Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-12
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
KICK LEFT IN THE WASHINGTON
ORGANIZATION.
Treasurer Stevens Makes a Statement
Of the Indebtedness Still Hang
ing Over It.

Washington Symphony Orchestra, as is
evidenced by the following communication
made public today by Mr. Eugene E.
Stevens. the treasurer Of that organization
Mr.. Stevens objects to being saddled, per-
sonally, with all the Indebtedness of the or
chestra, claiming that every bill contracted
by himself in his official capacity has long
since been paid, and thinks that some of
those persons who were officers, sharehold-
ers and subscribers while the orchestra
was in active existence, should aid in liuui-
dating its bills and giving It a decent burial
Mr.. stevens statement Is aS follows:
The distinction OF Deing treasurer OF the
Washington Symphony Orchestra corpora
ton was mine. and to the extent that one
may hold office in a dormant, undissoved
organization with an inanimate board of
directors, / still occupy that enviable posi-
ton. l have fresh reminder Of the great
privilege l have enjoyed-and that still
fingers. but not as sweet aroma--in the
guise of g. demand from local bank for
the payment Of the balance due on an or
chestra note Of 5000, which was foolish
enough to indorse with two co-directors
rather than see the season go to smash
when apparently on the eve Of improve
ment. There is no great compliment to my
financial resources in this demand that Is
made upon me personally. One of my CO.
indorsers is now nonresident, and the
other is evidently thought too poor game to
go after. In my own defense 1t should be
said that 1t was fully expected when the
note in question was given. that another
corporation. !. Mr. Herbert Wadsworth.
would, If not gladly, at least willingly.
join in attempting to save the ship from
imminent disaster.
Point Of the Remarks.
The point Of these remarks is that
single individual is apparently left to settle
up for the amusement which many shared
In attempting to maintain in Washington
the capital city Of nation which we Nike
to think of as the foremost in the world in
progressiveness, a symphony orchestra
fairly worthy of all the wealth and social
pretensions represented here. If the or
chestra had been the business investment
of one person group Of individuals
having In view private gain, there would
be no ground for public complaint. But
this movement was put forward ostensibly
as quasi-public enterprise, originating
with social set, of which Mr.. Reginald de
koven was one of the luminaries. l was
not Of the set and my experience prompts
feeling Of regret that / ever formed any
acquaintance with 1t. My connection with
the enterprise grew out of my interest in 1t
as music lover-one of the general pub
lic'-and having been one of the original
eighteen guarantors for a modest sum- My
known habit Of becoming a wheel horse
in local musical efforts may also have had
something to do with 1t.
In order that 1t may be seen who were
interested in the continuance of the Or
chestral concerts In definite organized
FORM a few names Of officers. shareholders
and subscribers are mentioned. / speak of
Officers a distinct class because at
least two of these never subscribed penny
to the capital stock or guarantee fund, and
one even demanded a rebate on his season
Seat-SubScriptiOn because he had been I'M
able to attend some of the early concerts.
Here they are: Herbert Wadsworth, first.
not perhaps in financial Importance, but
foremost in the launching of the orchestra
and its most conspicuous figure next to
Mr.. de Koven Thomas F. Walsh, a vice
president Brainard H Warner, a vice
president; Max G. Seckendorf, vice presi-
dent; Owne G. Staples, George Peabody
Wetmore, John E. Reyburn. Mrs. George
Tod Ford William F. Draper. Mrs. Flor
ence Z. Baxter. Percy R. King Mrs James
B. Perkins, William Barrett Ridgely, Mrs.
Bates. Mrs. E. NJ. Kicker. Mrs H. {.
Lodge, Mrs. Edward Douglas White. VIII
liam B. King, Bernard R. Green, George
L. Bradley, Mrs. Colin Powys Campbell,
Mrs. Samuel Hill, Mrs. Caroline Cohen, E.
Francis Riggs, James F. Barbour, Miss
Mary Gwynn. William A. Slater Miss
Tuckerman, s. w. Woodward, Arnold
Hague, Mrs. Maud T. Ely. Mrs. Martina
trop, Mrs. Henry Cleveland Perkins, Chris
Heurfch, Nicholas Longworth, G. Thomas
Dunlop, Miss Julia D. Strong, Mrs j. w.
Wadsworth, jr., Butler Ames, Mrs. Thomas
NelSOU rage anu NJ. -. AuQ6nrelQ.
l would not undertake to pass Judgment
on the financial ability of any whose names
are mentioned. I suppose that all are able
to pay more than they have paid to decent
ly wind up the affairs of the orchestra If It
Is their wish as shareholders and support
erS that 1t be permanently discontinued
OF the array of moneyed persons enumerat-
ed above, Mr. E. Francis Riggs and Miss
Tuckerman merit the distinction of having
alone contributed any sum whatever to the
liquidation of the deficit after the last dis
astrous season was closed.
Aggregate Indebtedness.
The aggregate Indebtedness of the or
chestra corporation amounts to about
$4,000, all unsecured with the exception Of
the note at the bank, and all arising from
credit given on the strength. suppose, of
the prominent persons--Mr. Wadsworth,
Mr.. Walsh, Mr.. Warner and others-whose
names adorned the letterhead Of the cor
poration Every bill that was contracted
by myself in my official capacity has long
since been paid; but who Is to pay the 9TH
ers? Is 1t thought fair that the treasurer
should pay from his personal funds If the
treasury is empty? Undoubtedly there was
much to criticise In the management of the
orchestra.
A failure begets little else but criticism.
The great fundamental error, however, in
the management was the assumption that
there were people behind the management
that would see the orchestra through to the
end
l write this copy on the back of cir
cular letter that was killed by the an
nouncement that the orchestra set had
raised fund of $4,000 to continue the or
chestral concerts regardless of the orches-
ira corporation. Few were sent out. On
the heels of the announcement that Mr..
and Mrs Herbert Wadsworth and their
friends had virtually repudiated the exist
ing organization and it's debts, came the
natural collapse of the citizens popular
movement in which Messrs. Hyde, Poole
and Sonneck, Mrs. Thompson and Miss
Cryder served as executive committee, and
the unfriendly introduction of the Boston
Symphony Orchestra into the situation COM
pleted the work of destruction Of what
ever hopes had been entertained of carry
ing on the concerts through the season Of
1866 EUGENE E. STEVENS.
Washington, January II, 1905.
THE COURT RECORD