Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-28
CHORAL SOCIETY TROUBLES
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS FOL-
LOWED BY FRICTION.
Statements Made by Those Most In
terested-Two Defeated Members
Express Their Views.

Society at a meeting in George Washing
ton University last night, in which Miss
Mary A. Cryder and Mr.. Myer Cohen were
defeated for reelection on the board, much
of the inner history of recent dissensions
within the society have been brought to
light. Sydney Lloyd Wrightson. director of
the chorus, came out in a spirited opposi-
ton to Miss Cryder, Mr.. Cohen and Mr..
William A. King and, he expressed it,
Ito the red tapism and mismanagement
that have obtained" He also declared his
intention of Withdrawing from the Choral
Society and of organizing the washington
Oratorio.''
On the other hand, Mr. Bernard R. Green,
superintendent of the Congressional Ii
brary, and president of the Choral Society
declared the society felt it better last win
him go ahead and see what he would do.
And now he has done it," Mr.. Green
added. Mr.. Wrghtson announced his in
tended retirement from the position of di
rector of the Choral Society, but in doing
so, think, he merely anticipated events
In reply to a question, Mr. Green stated
the Washington Choral Society will not go
out of existence. 1T is Incorporated
organization" he said, land it has lived
for a number of years. 1t may be pos
sible for Mr.. Wrightson to stir up feeling
will have temporary effect, but 1 am sure
things will right themselves in a COM
paratively brief space"
Views of Others.
Other members of the board of managers
this morning intimated that the insistence
of the managers in knowing under what
terms Mr.. Wrightson intended taking the
singers to the jamestown exposition pre-
cipitated the opposition to certain members
at the meeting last night.
In writing to the management of the
fair Mr.. Wrightson would sign himself
managing director of the Washington
morning, and in readdressing us he
would appear as honorary musical d.
rector of the jamestown exposition And
so 1t was made to appear that the ex-
position would pay the entire expense Of
the chorus for the trip, and to this we
had no objection. But the society could
not go at its own expense. because there
were no funds in the treasury to bear
the cost. Subsequently we learned that
the exposition did not propose to pay
expenses, and that Mr.. Wrightson had
no authority to make such a statement
1T had been intended to take the Choral
Society to jamestown for the opening day
May Is, but Mr. Wrightson has now effect
ed poStponement until June 10, and if he
takes the Choral Society to the fair it must
be understood he is doing SO entirely upon
his own responsibility"
Mr.. Wrightson's Statement.
III VI Ills sue Oh the case MT.
Wrightson made a statement today in part
as follows:
II have taken an active interest in the
Choral Society for the past two years. 1t
must be conceded by those who were in
charge a year ago last December that tho
organization was pretty well upon it's last
legs, until called meeting Of the promi-
nent citizens at the store of E. F. Droop &
Sons Co. to plan ways and means for the
reOrRanlZatlOn and Of ba
society. The Choral Society succeeded in
giving one concert that season after It
personally had raised nearly $1,000 guaran-
tee. My first contention with the board
or a portion of the board, was when the
chorus committee undertook to dictate to
me as to the placing the platform of
the singers of the society
THE personnel of the board is made I'D
OF some very strong members, but there
has been entirely too much red tape and
gross mismanagement, in my opinion, in
this year, and 1 could not help but feel
that If the Choral Society was so poorly
managed it would eventually reflect upon
me, and the failure of the receipts at the
box office would be attributed to me as
musical director, rather than to the moor
advertising of the concerts.
Expresses Regret.
Il regret that the jamestown exposition
should have been dragged into this matter
Il am not the conductor of the Washing
ton Choral Society, Inc, and have not been
for the past three weeks. l am simply TAX
ing the Washington Choral Society down
to the exposition upon personal RESPONSE
bility rather than see Washington, the near
est large city to the exposition lacking in
public spirit and pride in its musical organ
iZation, and, of course, as honorary director
of music at the exposition, l take a natural
pride In taking my home city society down.
Before this controversy came I'D, three
weeks | announced that If 7
honored l would not under any circum-
stances, accept the position as director of
the society for another season. My purpose
in organizing a new society, which l hope
to do, calling it the Washington Oratorio
Society, is not that l desire to hurt the pres
ent Washington Choral Society, Inc, but
because l think new society, organized
upon new lines, free from traditional red
tapism and with new life and new blood in
1t, is what our city requires.
My opposition to one of the members
was due to the fact that for sixteen years
this member has dominated the board of
managers, and / cannot see until this sea-
son that there was an increase in the size
OF the chorus. The fact remains that to-
day the Washington Choral Society has
ESQ members, the largest number believe
in its history, and closed it's season with
a deficit smaller than for several years,
and / openly state that had the concerts
not been so grossly miSmanaged the sea-
son would have ended with a surplus in
the treasury"
Mr.. Cohen's Position.
Mr.. Myer Cohen thus stated his position
In the matter:
THE publication this morning was a sur
prise to me in that had no idea that there
was any contest for the position which 1
accepted last October, as matter of favor
to friends, who solicited me to do so. When
l undertook the position it was understood
that l did SO temporarily, and purely from
sense of public duty. 1t may seem like
sour grapes now to say that l did not wish
to be continued on the board, but l think
Mr.. William Bruce King knew my desire
not to serve again, and SO, possibly uninten-
tionally, Mr.. Wrghtson has done me a
great favor in preventing my reelection.
MY knowledge of Mr.. Wrightson is so
very limited that my principal feeling is
one of surprise that he should have marked
me out for so-called defeat l scarcely
know the gentleman, as almost my entire
service on the board was to secure money
from friends. for the payment of necessary
expenses connected with the rehearsals
and the concerts of the Choral Society,""
Miss Mary Cryder declared Mr.. Wrightson
had misrepresented the actions of the board
of managers. She also repudiated the init