New Britain herald., 1924-06-28
CHAUTAUQUA MAY NOT RETURN IN '25
GuarantorS and Park COmlniS- SiOnerS Take Adverse Action
THE C. OF (. IS THROUGH
Guarantors Also Displcascd With Contract in Force-IDr. Davis E,n- dcaNoring To Form New Commit tee To Keep Alive Interest

Although Rev. Dr. John l.. Davis. acting independently is endeavoring. to sign mp a new ticket committee with the idea of bringing Swarthmore Chautauqua to New Britain next year. action taken by the present guaran- tors, the Chamber of Commerce and the board of park commissioners is such that there is very little if any likelihood that New Britain will see Chautauqua again.
 While no criticism is aimed at the quality or educational value of the Chautauqua program, although It has been felt by many that there was a slight letting down within the past twqSyears, the real reason given for failure to approve return to this city is the lack Of support by local ! people and the unsympathCiic attitude i of the Chautauqua contract.
 There will be no deficit this year | because the threatened deficit was wiped out by the guarantors them selves purchasing tickets 10 put it over financially. The guarantors in meeting have decided not to sign again. The Chamber of Commerce, which has had the task or selling the Chautauqua every year to the people 1 has voted noi to have anything furth. CT to do with the project and the u Oari ot park commissioners has noti- { fled the chamber that any perform ance, Chautauqua included, Tor which ! admission is charged, will not be per mittcd henccforth. This means that a'r further return to New Britain by athtntanqua will make il necessary to go 10 the Willow Brook or Stanley Iuarter parks or to some privately ownto acld,
 The unreasonable features or the Chartauqua contract and the fact that advance men apparently are not per- mitted to act upon their own judg ment according to local conditions as they find them. has been the cause Of strained relations Between the Cham Der Of Commerce, the respective groups of guarantofs and the Chau- tauqua organization since it first came here in 1921. The local people are permitted to spend for expenses only S25o. This includes all advertising, trucking ticket selling campaign, po- Ice protection. lighting, hanling ot equipment to and from the trains. the hauling of personal baggage. etc. As is ihe usual case the Chamber Of Commerce finds these expenses cannot be kept within that small limit and the local organization must make Hp the difference. Again only about 2u0 people in New Britain seem to he interested in the Chautauqua program and it is necessary to sell enough tickets tp raise s2,050 to fuflI inc guarantee. This must he done before rhautauqua gets here as inc sale of tickets by the local organization stops the day Chautauqua opens.
 Not enough people in the city are enthusiastic enough to buy or sell tickets. according to the Chamber of Commerce and it falls upon that ore sanitation literally to force them upon the public. and the result is disastrous 1 financially.
 New Britain. it is pointed out. is the largest city on the Chautauqua circuit and this city has an array of the best oratorical. lecture. and inusi- cal talent. both vocal and instrument tai during the greater part of the year. Speakers Of international promin- enre brought here by churches and civic clubs. is fed mp" with that sort of entertainment when warm weather arrives and does not extend much en- couragcment to the vendor of Chau- l itauata tickets. Generally it is neces- sary to canvass the factories to dis pose of the tickets, and this year the factories have decided not to approve Of this any further.
 IL is understood that Rev. Dr. John IT,. Davis. acting independently. is en-
 deavoring to sign ID q ticket commit tee. which in turn Will try to line UT Inev guaramtors. Dr. Davis. a forme lChasnbcr Of Commerce director. has been notified that he will receive no +cooprratiUn from that organization.