The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-16
AtIanta,s $50, 900 Organ


stage end of the auditorium. is to have
Its formal opening to the public on May
81 when Edwin LIE More of London, one
of the most famous organists in the
world, will give a recital, assisted by
Miss Florence Finckle. vocalist
1t Is really q $4,000 organ, although
the actual cost to Atlanta was only some
where around $35.0O0
I'VE got substantial discount on the
purchase" explained a member of the
committee.
The musical association has paid more
than half the price of the organ with
the profits from two seasons of grand
opera, one in May, 1909, and the other
just a week ago.
Those two affairs netted the associa-
ton something like $4,000 or $4,000, all
of which goes toward paying for this
organ.
The association is counting upon the
lie More recital this month and another
which will take place in June to realize
enough to make another substantial pay
ment on the instrument, and there is
little question that within another year
the entire amount will have been paid.
This organ came as the suggestion of
Colonel w. l.. Peel, president of the
American National bank
1ol nave d pig organ, said Colonel
Peel even before the auditorium was fin
ished. The biggest In the south. Let's
pay $4,000 for 1t, II necessary"
"Impossiblel'' said the other directors.
'Out of the question" Wherewith they
stood aghast.
Finally they dropped their aghastness
and sent committee to New York to
see what a $4,000 organ would cost. Then
came the music festival of MAY. 1909.
md will n
was ordered.
1t was first used in the performances
of the opera Lohengrin, given in the
auditorium by the Metropolitan stars
Monday night, May 8, after which Con-
ductor Alfred Hesta of the Metropolitan
company said 1t was the finest organ
he had ever seen. and he believed 1T the
finest In the world.
1t will be formally presented to the
public at the coming LIE More recital.
HOke Smith May Not Run
1t being taken for granted that former
Governor Hoke Smith Is about to make
statement declining to enter the race
for governor this year, all sorts of ru-
mors are current at the capitol about
the coming campaign
There are at least three statehouse off
Gals outside of Governor Brown who
seem anxious to get into it. They are
Judge r. B. Russell of the state court
of appeals, Commissioner of Agriculture
I. G. Hudson and Comptroller General
w. A. Wright. In fact 1t Is said there
is discussion on at the capitol as to
which one of them should make the race.
1t begins to look as if one of them at
least will get into It,
And the Hoke Smith people say they
are going to have candidate. even
though Governor Smith does decline to
run. Who It will be has not vet been
made apparent. but Railroad Commission
er Murphy Gambler is the most talked
Of man, in this connection He is also
capitol official. and it begins to look
as II, including Governor Brown, there
will be three state officials in the race
Chairman Hewlett Hall of the state
executive committee was here this week
and there was some talk about the date
for the meeting of the committee. Satur-
day. May 49, was suggested and Mr..
Hall thought at the time he would try
to arrange 1t for that date, though he
| seemed to be of the opinion that Satur-
day. june 4, would be a more favorable
time. \
1t is quite probable the committee will
be called together on one of these dates
That meeting and the committees action
Will open up the campaign. Whatever
candidates are going to be in the race
will be heard from at that time or very
| shortly thereafter.