The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-10-17
Says He Didn't Want to Lee
ture Anyhow, When Dated
for the Columbia.
TOLD RYAN TO PUT
$500 CHECK AWAY
Only Arrangement He Made Was
Flat Agreement for $500 Speech
Made After His Arrival.

Claude Grahame-White, the English
aviator, concerning J. 5. Berger and
the failure OF the Columbia Theater
lecture date last night.
He gave out a statement setting forth
his position, and declared that if
Berger had told the lecture bureau he
would not appear for less than $780,
and half Of the receipts 1t was without
his knowledge
His original and only position, he de-
clared, was that he consented to lee
iure for $500. The proposition Of half
OF the receipts he never thought of. He
communicated the proposition TO the
lecture bureau through Berger Satur-
Gay morning, and was informed by his
manager Saturday evening that IL had
not been accepted. That ended the
matter he said, as far as he knew.
As Seen By Lecture Bureau.
The misunderstanding which resulted
III the lecture being called of, was al
Legged by the lecture bureau TO have
grown out of Grahame-White's eleventh
hour demand that he be paid 500 and
half Of the receipts.
Emphatically denying that he had
made any such demand, or even knew
that the bureau supposed he had.
Grahame- W hlte this morning said he
a statement 10 the audience, and set
himself right. There he explained the
situation, and was excused from re-
SpOnsiDility.
If Berger made any offer other than
the one he authorized, declared the
aviator, he does not know it.
The hrst l ever heard Of the lee
lure was ten days ago said the
aviator. Mr.. Berger wired me asking
II 1 would accept a proposition to give
a lecture in Washington. L replied
rod no L.
but that / would discuss the matter
when l arrived Naturally, / was sur
Prised to find when l purchased
Washington papers on leaving New
nork that / was being advertised to
appear at the Columbia Theater on
the following sunday"
Lecture Not Then Discussed.
From the time he received Berger's
wire until last Saturday morning,
when Berger came to his room at the
New Willard. he had not discussed
the matter of the lecture. On Friday
night he had been handed a letter
Whlie he was at the BelascO THeater
rom the bureau asking If he would
make a definite answer concerning
whether he would deliver the lecture
saturday morning he told Berger
that he would consent to appear at
the Columbia for $500. Saturday af-
ternOOn Berger returned with the
"They refused it, so I thought that
ended the matter As far as 1 was
concerned the deal was off," the avi-
RtOr said.
Didn't Want to Speak.
Mr.. Grahame- White then explained
that he had named the consideration
of $500 in the hope that it would
prove too large 10 be accepted. as he
is not a lecturer and has turned down
many offers to appear in that ca
pacity. He was offered $1,000 recent
~ 10 appear for week at one Of
the Boston theaters, but would not
accept il.
As far as his having repudiated
any contract, he declared. he had
never entered into any agreement in
the first place. The aviator said that
Commodore Ryan, OF the United
States AoTOuaUtical Reserve, wrote
him ten days ago requesting him to
lecture for the benefit Of the Aero
nautical Reserve, and he had replIcJ
that he would be glad to be of any
personal service that he could The
Ryan affair was entirely distinct from
the offer made 70 the lecture bureau
Refuses Ryan's $500 Check.
When Ryan offered him 500 check
yesterday morning 10 appear at the
Columbia. he told him to cut the money
back in his pocket and that if he could
render any personal service to him later
he would be glad TO do so.
With his machines being packed at
Benning, and 10 follow him today or to-
Ra9rrow Grahame-White left Washing
con at II O'Clock this morning for New
York. He expects 10 participate in the
international aviation meet to be held
there.
He said he intended to go after sew
cral records. but as vet was not ready
10 announce which he would try first.
Aviator Not Blamed.
r. W. Wooley and aBrry Buckley,
representing the lecture bureau, this
afternoon gave out a statement in
which Grahame-White is exhonerated
and Berger blamed. follows;
To the Editor of The Times:
we feel that the public has been
misinfOrmed and that Claude Grahame-
White has been placed i'm Il false light
before the community in The Times
yesterday.
Our bureau advertised Claude era
hame-WEite by agreement with his sup
posed manager, !. :. Berger, who alone
IS responsible for all OF the mlsunder-
standing in connection with MI era
hame-White'S appearance at the tncaJer
last night. The distinguished aviator
was in no sense a party, to the best OF
our knowledge, 90 the demand lo9
money, MlltN 1 ne hines tidllAcu JIM
Barry Ryan had offered, and with
which he sought to placate him ON
the contrary, the generous oHer OF JONI
Barry Ryan, whose public spirit Is too
Wcll-NnOWu to require comment, was
prompted by the desire to assist in some
way the Aeronautical Reserve, TO whose
interests he has devoted SO much time
and labor.
Clifford =. Harmon, prompted by the
same spirit OF generosity, desired 70 CO.
operate in every way with John Barry
Ryan in his efforts
This statement is made that Grahame
White and his friends may be placed
before the public in the positions TO
which they are rightfully entitled as
gentlemen Of the highest standing and
unquestioned repute
1T is our regret that the effort 20
give the public a closer acquaintance
with the distinguished aviator has been
thwarted.
National Capital Lecture Bureau.
'R. w WOOLLEY.
BARRY BULELEY.'
offered to Explain.
Grahame- White was DESTROYS Of ex-
planning his position AT the Columbia
Theater last night, but as Me audience
was turned away ar the docs it was
decided by the bureau that q statement
should hc published setting forth the