Evening star., 1943-04-08
National Symphony
Fund Drive Reaches
47.4 Pet. Of Goal
Representative Baldwin
Says Servicemen Want
Orchestra Continued

With Ala per cent of the goal
reached by pledges totaling s54,-
499.76, the campaign to raise sl15 900
to sustain the National Symphony
Orchestra through it's 1943-44 season
was reported gathering momentum
today towards a successful finish by
April IS.
Volunteer campaign workers we're
urged to increase their efforts by
Milton w. King, campaign chairman,
at the second report luncheon held
yesterday at the Statler Hotel. He
praised their work at the halfway
mark in the campaign, pointing out
that the results this year surpass
all previous drives thus far.
Representative Baldwin, Republi-
can, of New York, principal speaker
at the luncheon, declared the Ma
tional Symphony Orchestra is part
and parcel of our battle and we've
got to continue it." Recalling his
own Army service in the last war,
he said such institutions as the SYM
phony are among the things the men
IN the service expect the people at
home to continue for them.
Urges Nationwide Support.
Il feel strongly" he asserted, that
Washington is not only the Capital
of the Nation but the capital of
the world. And it is my belief that
the National Symphony Orchestra
should have the support of the Ma
ton at large so it can prove its worth
in its tours and concerts"
Representative Baldwin said his
recent formation of a national COM
mittee t0~solicit contributions for
the orcll pa on a countrywide
scale was Sslmulated by a realization
of the orchestra's real value not
only to this community, but to the
Nation"
$1,000 Added Later.
After the ten campaign commit
tees reported 1,161 pledges for a to-
tai Of s53,49976, or 46.5 per cent
of the grand quota, another $1,000
was added to the sustaining fund
just before the luncheon closed.
Mrs. Walter Bruce Howe, chairman
of the Women's campaign division,
reminded the meeting she had $500
conditional pledge to be matched.
Mrs. Joseph L. Miller, chairman of
the Government committee, an
nounced that her committee had a
subscription to match the pledge.
Walter Bruce Howe. vice presi-
dent of the National Symphony Or
chestra Associa ton, introduced DR..
Dillon Ripley, who expressed appre-
citation to the orchestra on behalf
of those who attended the "l5 to 30"
concerts last season. He said the
National Symphony was one of the
finest things made available to
thousands of wartime newcomers to
Washington, and added that the
orchestra has enormous value in af-
fording relaxation in these trying
times.
Divisional Reports Listed.
The following progress reports
were turned in by the various COM
mittees:
Army, ITO pledges totaling ST.
1851, or 449 per cent of its quota /;
Associations, 1853 pledges totaling
1891, or 28,4 per cent of its quota !;
Business, 38 pledges totaling s3,875,
or 35.2 per cent of its quota; Educa-
ton, 40 pledges totaling $8O815, or
18 per cent of its quota; Govern
ment, II pledges totaling S1,369. so,
or 12.5 per cent of its quota; Metro
politan, 223 pledges totaling S37,-
387, OF 644 per cent of its quota:
National Artists. five pledges totaling
s155. or SIT per cent of its quota
Navy Marine, 223 pledges totaling
$2.4l350, or 60.3 per cent of its
quota; Orchestra Guild, 239 pledges
totaling s3.513, or 319 per cent of
its quota. and Suburban, So pledges
totaling 1862, or 112 per cent of
its quota.
Among those at the head table
were Mrs. John J. McCloy, wife of
the Assistant Secretary of War;
Mrs. Leland Harrison, wife of the
United States Minister to Switzer-
land: Charles w. Eliot II, director
of the National Resources Planning
Board and member of the orches-
tra's board of directors: Clark Dia-
mond, prominent Washington busi-
ness man: Kenneth Holland and
Walter Pendergast, both of the Of
flee of Inter-American Affairs;
Mrs. Alfred johnson, wife of Admiral
johnson. and Miss Alice w. Clapp
honorary vice president of the Ma
tional Symphony Orchestra Associa-
ton.
The next formal report luncheon
will be held April l6.