 kindly and indus
friously fostered by various loyal journals,
under the name Of 'sThe National Gift Con-
cert" for the benefit Of the desutute soldiers
and their widows and children, has q history
too 1org confined to the knowledge of a COM
paratively few persons. who have hesitated TO
expose the schemes Of a few adyenturers, for
two reasons: First the scheme had Obtained a
degree OF headway before its real character
was known, which rendered il difficult IL not
impossible 10 control 1t; and, in the secoHd
place, there was a lingering hope that some
thing might yet be realized 10 the avowed OBJ
lects OF the proposed charity-the pretext for so
tremendous an outlay of labor and money
All associations OF the late volunteer army
must necessarily have a large constituency OF
oenefciaries-sick and Impoverished soldiers
and the WIDOWS and orphans Of deceased SOL
dlers-maklng relief fund necessity. The
Soldiers and Sailors Union OF Washington
had such fund, and found such use for il as
10 make its material increase a matter Of i'm
mediate Importance. While this matter was
the sHblect OF deliberation, and IN one of the
regular meetings but thinly attended, VIM L.
Morse offered a resolution that a committee of
three be appointed to obtain yolu ntary SUBJ
seriptons for the benefit Of the Soldiers Or
Phan Home Himself and two other members
were appointed said committee Within a
day or two. 10 the surprise Of all members of
the Union not IN the secret, there appeared in
the papers of the city and else wi ere the an
nouncement OF the 'stirand National Gift Con-
cert" under the auspices Of the Soldiers and
Sailors Union, for the benefit Of the Soldiers
Orphan Home, another similar institution, and
finally OF the Union. The committee Of three
appointed on Monday, for specific object had
on Wednesday grown into a ll-fiedged lot
terry scheme, with Its long list Of great prizes
ana schedule complete, showing that the whole
ping his two associates, and himself ex pandine
into II. A. Hall, president; VIM. 5. Morse, sec
retary; q. L. Capehart and NJ. II. AIberger
(the latter two not members of the Unionl an
nounced as the managing directors
On the next Monday evening the Union con-
yened, and some Of its members inform aIly
announced the intention Of inq uiring by what
authority the name of the Union was used in
connection with the advertised lottery. But
the Ring, not prepared TO meet that q uestion,
and with their president IN the chair as pres
ident OF the Union, su ucceeded in having a mo.
tion 10 adjourn declared carried within a few
moments of the time Of meeting, thus securing
another week TO be devoted ~ manipulating
the members and organizing to prevent scru-
tiny into their actions. At the next meeting a
resolution was introduced 10 appoint a COM
mittee 10 supervise the enterprise, composed
OF citizens whose reputation would be a guar
antee against imposition and give that CONT
dence which insures success, containing the
names of II. ID. Cooke, OF Jay Cooke & Co:
John X. Elvans, ana others of like standing
IL was defeated by small majority, every
parliamentary ledge being resorted TO to pre-
vent full and fair discussion. Elated by
this, the plotters then attempted % pass a
resolution endorsing the scheme and its man
ayers, but were defeated; and IL is TO the credit
OF the Soldiers and Sailors Union that il has
never, 10 this day. by any vote, given its an
proval or endorsement TO any such scheme or
autheriZ-d the use OF its name. Subsequently.
10 guard against any further movement of that
kind, the managers proposed a committee
which was appointed. whose personal rela-
other, to them, well known reasons were a
sufficient guarantee that they would not too
closely scrutinize the management or say TOO
much abont it, To do them justice. il can be
most uuthfuliy ayerred that their action IN
both particulars has fully vindIcated the con-
fdsnce repoeed in them by the Ring.
But the scheme progressed. The borrowed
or rather stolen influence OF the name OF the
). and 5. Union, and the sanction thus sup
posed by the public and the public ON cIais
secured their favorable notice In the loyal pa
pers through the country; obtained for them
the aid Of members OF both Houses OF Con-
gress; the Commissioner of Internal Revenue
remitted all dues and license fees accruing 70
his bureau; and any real guarantee Of good
faith had been furnish I'd, as proposed, enough
infiuence would have been brought to bear 10
make il q success. But moet OF those who had
character and good reputation TO risk. grad
made on the ground that about one third of the
tickets yet remained unsold-the whole mum.
Der being three hundred thousand. A dona-
ton Of hye hundred dollars was ostentatiousl
made to the Portland sufferers, and the full
benefit OF the advertising thus given ayailed
OF. The day Of final drawing came The man
aging directors then announced to the assem-
bled thousands that two-thirds OF three hun
dred thousand was eighty-th thousand,
which was the sum total Of all tickets sold
and that they had red ced the number Of prizes
proportionately.- Two Of the splendid houses
sill remained. The first prize, q house and
lot valued in their schedule at sls,OOo, was
one owned by the mother in law OF the presi-
real estate agent, had, during the days OF
high prices, been endeavoring 10 sell At $4,000
and which Is BY real estate dealers valued now
at about 5000, bearing rent of about 5000 per
annum. The other house and lot was either
owned by q. NJ. Van Buren,, the partner of
the Aforesaid president, or held by them for
sale. Its value is estimated at "a, 800. placed
in the schedule at 5000. The other prizes of
any value which were finally permitted by
the managing Directors TO be awarded,
Were mainly watches AID other articles OF
jewelry, whose actual value bore about the
came relation to the schedule yalue as the in
stances aoove named.
The total claimed value Of the prizes
awarded was e5O,0U0. The actual value, or
rather actual cost to them may be estimated
by the rule OF three, with the specified exam
pies as a base. The two houses az their yaiu-
alton alone amounting to more than one half
lowed TO wholesale dealers when buyinS such
articles as watches in large q Quantities Thu.
we have data from which the whole outlay
which it would be a liberal estimate to allow
$25,0Oo. Number OF tickets claimed TO be sold