New-York tribune., 1900-12-12
MAJOR POND CAUSES GRIEF
SOME PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO
SERVE on HIS CHURCHILL RE-
CEPTION COMMITTEE

There is much just now among those
whose names have been used in lists of commit
tees and vice-presidents and the like without their
consent Men wake up in the morning and find
themselves honorary vice-presidents of associa-
tions whereof they do not want TO be honorary
vice-presidents and other men are made mem
bers OF reception committees whether they want
10 be or not In the first count c. c. Hughes
who has American Liberty League is the chief
offender and on the second it is Major J. B. Pond
the manager Of Winston Spencer ChurchiITs lecture
tour and many other lecture tours.
Mr.. Churchill has come TO this country TO lecture
on the South African war as he saw il and 10 tell
about his own Imprisonment by the Beers. He is to
give his first lecture in this city at the Waldorf
Astoria this evening. Samuel L Clemens is 20
preside. Major Pond felt that he needed reception
committee. and he made one. composed largely Of
men prominent in various walks OF life Some Of
these authorized the use OF their names but there
were Others 1t appears. whom the Major thinking
no evil, neglected 10 ask And two or three OF
these objected.
Mr. Churchill is an Engishman. and undoubtedly
sympathizes with the British cause in South Africa
and so some persons seem 20 think that by willing
y permitting their names TO be used on such list
they would be giving their own sanction TO that
cause. This view. however. is not shared by all
and Mr.. Churchill has been welcomed here by some
who sympathize more with the Beers and do not
regard their greetings TO him committing them
politically.
Edward Van Ness. who has been conspicuous for
his pro-Boer leanings took his unauthorized ap-
pointment on the committee much to heart and
wrote a circular which he sent to all the other
members Of it. setting forth his views on the mat
ter. He also included in his circular some severe
comment on Mr. ChurchiITs book about his ex-
periences. The circular shows in every line that
Mr.. Van Ness was extremely angry when he
wrote f.
William Dean HoweIs also objected to the use
OF his name, but in less violent strain. He wrote
a letter in which he said that the Of his name
was wholly unauthorized. as well thoroughly
distasteful him
J. Kennedy Tod was another who felt aggrieved
In letter which he wrote the subject he said:
"Is there remedy for such abuse? .
The thanks OF our community were due to Mr.
Clemens the other day and are due to Mr. HoweIls
now for their protests against the crime and vice
OF time and age-a cowardIy good nature"
Major Pond in Philadelphia with Mr.
Churchill last night He was quoted as saying
with regard to the objections TO the Of these
names his circular:
These three people are the only ones who pro
issued another circular leaving their names OF, I
friends. I think Mr. LyaII asked me TO put his
name on. and did so. Mr.. Howells ought to be a
of his name. met Bishop Potter on the street and
told MIN that was going 10 use his name on the
he said; 'anythng you do win be all right" sena-
Mr.. Van Ness is Boer sympathizer. under
stand That's all right enough but Mr. Churchill
country. Bourke Cochran Richard Harding Davis,
VINO certainly is not English sympathizer, wrote
TO that Churchill a fine man. and that We
must do all we could 10 make him happy here
That's all there is to it. It's all now. and the
circulars 10 not have the names of these three
men
c. c. Hughes TO be mentioned a. will
ing TO give ''honors." whether the ''honors'' are
wanted OF not hen he launched The American
Liberty League Monday. at No p Astor Place.
Mr Hughes formerly known having been
a moving spirit in the Greater New-York Associa-
tion OF Anti-Imperialist Clubs. He is both secre-
tary and treasurer Of the Liberty League.
A long list os honorary Offices were created and
the Offices filed with men who it thought might
I'll them gracefully. Accordingly. among other
honorary" officers elected were Anson Phelps
Stokes George Foster Peabody. Edward NJ. Shep-
ard, Nelson S. Spencer and Edward ". Ordway.
As soon as the "honoraries'' heard Of the laurels
which had thus been wreathed for them they
promptly issued a signed statement and denounced
the act as unauthorized.
Other who had the fortune TO find them
selves vested with various honors by election 10
other offices in the league included John G. Car
isle. Nathan Straus Harold C. Willard and Perry
Belmont. All said that the announcement of their
election the first intimatfon they had had or
their running for office When John G. Carlisle
was asked what ne knew about the Liberty League
he said
4 have recollection Of having been consulted
about IT, The use OF my is wholly unau-
thorized.'
Mr.. Willard said Il received circular from the
League but threw II away"
al the clubroom AT the Murray Hin Hotel where
he