Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-09-28


 Sir-The somewhat serious nature of the charges made against the Americon band in yesterdays Demo- crat seems to call for a statement of absolute denial in justice to certain names involved. We wish 1t under stood at the outset that there has been no fight or controversy between the Eagles or any other body of men nrd the American band. Everything that has been done by us has been in a business way and strictly as busi- ness. This is positively the first au- our changing our Saturday night proms from the Auditorium to tho City hall. Any other statements come from other sources. The following is complete statement of the facts as shown by our minutes and the re. ports of our committees:
 From the time we started the proms in the Auditorium up to July 1, we rented the hall from Jean Jacques. At that time the Eagles contemplated leasing the building, but would not have done so until September 1, had we not agreed to hold Saturday night proms' there each week until that date. At their request, we signed an agreement which was an accommoda- tion to them, to take the hall for that time. This document was signed by three officers of the band. At our band meeting of July 26, 1t was voted to lease the Auditorium for Saturday nights for year from September l and that our executive committee make the best conditions possible in said lease. At this time, there was no thought of gUaraDtor being cal! ed for any more than on the previons p;lp"r, which was signed by officers of tiie band.
 On August 2, a provisional lease not in it's final form-was brought before the band, but on account of it's unreasonable terms it was mot agree able to the members. A committee of three, consisting of Messrs Ogden, Fulton and Fred Phoenix. was then appointed to wait upon MT Guilfoile, the attorney for the Eagles, in regard to a satisfactory lease. On August 16 this committee reported back that they had seen MT Guilfoile and had q new lease drawn up. but that it was necessary to get bond or bondsman in. other words, that the names of our officers were not acceptable. It was then voted that the committed have power to secure surety bond as the latter was satisfactory toathe Eagle committee. Our committee could not secure this bond as we can prove and consequently could do nothing.
 At this time, 1t was stated that an- other organization would furnish q bond or bondsman for the use of the Auditorium for two nights a week. Our committee then informed the Eagles committee that we could not get bond and also told them that 1T any other organization could furnish the bond they required, 1t was good business for them to deal with the other organization and we would look elsewhere, but that we were perfectly willing to continue the proms each Saturday night at the regular prices. We waited for an answer from their committee for two weeks and then tlaefyes made a proposition to give nus tvJm Saturday nights and two Wed- nesday nights per month. On Sep ember 12 our committee referred this to the band and the band voted not to accept the terms and that the commit tee report our decision to the Eagles committee.
 Now. in reply to the statements in vesterday's Democrat: As we said in starting, this is the first official state ment which has been given out and All other so-called statements are mere rumors. We are not looking for sssympathy." We have worked hard this summer on our proms and have always tried to give the people courte- ous treatment and they have shown their appreciation by large attend ance. Now as to the positive assur- ance" that we would guarantee the lease, we were informed by proml- nent business man that we could ob- tain a bond for a lease, but later found by trying several bonding com panies, that we could not do so. As soon as possible we informed the Eagles committee of that fact
 As for obtaining guarantoT, as the statemetne alleges we promised to do' this was neither promised by our committee nor attempted. But advice was sought from honorary members of the band, who told us to have noth- ing to do with such an arrangement It also seemed to Us that we should be able to rent the Auditorium just as we coysId any other hall without being asked for security. As for our ob- tainHng money under false pretenses," the idea is so absurd that we will only leave it to the good Judgment of the public to decide. Suffice to say we paid the regular rent and remained in the Auditorium until told to vacate. When our complimentary prom was proposed we had no thoughts of leav- ing the Auditorium, and as their com mdttee thought 1t was good idea for ropularizing the hall they gave us a