Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-26

The Saenwer1eats
To the Editor of The Bee.-Your refer
ence to the 1910 Northwest Saengerfest
would make II appear that some one OF Its
sponsors had conditioned the success OF
that festival as dependent upon the num-
Der Of hours during which beer can be
obtained. I wish TO state most emphati-
calTy that no such intimation has been
made by anyone OF those who have con-
scientiously and with sincere regret advo-
Gated the abandonment OF the festival on
account of the eight o'clock closing law,
and 1 cannot comprehend why such a pre-
posterous idea should be lent color by
commenting upon It editorially.
The biennial Saengerfests are important
musical events. promoted exclusively by
the members of German singing societies
and their friends. Two thousand male
voices were to take part in the grand
chorus at Omaha, and at least forty thous-
and visitors from out OF town, Germans
necessarily -predominating, were expected
to attend.
1t lie well known that besides his Unborn
love for music. the German has also an
intense feeling for personal liberty and a
quick resentment Of its abridgements. As
to real temperance and moderation, how
ever, ana WHICH means tHe temperate en-
joyment OF all of Gods gifts, m
need not shun comparison with the many
other races Of which this nation is COM
posed, whether domicLed here for ten gen.
e~rations OF one.
To make such q festival successful, So
cially, muslcaIiy and financially all the
surrounding conditions must be perfectly
favorable. A city asking for such a meet
inc ia rftfycua and IN gfitutinnG must
be liberal and bro~ad-gauged. An s o'clock
closing law, or any other unreasonable
restrictions are naturally abhorrent to the
average German. even though he may be
personally abstemious. Will he feel like
spending his holiday in a city or state
where the perfIdy of political tricksters
has planted illiberality and Intolerance,
plants which will speedily take root and
be full grown by the summer of 1910? Our
visitors must be entertained after s p. m,
as we'll as before. Shall we ask the
Women's Christian Temperance union or
the drug stores to help us do so?
Present indications are that the prohibi-
tionists will elect our police commissioner
unless the progressive element can unite
on four clean and liberal-minded men, but
1t is almost too much to hope that enough
of the other candidates will have suffi
cient patriotism TO withdraw from the race
and thus prevent a scattering Of the liberal
vote and the election OF Elmer Thomas
appolntees. We know beforehand what
their dogma will be.
with such prospects. who will subscribe
to the guarantee fund? And $4,000 is
entirely insufficient. An important source
Of revenue to all previous festivals has been
a picnic given in connection with them.
How many would attend an ice cream and
soda "go 10 bed at s o'clock" picnic. 1 for
one am certainly opposed to contracting
even a dollars worth OF indebtedness until
al tangible guarantee fund of at least $500
Isl plainly In sight. u.s. =.
bne OF the objects Of the Commercial
club in promoting the event. besides the
money II is expected to bring to this city,
IL to advertise Omaha Every one of the
10000 or MORE eexpected visitors are to
spread the newe OF this great and hospi-
table city amonsst their friends at home
What a splendid CD advertisement for us
will be the news Of the only large city In
the union. where the people cannot be
trusted after S.p. m. to control their ap'
petites. have returned from New York
Philadelphia. Washington and Cincinnati
and everywhere the Nebraska 8 O'Clock
closing law is the subject of most I'M
enviable notoriety. l believe the less we
parade our afflSction and disgrace befort
German singers and their friends and ad'
mirers the less we shall suffer. but to casi
a siur upon them by ~insinuating that they
cannot obtain enough beer before 8 q m.
is an insult to a people who have furnished
many Of the best dement's of this nation.
A. l. MEYER.