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

With 47.4 per cent of the goal
reached by pledges totaling $54,-
499.76, the campaign to raise Sis 900
to sustain the National Symphony
Orchestra through its 1894 season
was reported gathering momentum
today towards a successful finish by
April Is.
Volunteer campaign workers were
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 national COM
mittee to solicit contributions for
the orchestra on a country wide
scale was stimulated by g. 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 l,16l 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 Association, introduced DR..
Dillon Ripley, who expressed appre-
citation to the orchestra on behalf
of those who attended the "l5 to 80"
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
nittees:
Army, ITO pledges totaling ST.
425.6l. or 449 per cent of its quota :;
Associations, l68 pledges totaling
sl,99l, or 2S4 per cent of its quota
Business, 38 pledges totaling $3,875,
or 35.2 per cent of its quota: Educa-
ton, 40 pledges totaling $8O8.15, or
l8 per cent of its quota; Govern
ment, II pledges totaling $1.369 so,
or 12.5 per cent of its quota; Metro
politan, 223 pledges totaling $37,-
387. or 64.4 per cent Of its quota
National Artists, five pledges totaling
$l55, or SIT per cent of its quota !;
Navy Marine, 223 pledges totaling
s2,413.50. or 60.3 per cent of its
quota; Orchestra Guild, 239 pledges
totaling $3,512 or 3l.9 per cent of
its quota, and Suburban. SO pledges
totaling $562, 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 Anril a.