The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-06
Commercial Club Committee
Named at Luncheon.
MANY PLANS ARE SUGGESTED
Details Will Be Worked Out
Later in Month.
Mortgage for $4,000 Must Be
Paid by July.

| indebtedness on the big Pipe organ in
| the Auditorium, and to start a move
! in the direction of making Topeka one
| of the greatest musical eenters in the
United States. The meeting which was
held this noon at the Commercial CLUB
was an enthusiastic one, and the earn
estness of the men who spoke is indi-
| cative of success in the enterprise. The
| details viii be worked out later.
| There were numerous suggestions
| made as to the manner in which the
necessary money should be raised. 1t
| was suggested that the Commercial
| cafe be moved over to the Auditorium
for a week which would give the bust
ness people of Topeka the opportunity
| to go over to the Auditorium to get a
good lunch and afterwards listen to a
half hour pipe organ concert by one of
| the local Organists. This would not be
for the purpose of raising money, but
to interest the people in the organ.
However, in the same connection it
was proposed to have various COM
mittees put on vaudeville stunts at the
| Auditorium every evening in the week
| for the purpose of procuring funds.
There were well founded objections
to the cafe removal suggestions made,
and as previously stated the details
will be mapped out later. A second
meeting will be called in the near
future by President S. I. Hodgins.
1t is Up to the City.
Scott Hopkins explained how 31h
years ago when there was danger that
the Kimball Co. would remove the
organ, 20 loyal citizens gave $500 each
in order to retain the instrument. The
original cost of the organ was So, 900,
but because the Kinban Co was de-
sirous of having the advertising that
the installation of the organ in the
Auditorium would give them, they put
in q $4,000 instrument.
The Prudentil Trust company, it was
explained by Mr. Hopkins, has been
taking the responsibility of the in
debtedness, but by the first of July the
$4,000 must be paid. Tt was thought"
said Mr.. Hopl1ins, that the Indebtedness
could be paid off at the rate of s.. 600
q year but instead the association has
been able only to pay the interest.
Something must be done or the city
of Topeka must face the embarrass-
ment of having the organ sold.
1t has been suggested that week of
entertainment be held at the Auditorium.
Instead of having lunch in these rooms
have lunch in the Auditorium where the
business men could listen to the pipe or
gan Then at night have various COM
mittees put on stunts. Light refresh
ments could be served between acts The
object of the monday lunch would not be
to make money, but to get the men in
terested in the music"
IF the public understood" said w W.
Webb, What a beautiful instrument We
have and what melody can be produced,
do not believe there would be any chance
of the organ being lost to the city. / be-
lieve that if the restaurants appreciate
the amount of business that organ brings
them through the conventions that are
held in the Auditorium, they viii be
broad enough minded not to object to this |
MONDAY meal at the hall for one week |
only. Let the public get the habit of go |
ing to hear the organ.
Its a Feature of City.
1T is known to a number of us here" |
said Frank P. MacLennan, that Prof |
D. H Seymour and the organ commit |
1,-I n TOT- nVa of aIey
recitals to he held at the noon hour, |
the concerts to last from One-half to |
one hour. At about that time the |
me1 curry went down below zero, and |
then the Alidwinter exposition was |
held
I am willing to do my part towards
holding the organ said Arthur Cap
per
Mr.. MacLennan: i've heard very high
paid Topeka and the or
gan by the people who have attended
Il am q frequent visitor to this city
said Norris L. Gage, land 1 regard the
retention of the organ in Topeka as
most Important 1t is one of the finest
of the city of Topeka. It
would be a disgrace to let it go, and
4 detriment to the city. It is a magnifi-
cent piece of furniture and one of the
main features of interest in the city.
rhe Commercial club should keep at the
work until the debt is paid off. I am
Il believe a series of recitals last
ng two weeks would be good thing"
said c. G. Blakely- TT would help
advertise the organ.A In the past it has
been an idle piece of furniture. I'd
ike to see Dean Whitehouse, Prof. Sey-
nour, and Mr.. Roehr paid to play the
)rgan.''
Charles Mitchell was strongly in
avor of the noon hour lunch plan at
he Auditorium What we want is 10 ,
how md I
crested
Il haven't any idea but what we'd be !
bile to get the ladies of churches and ]
ther organizations to help serve the
meals at noon to aid in the cause
aid Commissioner E. B. Stotts.
Declare an Emergency.
I'VE should declare an emergency" ]
aid Elon S. Clark. of the organ COM 1
nittee. We should get up something
nfque. We have the distinction of De-
ng the only city in the United States +
hat has it's pipe organ in its public =
uilding. AS a matter of fat the or +
an at Salt Lake city is not mucn if +
ny larger than our organise the q
eople say who have seen both OF
hem. The organ can be turned into r
ne of the finest agencies for adver- b
sing the city
DR.. Loveland made an enthusiastic n
TX. He thought that the Comm
Tub can start a campaign that viii =
lake Topeka one of the great musical | n
enters in the United States.
Dean Horace L. Whitehouse was o
pposed to tbs cafe idea, as was also a
rof. Seymour, on the grounds that c
Musicians do not like to play at a res
lurant, but it was explained later 8
lat the idea was not to have the 2
lusic played while the people were s
ating. but afterwards.
Dean Whitehouse told of a CONVEX n
alton he had had in the east with r,
r. Chadwick, famous organist of
ational fame. He said" stated Mr.. A