The Washington herald., 1907-05-29
CHORAL FIGHT ACUTE
DiSSenSiOnS Revealed by the
Election Fight.
WRIGHTs0N WILL WITHDRAW
Managers of the Organization Are
Not Perturbed by the Plan TO
Create Rival BOdy-MnnRgers Give
Their Version of the Dispute.
Statement by wrightson.

Washington Choral Society affairs have
| reached an acute stage. Following the
/ stormy election of the board Of nine
/ managers Monday night. when Sydney
/ Lloyd Wrightson. the musical director
/ Of the society, succeeded in causing the
defeat Of two candidates for reelection.
Miss Mary A Cryder and Meyer Cohen.
! there came 20 light yesterday the his
/ tory Of recent dissensions and friction
within the society. resulting in Director
Wrightson's withdrawal from his connec-
ton with the organization and his ayow-
ed intention TO organize a new choral
society, 10 he called the Washington
Orat0TiO.
Mr.. Wrightsons withdrawal and an
nounced design to create a rival organiza-
tion 10 the old society caused little con-
sternation among the managers Of the
Choral Society According to Bernard r.
Green. superintendent of the Congression-
al Library and president of the Choral
Society. Mr.. Wrightson. in announcing
his intention 10 resign from his position
as musical director, merely anticipated
events. Mr.. Green said yesterday that
Mr.. Wrightsons withdrawal will not in
jure the society.
1T may be possible" said Mr.. Green.
FOR Mr. Wrghtson to stir up feeling and
animosities among the singers, but with
only temporary effect and things will
surely right themselves before long"
Precipitated the Opposition.
1t appears that the insistence Of the
board of managers in wishing to know
under what terms it was proposed 10 take
the society 70 jamestown precipitated Mr.
Wrightson's opposition 10 three Of the
members for reelection Monday night
William Bruce King was the third candi-
date opposed by Mr.. Wrightson. bat the
musical director was unable TO bring
about Mr.. Kings defeat at the polls
One Of the board members said yester-
day that the trouble originated when Mr.
WrightsOn was negotiating with the ex-
position authorities i'm regard to the pro-
posed trip of the society
IN writing 10 the management OF the
fair said the board member. MIR.
Wrightson would sign himself managing
director and in readdressing us he would
appear as honorary musical director Of
the jamestown Exposition. II was made
TO appear that the exposition would pay
the entire expenses of the trip, and this
was favOrably received by us. because
there were no funds in the treasury OF
the society 10 use for such a purpose.
II appeared later that the exposition was
not to pay expenses. and that Mr.. Wright
son had no authority 10 make such a
statement"
Meyer Cohen said yesterday that Mr..
Wrightson's efforts to defeat him for re-
election were unnecessary as when he
took the position last fall it was under
stood that his service was to be purely
temporary.
Il did not know that there was any
movement 10 have me reelected. and Mr.
WrightsOn really did me a favor I'm op-
posing my candidacy said Mr.. Cohen.
Statement by Wrightson.
In explanation Of his side of the case.
Mir. Wrightson issued a statement yester-
day in which he set forth his reasons for
opposing certain members Of the board Of
managers and for giving up his position
as director. According TO Mr. Wrightson.
there has been too much red tape in con-
nection with the management Of the So
ciety. He states that the concerts were
not advertised properly, and badly man.
aged In other ways. Mr. WrightsOn saws
in his statement that if the concerts had
mot been so grossly mismanaged the sea-
son would have ended with a surplus in
the treasury"
This, SAYS Mr.. WrlghtsOn. would event
ualy reflect on him as director, and the
failure Of the receipts at the box office
would be attributed to his work as direc-
tor and not 10 poor business manage
ment
Miss Mary Cryder declared yesterday
that Mr.. Wrightson had misrepreseuted
the methods Of the board.