Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1920-02-14
Supporting the Symphony
Orchestra.

Il isn't hard to impress the people with the
fact that Rock Island needs good schools,
well equipped library, slightly parks, clean
streets and pure water. Things like these
come into the lives Of the people every day
and their desirableness is conceded without
argument. 1t is easy to get support for any
step that promises definite betterment and
popular displeasure is quickly apparent toward
anything that works the other way
If the town has baseball or a football
team everybody understands the, Importance
OF backing it up to make it winner. Its
victories are something to brag about and its
reverses something to be deplored and ex-
planned. Community spirit is easily aroused
and people part readily with their money and
go out of their way to extend patronage for
the sake of the cty's good name.
For some strange reason it is different with
music, at least in Rock Island Music easily
takes rank with many other things that are
considered necessary to a city's well being.
The educational and uplifting effect is con-
ceded by thinking people. STILL Rock islanders
show a disinclination to take advantage of
their musical opportunities or to accept their
musical responsibilities.
There is the Tri-City Symphony orchestra.
1t is truly joint organization for the three
cities 1t carries the name of Rock Island,
Moline and Davenport and represents them in
the musical world somewhat after the manner
that baseball team would in the world Of
sports. 1t has much more than local repu
tation. Only a few of the larger centers of
population can maintain symphony orchestras.
The one here is something to be proud of and
It ought to have united support. Without solid
backing it cannot long survive
From the standpoint of quality the pro-
rank with the best. The price of admission is
so far below the common standard for high
class entertainment that it is a negligible fac
tor. At the last concert Davenport turned out
1900 people at the coliseum. For the same
program given at Augustana gymnasium Mo-
line sold 1900 tickets and Rock Island only
800. There was less than one-fourth the pat
ronage from this city that there should have
been.
1t isn't a question Of money. The expenses
of the orchestra have been guaranteed for
the season by public spirited citizens If there
is deficit they will make it up without COM
planning. 1t is merely matter of failing to
appreciate really good thing in the musical
line and to do the cfys fair share in sup
porting it. And Rock Island canAot expect to keep
what it does not deserve Neither should it
be content to rest under obligations to DAY.
export and Moline in connection with a joint
undertaking. 1t may be that the orchestra
can be maintained without Rock Islands sup
port. but it will no longer be tri-city insti-
tuition. 1t will cease giving programs in this
city That will be loss that we can hardly
afford, especially when so little rs necessary
to keep the advantages now enjoy.
There will be another program at the
Augustana gymnasium next Monday evening
following the one in Davenport Sunday
Arthur Kraft, the well known oratorio singer.
will be soloist As an auditorium the gymna-
SUM is far ahead of the Davenport coliseum,
so the program here really should be better
than that across the river. Let Rock Islanders
who believe in music and wish to see it sur
yive bestir themselves There should not be
an empty seat in the house.