Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-05-08
Orchestra Picks
Slate Pledged 10
Keep Director
Williams Elected
At Stormy Meeting
In Arlington

At a stormy meeting in the
County Courtroom last night, j. H.
Williams, an engineering con-
sultant by profession and q violin
list in the orchestra, was elected
president by a vote of SO to 26.
He defeated Mrs. Alice Campbell,
the incumbent. Mr.. Williams
lives at 5317 South Eighth road
Arlington.
The new officers elected last
night will be installed in June,
along with a new board of di-
rectors to be selected by them and
the orchestra.
Appointment of Mr.. Rosenthal
as permanent conductor had been
urged unanimously by the or
Ichestra members. The board of
directors Of the association, at a
meeting Sunday night, however,
refused to agree to reappoint Mr..
Rosenthal as conductor for 1872,
The election last night made it
clear that the boards action will
be reconsidered.
Membership in the association
is open to the general public and
to orchestra members.
Union Protest a Factor.
Mrs. Campbell said the board
voted on Mr.. Rosenthal's tenure
after letter was received from
the musicians union. calling for
busting from the orchestra OF
armed services personnel, includ-
ing the conductor.
Gordon Barnes, a member of
the board. said that, in voting on
Mr.. Rosenthal's retention, the
board hoped the union would drop
its objection to participation OF
other military personnel in the
orchestra. Mr.. Rosenthal is a
Navy chief petty officer.
Seven orchestra members were
refused admittance to the meet
ing when they arrived at the
courthouse because their associa-
ton dues were not paid. They
offered to pay the 81 fee but were
told the deadline for payment OF
dues to qualify for entrance to
the annual meeting had passed
at 7:30 pm.
Mrs. Gordon Barnes, chairman
of the membership committee
said it had been decided not to
permit purchase of membership
like tickets to movie"
Admitted, But Denied Vote.
Later. the president, Mrs. Camp
bell, agreed to a proposed COM
promise that the seven might
enter the room but would not be
allowed to speak or vote. Mrs.
Campbell ruled out of order a
motion that members OF the
orchestra be permitted to pay dues
at the meeting and vote. Her
decision was appealed, but her
action was upheld by 27-49, short
of the two-thirds vote necessary
to override.
Mrs. Campbell maintained 1t
was not the policy of the board
to discuss business at the mem
bership meeting and held that
members wishing to question the
board must make written request.
Harry Littman, a member of
the board. commended the board
should give an account of it's
actions.
Mr.. Littman declared: 1.-THE
vote OF the orchestra Gin support
Iot Mr.. RosenthaD was, to me,
IoVerpoWering. I don't think
the union has any right to veto
our selection of a director" He
said he felt that union interfer-
Ience would destroy the associa-
ton and the orchestra.
l. Lee Potter, another incum-
bent director, urged an immediate
election and predicted that "by
this time next year you will have
a different slant on how the board
operates.
Contention Criticized.
Mrs. June Fink, who said she
was attending as citizen, told
the gathering of nearly 100 per-
sons that she was shocked at the
contention in the group.
You are destroying the pleas
ure and pride we have in our or
cheStra. she said.
The new president was nomi-
mated by Albert Kranstof, 1884
Fort Stevens drive NV, also a
violiniSt in the orchestra.
Mr.. Kranstof had attacked the
boards action Sunday night re-
garding tenure of Mr.. Rosenthal
Mr.. Kranstof said the board
should not have met only "a hours
before the annual meeting, and
he maintained that the 1919 vote
was short of the number needed
to Gust the conductor.
An incorrect Interpretation of
the boards action was reported in
yesterdays newspapers. Mr.. Kran-
stof said.
Other officers elected were Will
bert Fritz. vice president; Mrs.
Florence Brumf1eld, secretary, and
Charles D. Davy, treasurer.
Classified EMPLOYEES Group