Omaha daily bee., 1910-07-21
Robert Strehlow and Mayor Dahlman
Submit Remarks.
ANSWERS
PRESIDENT
BUND
Otto Rohland of st. Paul Thanks
Local Men for Work,
THOUSANDS HERE TO SING
TrainIoRd After TrainIond of German
VOcRIists Unload at Union nnd
Burlington stations Dur
ing Morning.
The great saengerfest is on.

Throughout the Auditorium there
sounded last night the harmonies of a
mixed chorus of men and women, all
omahans. These will be replaced tonight
by the 1000 male singers who arrived yes
terday from all over the middle west.
The opening concert vocally a great sue
cess, was opened by two orchestral num-
bers and then the Omaha male chorus
sang the Welcome" written by Moehrng.
Followed three addresses. Robert Streh-
low, president of the Omaha Saengerfest
association, welcomed the visitors in be-
half of the association which is their host.
Mayor Dahlman followed in behalf of the
city and Otto Rohland of st. Paul made
response as president of the National
Saengerbund. The musical program then
proceeded. Between 1900 and 5000 people
filled the great building.
singers Pour In.
Hours before the twenty-fourth biennial
of the Saengerbund of the Northwest began
its sessions the delegates had captured
Omaha These singers began pouring into
Union station at an early hour. special
train after special train dscharging hum
dreds of singers,
Among the first to arrive were the men
of the United Singing societies OF St. Paul
and Minneapolis, headed by Otto Rohland,
president of the Saengerbund OF the North
west He and all the other visitors were
whisked away to the Auditorium, where
in the great basement room on the north
east side breakfast was served.
Women of the Omaha singing societies
and the Omaha Saengerbund association
were the hosts at this continuous breakfast.
which lasted from s to L. nearly 1000 men
and women being served.
The Omaha Maennerchor was also q
host at the affair.
| "The outlook is for the greatest fest
In the history OF the saengerbund." de-
clared President Rohland and this Is
fitting for this fest celebrates our semi-
centennial. you know. This great assoc
I ciatinn is sIftyS years old and js Lstting
bigger and better every two years. An
immense amount of preparatory work is
gone through with. You know how all
| the societies rehearse the music they will
sing for two years before we all come
together in grand festival of song, un-
der direction of each bunds own director
| and then under the fest director who
travels from city to city"
| President Rohland compllmented Vice
President Peter Loux of Omaha on the
J preparations which the Omaha Saenger-
bund association has made for .his meet
! ing. An immense amount of detail work
has had to be carried out.
]
! Omaha during the day finished the WORK
Of putting on gay attire for the visitors and
the city is being decorated as 1t has not
been since the Eagles were here last Sep
tember. Thousands of pennants and BAN
ners were hung out in the breeze and the
German tri-color, red, white and black,
mingled with the red, white and blue oE
the United States flag.
The early arriving delegates wasted no
| time in bursting into song. Little groups
of them would sing in the corridors OF
whatever hotel they happened to be as
signed to. The big delegation marched to
the Rome hotel looking for Governor
Eberhart, whom they intended to sere-
made Although disappointed at finding
him gone homei they gave their songs any
| how, 200 singing with majestic volume
The Rome was cosmopolitan place at
this hour. In the convention hail Arthur
! Brisbane was addressing the ad mems
convention, the Germans were singing in
| the lobby, while IN the women's dining
room a reception was being held for the
Right Rev Ii. q. Won Scheele, bishop of
! Sweden, and Lady Won Scheele.
Meantime. in the Auditorium, the Omaha
womens chorus was having final rehearsal
with the orchestra and several hundred
sweet-voiced girls and young matrons were
singing lot uedI llISs
| The front part of the building was as
animated as the basement breakfast room
and the stage. In the several offices in
coming delegates were registering and re-
ceving tickets and badges. Also hum
dreds Of people were in line at the box
office.
Societies from all the points of the middle
west came into the Omaha stations In one
continuous stream. Both stations were
scenes of excitement and on Tenth street
one or more groups Of the singers were 10
be seen any time marching along or being
welcomed by Omaha friends
Davenport is Present.
Davenport la, sent number on the
Rock Island early Tuesday morning, fol-
low ed by delegations on the Northwestern
from Peoria H.; Milwaukee. ST. Paul,
alt on special trains Chicago and Mil
waukee sent combination special on the
Chicago Milwaukee & 81. Pau and ths
Great Western had train from Dubuque.
ON the Burlington road, Burlington, la,
and Kewanee, m, and Lincoln, Neb.,
each sent from forty members, the largest
number coming from Burlington. The
singers of Denver were expected in at
D. m. this afternoon with two cars.
The flrs. concert will be given this even-
ing. II Is the reception concert" for the
visitors, and Omaha choruseg and soloists
win be heard, The program Is as follows:
st. Paul has sent a delegation Of $50
singers and boosters and Minneapolis as
many more. Part Of them are at Hotel
Rome, where the Concordia Singing society
has established headquarters, and the rest
are at the Miard.
ST. Paul now has the president Of the
Saeng ngerbund, in the person Of Alderman
otto Rohland, ana Is after the fest for
next year. The Minnesota capital city has
always been one OF the leaders in bund af.
fairs and some years ago had the fest.
Headquarters have been opened by the
81. Paul bunch at room In Labor Temple