St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-05-05
Sensation Sprung in the
Music Trouble Of the
Exposition.
Theodore Thomas Boyeotting
Harps Made by Exhibit
ors in the Fair.
Probability ora Clash Of Au-
thority Over Sunday
Opening.
Mrs. Palmer Threatens to Re-
sign if Quarreling Does
Not Cease.

sign II QuaPpellng Does
Not Cease.
8 CHICAGO, May 4.-FrOm the present
indications the music trouble at the
worlds fair is about TO become a scan
dial. Evidence was produced at the
meeting of the commission today which |
tends to show that Musical Director |
Thomas, not satisfied with using a con- |
traband piano, is bent upon boycottlng |
harps in his department that are made |
by firms making exhibits at the fair |
The evidence was of such a forcible |
nature that the commission adopted |
a resolution directing President !
Palmer to appoint special COM
mittee of six members to investigate the
matter. Just before an adjournment
was taken this afternoon Commissioner
Cannon, of Utah, got the floor and an
nounced that he had some interesting
evidence in connection with the piano
imbroglio which tended to show that
there was bribery and corruption in the
music department of the fair.
Il have here letter." he said. "a
letter received by Messrs. Lyon &
Healy, musical exhibitors, that will ex-
plain in part what l mean"
With this he read the following letter,
dated May /, to that firm from Miss A.
Breitschuck, harpiSt in the Thomas
orchestra:
BOycOtted a Harp.
Dear Sirs: Pm very sorry to let you
know that this morning Theodore
Thomas gave us notice that he would
not allow us to play the Lyon & Healy
harp i'll his orchestra. With the harp |
myself was delighted, which you so
kindly sent to my disposition; but, as
you yourself know. we cannot do other
wise. | myself will see that the two
harpS, SIS and $50, will be packed care
! fully, then you will please send for
them. If possible, Pll come to your
store in few days to thank you person.
| ally"
Having finished this epistle Mr.. Can
| non read another from Edward Scneic-
ker, another harpist of the Thomas or
| chestra. to the same firm, as follows:
Dear Sirs: i take the liberty OF in
| curing if you are DESTROYS of my taking
! any interest In the Lyon q Healy harp.
! If so. must insist that you give me
written agreement guaranteeing me
| fee OF 81 900 year aud 10 per cent on
| every harp sold through my influence,
whether the party is an outsider or
scholar. Furthermore, must have two
new Lyon u Healy harpS at my DISPOSE
! ton, one for orchestra and one for solo
use. for all of which | promise to play
| the Lyon 81 Healy harp in or out of chi
! cago, and inspect and approve all harps
| leaving the factory. If you are not in
clined to accept my propositions, nat
urally will lose interest in the Lyon q
| Healy harp, inaSmuch as | have pros
pect of representing a European firm
during and after the worlds fair"
! wouldn't BE BlackmaiIed.
He concluded the testimony by read
ing the following reply made by the
firm to the foregoing letter:
Edmund Schnecker: Your worthy
proposition has been received by us.and
we must decline the same. We desire
that you shall return our harp. and
shall send for 1t next Tuesday. Please
have it ready. Should the harp not be
in your residence, then please have the
| goodness to let us know where it is that
we car obtain it."
The letters caused general sensation
among the commissioners. After wait
ing for a few moments Mr.. Cannon
went Oh to say that he thought that the
matter should be thoroughly inYesti-
| gated, and if the evidence shown in the
letters proved to be true the commission
should remove Mr.. Thomas and secure
a new musical director A resolution
was then adopted calling for the APP
pointment of a special committee to
carry OH the inquiry. Prof. Wilson,
Director Thomas's agent was seen by a
reporter for the Associated Press in re-
gard TO the matter.
"Mr. Thomas will not talk about the
affair."" he said. at is beneath his dig
nifty to notice such trivial things. He is
too great man to even listen to such
foolish charges. l will not allow any
one to approach him on the subject"
With this the manager entered car
riage with the musical director and
drove away. The national commission
ers are of different mind, and many of
them do not hesitate to say that if Mu-
steal Director Thomas does not make a
satisfactory explanation he will be re-
moved.
Has No Jurisdiction.
When the national commission met
today the regular order of business was
dispensed with and the matter of con-
sidering the reports of the Judiciary
committee on the piano difficulty was
taken up. Commissioner Massey. of
Delaware, chairman of the committee,
spoke against the adoption of Commits
Sioner Burton'S resolution, which said
that the council of administration did
not have jurisdiction over the piano
question. When Commissioner Massey
finished his arguments Commissioner
Burton, of Kansas, spoke in favor of the
minority report. He continued bis argu-
ment at great length, and, when he fin
ished, Commissioners st. Clair, Humid
ley, Allen, and others spoke so that the
discussion was protracted until late IN
the afternoon. When all had finished,
Mr.. Burton moved the adoption of the
minority report, and the motion pre-
vailed by vote of A yeas to 10 noes.
BY this the commission decided that the
council of administration had no Juris-
dlction in the piano trouble.
i The Sunday opening question Will
probably be taken up tomorrow. The
talk that the local directors may attempt
to open the worlds fair next Sunday
and keep it opeu on Sundays to the
close of the great exposition has caused
good deal or comment among the ma
n
4 would like to see the gates thrown open
to the public Sunday say they will make
Vigorous Protest
against opening the fair in open violation
i of the rules. Commissioner Clendenning,
i OF Arkansas, said he woul@ object TO this
/ sort of procedure even to calling upon
the courts to prevent it. Others of the
national commission talk the same way.
If the report that the local directors in
tend to open the fair Sunday, regardless
of the rules of the national commission,
is true. there will in all probability be
another clash of authority that will sur
pass in yehemence the piano trouble.
Commissioners gathered about the cor
ridors of the administration building to-
day and discussed both questions with
great earneStneSS.
The council of administration has de-
termined to put "a stop 10 the eXtortion-