THE WHISKEY RING FRAUD’

BY GRAYSON L. KIRK

plague is advancing west. Ad- was privy to the whole affair. When per- vise our friends to leave the city.” fected, the Ring did include the Presi- “TThis cryptic telegram, sent from dent’s secretary, General Orville E. Bab- Washington, D. C., to St. Louis in May, cock; William Avery, the chief clerk in 1875, gave final warning to the great the Internal Revenue Office; General John Whiskey Ring that it had run its course A. McDonald, supervisor of Internal and that the government had at last de- Revenue for the district of Missouri, Kan- termined to put an end to one of the sas, Arkansas, Indian Territory, New most calloused frauds of the miserable Mexico, and Texas; numerous subordi- Grant administration. The Ring, an or- nate collectors of revenue, including espe- ganization of distillers and corrupt gov- cially C. W. Ford and John A. ernment oficials, had flourished for nearly Joyce of St. Louis; various local Missouri five years. Millions of gallons of whiskey politicians; and the owners of ten or more had been illicitly manufactured by reput- large distilleries and rectifying plants. J. able firms and dumped upon the market W. Douglass, Commissioner without contributing a cent in taxes to the of Internal Revenue, while not a member Federal Treasury. Millions of dollars had of the Ring, knew for years of its existence been diverted to the pockets of the thieves. and made no effort, until just before his It had been a great game while it lasted. dismissal, to take any action against it. The leaders of the Ring had believed Obviously, there was good reason for the that it would last. There was so much arrogance of the Ring. Few fraudulent profit that they had ample funds for brib- conspiracies in the nation’s history have ery. With this money they had so care- had such distinguished patrons. fully built up their organization that they Indeed, had Secretary Richardson, of the boasted almost openly that no force in the Treasury, not appointed an obscure col- government was powerful enough to lector of delinquent taxes named Sanborn, crush them. Their conspiracy did not rest the Ring might have enjoyed a long, if merely upon a corrupt bargain between not an honorable, existence. But Sanborn’s the distillers and a few underpaid revenue activities were so offensive that public ex- collectors, but ran across the country to posure, and a congressional investigation, Washington, through the offices of the forced both men out of oflice in disgrace. Treasury, and even into the White House The Ring was not aware of it, but Rich- where many of the Ring members had ardson’s resignation marked the begin- been led to believe that General Grant ning of the end. The vacant Secretaryship of the Treas- This is the fourth in the Thieveries of the Repub- lic Series. ury was filled in June, 1874, by the ap- 479

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pointment of , a lean could show him how to conduct his in- Kentuckian who had the rare virtues of vestigation. personal integrity and a keen solicitude for honesty in public administration. Bristow 11 had not been in office three months when he became convinced that the revenues Bristow was delighted and immediately re- from the whiskey taxes were suspiciously plied, suggesting that Fishback come to small. Time after time inspectors were Washington for a conference. As a result sent out from the Treasury department to of this, Myron Coloney, secretary of the check the records of collectors and super- St. Louis Cotton Exchange, and commer- visors and to examine the books of the cial editor of Fishback’s paper, the Demo- distillers. And time after time the inspec- mat, received a special commission to be- tors reported that, as far as they could de- gin the investigation. This time, Bristow termine, all was in order. But the new had no intention of allowing the mat- Secretary did not dismiss the matter. He ter to slip through his hands, He knew still felt that something was mysteriously the character of the Grant political ap- wrong somewhere along the line, and he pointees, and in his entire department he decided to test his theory by a general shift, trusted only his young solicitor, Major transferring a number of supervisors and Bluford Wilson; one supervisor, Hunt; special agents, including those at St. Louis, and one special revenue agent, Yaryan. to new posts. Elaborate precautions were taken. A new The order was given-and almost im- cipher was devised and, as an added safe- mediately oAicial word came from the guard, all correspondence with Coloney White House to revoke it. Thereafter, was sent via a private citizen in Washing- Bristow must have been sure of two ton. things; that corruption did exist, and that The Coloney-Fishback method of in- the ordinary channels of official action vestigation was in itself comparatively could not be used for ferreting it out. simple. With the help of a small clerical Wisely enough, he decided to confide in force and Yaryan, the one trusted agent, almost no one, even in his own depart- who was ostensibly in St. Louis to in- ment. While he was casting about in the vestigate delinquent railroad taxes, they early months of 1875 for a method of at- began to check railway bills of lading in tack upon the problem, he had a stroke order to secure accurate figures of the of rare luck. One day a stranger called amount of liquor shipped out of the city at the Treasury and gave him a letter from by the various distillers and rectifiers. G. W. Fishback, proprietor of the St. These totals could then be checked with Louis Democrat. Fishback, who had sent the sworn returns upon which the manu- the letter by way of a friend because he facturers had paid taxes. The difference, knew the regular lines of communication except for the relatively small quantity could not be trusted, informed the Secre- consumed within the city, would represent tary that he knew of the existence of a the extent of the fraud. gigantic organization to defraud the At the same time Coloney and Yaryan Treasury, and volunteered his aid in estab- sought to fortify their case by posting spe- lishing proof. If Secretary Bristow would cial secret watchers near each distillery to secretly send a special agent, Fishback check movements of grain and whiskey.

PRODUCED 2003 BY UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED THE WHISKEY RING FRAUD 481 These watchers soon reported that, con- Similar stealing was apparently going on trary to law, all the suspected plants were at Milwaukee, Chicago, and other points receiving grain and shipping whiskey dur- where distilleries were operating. ing the night, and that nearly all of them Armed with this information, the Sec- continued in operation throughout the retary gave orders to a group of special night hours. Treasury agents to proceed at once to Despite the elaborate plans of the in- St. Louis, and to seize the distilleries, their vestigators, the Ring soon knew that operators, and the revenue agents who had something was up. Fishback‘s hostility obviously connived at the falsification of was well known, and his trip to Wash- tax returns. These agents were “the ington had been observed. Failing to se- plague” referred to in the telegram of cure information through the regular warning. Ten distilleries-all of them sup- Washington agents, the Ring had sent a posedly reputable-were seized and the special emissary to the Capitol, who pre- government laid its proofs in the hands tended to be a private citizen who knew of the district attorney who set his entire of the Ring and desired to cooperate with office staff at work upon the huge task the Treasury in exposing it. Bristow nar- of preparing the cases for the grand jury. rowly missed being taken in by this ruse. As far as the public knew, the Ring had His suspicion having been aroused by been taken by surprise in a swift and the man’s curiosity concerning govern- dramatic coup. ment plans, he managed to put him off Naturally, dl of this made excellent without revealing what he proposed to newspaper copy. “A Gigantic Ring Ex- do. Later, the Ring discovered the watch- posed,” flamed the headlines of the New ers at the distillery gates, and learned of York Tribune. For days, columns were the railway shipment investigations. But, filled with accounts of the seizures, and by this time, it was too late to cover up. speculations as to the possible extent of the The harm had been done and the evi- frauds. It was a stirring time for sensa- dence could not possibly be concealed. tional news reporting. The air was filled The Ring’s only hope then lay in forc- with rumors of the whereabouts of ing Bristow’s hand. Officials hurried to Charley ROSS,child victim of the most fa- Washington, but, while the White House mous-and unsolved-kidnapping plot of was not enthusiastic about the investi- the time. The Beecher-Tilton trial-in gation, relations between the President which Henry Ward Beecher, foremost and Secretary Bristow were such that in- divine of his generation, was stridently de- formal pressure could not be used with- fending himself from lurid adultery out further arousing the already growing charges-was drawing to an inglorious suspicion of the Secretary. Clearly, the fat close. And now, to the long succession of was in the fire! governmental scandals was added the As Bristow had anticipated, the results whiskey disclosures. of the investigation more than bore out In spite of such a welter of scandal, the his suspicions. It was reported that the whiskey affair provoked surprisingly lit- Treasury was being defrauded in St. Louis tle ire among editorial writers. The usual alone of approximately $1,200,000 a year, comments, trite by this time, were made, and that the stealing had been carried but there was an air of weariness even on in an organized fashion since 1871. about the acid remark of the Nation that

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“as far as our observation has gone, peo-, the Ring and the protection which it af- ple are much more occupied with the vast forded. Those manufacturers who did not extent of the whiskey frauds . . .than with voluntarily enter the arrangement, and the condition of the civil service which who had not been evading the law, were has made these frauds possible.” promptly framed by the Federal agents who then offered the alternative of lucra- ur tive Ring membership or Federal prosecu- tion. So the Ring was formed. The story which was being unearthed, bit The next task was to establish connec- by bit, by the investigators and later by tions in Washington, connections which the grand jury was extremely interesting. would either guarantee immunity from Early in 1871,Conduce Megrue, a former investigation or provide secret advance revenue agent in Cincinnati, went to St. notice of the impending visit of special Louis where he entered into an agree- revenue inspectors. Both methods were ment with C. W. Ford, the district used, and arrangements were made with revenue collector, General McDonald, various officials and subordinates whereby, the supervisor, Joyce, his secretary, and for a split in the profits, full information William McKee, a local newspaperman would be made available. In making these and a power in the Republican party. In arrangements, General McDonald was in- this agreement among these five men, the valuable. A personal war-time friend and Ring had its origin. appointee of Grant, he had access at all The first step was to reach an under- times to the White House, and it was standing with the distillers whereby the extremely easy to use this friendship in latter would, for a .consideration, be per- such a way as to give the inference that mitted to manufacture and sell whiskey the President had lent his approval to the on which no tax had been collected. The scheme? Grant owned a farm near St. conspirators had little trouble in accom- Louis and, when he visited it in the fall plishing this. The distilling business had of 1874, he appeared with McDonald at been precarious ever since the Civil War, the St. Louis fair, drove about with hirn at which time successive increases in taxa- publicly, and stayed as his guest at the tion, which raised the rates from nothing Lindell hotel. McDonald, in his turn, lost at all’to $1.50 a gallon, had first led to a no opportunity to cultivate his powerful rapid over-production and then inevitably friend. He saw to it that the President’s to the accumulation of huge quantities of mediocre stallion, Young Hambletonian, surplus stocks. Evasion of the law had won first prize at the fair. He made the been widely resorted to, and whiskey was President a gift of an expensive buggy, a often sold in the market for less than the whip costing $25 and a fine team of horses amount of the Federal tax. In 1868, a com- equipped with gold-plated harness. He mittee of the House of Representatives showered the White House with shipments had reported the existence of numerous of wild game, fresh fruits, and rare tit-bits frauds in the form of forged brands, secret for the Presidential table. pipes from distilleries to rectifying plants, and the like. Consequently, with habits ‘Later, McDonald wrote, or probably ghosted, a of tax evasion already established, most of personal and rancorous account of the whole affair entitled “Secrets of the Great Whiskey Ring” (Chi- the distillers welcomed the formation of cago, 1880).

PRODUCED 2003 BY UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED THE WHISKEY RING FRAUD 483 Even more personal hospitality was of spirits to tRe rectifiers, dump them, re- shown by the Ring to General Orville E. turn them, and refill and reship them with Babcock, the President’s dapper, ruthless, the original stamps kept carefully intact. little private secretary. While Babcock was Even more common was the simple ar- in St. Louis, there was placed at his rangement whereby the distiller was per- disposal a glamourous lady, actually mitted to ship double or treble the amount named Lou, but who was known by the actually entered on the stubs of the revenue elect as “the Sylph.” Her charms may be stamps. For example, note the €allowing partially inferred from McDonald’s pro- shipments from Bevis, Frazier & Com- saic description. He said, “Her form was pany, to William Bryce 86 Company of petite, and yet withal a plumpness and de- Philadelphia : velopment which made her a being whose Amount tempting luscious deliciousness was irre- actually sistible. Most beautiful of face, with eyes Tax paid 08 shipped January 4, 2,065 gals. 4,395 g$s. of deepest azure, in whose depths the sun- 1875.. January 15, 1875. 1,006 ” 4,423 ,, beams seemed to gather, and the fires of February 5, 1875. 2,473 ” 4’429 ,, love from flames of flickering constancy, February 5, 1875. 1,262 ’’ 4,480 seemed ever and anon to melt into love The financial arrangements were appar- itself. . . . She was the essence of grace, ently somewhat irregular. Approximately distilled from the buds of perfection, and 40% of the money-some four or five Run- with a tongue on which the oil of vivacity dred thousand dollars a year-was paid and seduction never ceased running; she to the revenue officers who divided it was indeed a sylph and siren, whose pres- among themselves. Out of the remaining ence was like the flavor of the poppy min- 60% the distillers paid hush money to gled with the perfumes of Araby.” In ad- their clerks, storekeepers, gaugers, etc. dition to the money payments described From the testimony of all concerned the later, Babcock was also given a four-carat Ring never hesitated to make arbitrary diamond costing $2,400. When he com- blackmail collections whenever it felt the plained that the stone had a flaw in it, the need for more money. obliging McDonald assessed the distillers and gave him a larger and finer stone. IQ With the Washington lines clear, the Ring was free to operate. Their methods District Attorney Dyer of St. Louis was of fraud were numerous and ingenious. cast in the Bristow mold. With his two One device, which of course required the assistants, and former Senator J. B. Hen- collusion of the gaugers, was to collect all derson as special prosecutor, he pressed the the revenue stamps which had been affixed government’s case energetically. Scores of to shipments to the rectifiers, return them indictments-253 in all-were returned by to the distillery, and use them again and the grand jury. Many of the distillers again. Regular prices were paid by the dis- pleaded guilty and paid their fines, un- tilleries for returned stamps. In other cases, doubtedly glad to be out of the wretched forged stamps, bearing the same numbers business. as stamps on which the tax had been General McDonald had at first put up legally paid, were used. Still another prac- a bold front. He had hastened to proffer tice was to take tax-paid, stamped barrels his resignation when things became Rot

PRODUCED 2003 BY UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED 484 THE AMERICAN MERCURY and he blustered to a New York Tribune some of the virtues. Witness this touching reporter that “he had been forty-five years admonition to young ladies who might making a reputation and did not intend yearn for the primrose path: to let anyone trifle with it. He intimated Libertinism has no line to mark its that he would make it a personal mat- bounds; no mansions to measure its audac- ter with anyone who dared to impeach ity, and no law to limit its terrible tempta- his honesty.” Privately, he was confident tion-ever seeking, plotting, and betraying that his powerful political friends would the holiest sanctuaries of affection. . . . The sordid smiling villain that kneels at your save him; he had apparently been given feet is the viper that stings when your assurance from highest authority that, if innocent love worms him into confidence. convicted, he would be speedily pardoned The strong battlements of your woman- -provided he kept his mouth shut. At hood and the voluptuous parapets of your best, his defence was lame and he received beating bosom are taken and desecrated a sentence of three years and a fine of when the angel of virtue sleeps on guard. $5,000. McKee, the politician, received a Durir?g all the exposures and trials, the fine and two years in jail. White House preserved an air of dignified William Avery, chief clerk of the Rev- support. “Let no guilty man escape,” wrote enue Office, and later of the Treasury, Grant, and the country applauded this was rather a pathetic figure. When Mc- somewhat belated interest in civic virtue. Donald and Joyce had at first approached But it was one thing for the President to him, seeking news as to the movements approve the punishment of subordinates of the revenue inspectors, he had indig- and distant friends, and quite another to nantly refused to divulge the information; welcome the exposure of treachery in his whereupon he had received a letter from own official family. the White House, signed by President By late summer, Dyer and Henderson, Grant, saying, “Joyce and McDonald are the prosecutors, had become thoroughly reliable and trustworthy. Let them have convinced that the trail of corruption led the information they want.’’ On the basis directly to the office of General Babcock. of this order, it had been easy to lead From the telegraph company they had ob- Avery into the Ring and it was demon- tained copies of suspicious telegrams ad- strated at his trial that he had furnished dressed to the St. Louis conspirators. information and received Ring money. These messages were signed “Sylph,” but He, too, received a fine and a two year they came from Washington and the ori- sentence. ginals were unquestionably in Babcock‘s Most colorful of all the local culprits handwriting The communications were, was the handsome young revenue agent, of course, somewhat cryptic, but the pre- Joyce, who also acted as McDonald‘s sec- sumption of guilt seemed strong enough retary. After receiving his sentence of to warrant an attempt to secure an in- three and one-half years, while awaiting dictment. And it was obtained! the promised pardon, he occupied his time This was news! News which shook the writing an autobiographical novel, copi- capital as few scandals had done. If the ously embellished with specimens of his President’s own secretary had been in the own verse. Whatever he may privately Ring, was the President involved? What have thought of his own conduct, his writ- effect would the exposure have on the ings were exemplary in their defence of fate of the Republican party at the elec-

PRODUCED 2003 BY UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED THE WHISKEY RING FRAUD 485 tion, now less than a year distant?’ about the whiskey conspiracy than any Tongues wagged, and official ardor for other man. In summing up the govern- further prosecution promptly cooled to the ment’s case against Avery, Henderson had freezing point. , At- pointedly questioned the propriety of the I torney General, who had directed the President’s interference to revoke the course of the prosecutions, was aghast at transfer of the supervisors. At the time the temerity of his subordinates, and he no comment came from Washington, but, uneasily warned Dyer and Henderson that as soon as Babcock was indicted, word they must be exceedingly careful and sure arrived from the Attorney General that, of their ground. Babcock wired in a panic in the opinion of the Cabinet, Hender- to St. Louis, “I am absolutely innocent son’s speech constituted “an outrage upon and every telegram which I sent will ap- professional propriety.’’ A new special pear perfectly innocent the moment I can prosecutor was to be appointed and Hen- be heard. I demand a hearing before the derson was to be removed immediately court where I can testify.” At the same from all further connection with the pro- time he besought the President to order ceedings. This move deceived no ,one for, a military trial so that a person of his as the New York Herald commented, “If rank might avoid the indignity of appear- he [Henderson] has given offence to the ing before a civil tribunal. Grant, ever President, it would have been better to let loyal, agreed, appointed Generals Sheri- the affront pass unnoticed, when both the dan, Hancock, and Terry as judges, and interests of justice and the honor of the selected as Judge Advocate one of Bab- White House are so deeply involved.” cock‘s personal friends who was then Dyer’s entire staff protested to Washing- teaching at West Point, The court was ton that no slur had been cast upon the ordered to convene at Chicago with all Chief Executive, and that the retention of possible speed. Henderson was vital to the prosecution. But this scheme failed dismally. Dyer But the dismissal was not revoked, and obstinately refused to allow his evidence the country echoed Henderson’s own ex- to leave St. Louis, and Pierrepont was planation, “I can only account for it by reluctantly forced to rule that the military Grant’s madness and desire for revenge trial could not possibly supersede the work on hearing of the indictment of General of the civil court. The military trial order Babcock.” was rescinded and preparations in St. Louis Events now came thick and fast. The continued. Babcock now knew that he prosecution was deliberately embarrassed was in a difficult position and he began by the administration at every step. to use all possible tactics. His friend, Levi Robbed of Henderson’s invaluable aid, it Luckey, the President’s other secretary, was further injured by the publication of was sent to St. Louis to watch develop an amazing letter from the Attorney Gen- ments, to engage counsel and, if possible, eral, issued at the request of President to prevent Babcock from being forced to Grant, in which warning was given that appear in person. no leniency should be shown those cuIprits Dyer could not safely be tampered with, who wished to turn state’s evidence-a but it was possible to cripple the prosecu- move obviously designed to frighten those tion by eliminating Henderson, the special who might otherwise have come to the aid counsel who, admittedly, knew more of the proseqution.

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v “ng for a moment the truth of this version, Grant would willingly have gone to St. The depths of treachery were perhaps Louis, but both sides agreed that his sworn reached when one of Babcock‘s admirers, testimony taken in Washington would George Bliss, United States District At- suffice. In an impressive scene witnessed torney for New York, and, hence, a col- by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, league of Dyer’s, sent a special agent, ap- Grant testified that Babcock had orally proved by the Attorney General, to work explained the incriminating telegrams to with Dyer, ostensibly to assist Bliss impre- his complete satisfaction. The President paring cases of his own against New York further said that he had “great confidence recipients of illicit shipments. This agent in his integrity and efficiency,” that Bab- secured all the information he could, in- cock had never, to his knowledge at- cluding some extremely valuable letters, tempted to aid or protect the Whiskey and actually turned them all over to Bab- Ring, and that, prior ta his indictment, cock’s counsel. Babcock had never discussed the subject The trial, itself, was a farce. Babcock, with him. who had attempted every avenue of escape, With the full weight of presidential now came to St. Louis with much fan- support behind him, Babcock listened fare. He was sure of a speedy vindica- calmly to a half-hearted charge to the jury, tion because he had two trump cards: the and, three hours later, to the expected ver- pledged word of McDonald, Joyce, et d., dict of acquittal. That night he was ser- not to reveal their dealings with him, and enaded at his hotel by a band from the the assurance of Grant’s support. Possess- government arsenal. Congratulatory mes- ing these cards, the one which he could sages came from all over the country, even play, the other which the prosecution one from District Attorney Bliss which could not, he conveniently forgot about said, “Permit one, whose faith, as you his impassioned message demanding the know, has never wavered, to congratulate right to explain the telegrams and did you on the triumph of justice and a de- not take the stand at any time during the cent administration of law, over political trial, but sat “chewing the tag-ends of and personal persecution, a malignant his moustache,” “as dumb as an oyster” press, and popular clamor.” Babcock’s throughout it all. friends made up a purse of $10,000 to re- The public now witnessed the amazing imburse him for the expenses of the trial, spectacle of the President of the United and he returned to Washington in States voluntarily taking the stand to de- triumph. He did not go back, however, fend an individual who was being prose- to his old post, for he became almost im- cuted by the government. Babcock was mediately involved in a charge of com- his friend and Babcock was in trouble. plicity in an attempt to rob a safe and Babcock had pointed out to him that the secure possession of some incriminating whole affair was a political scheme un- documents. Once again Grant saved his doubtedly cooked up by Bristow to dis- favorite but was forced to yield to public credit the administration so that he might opinion and to transfer him to an ob- gather behind him the reform element scure position as a Light House Inspector. within the party and win the presidential There seems to be no doubt but that nomination for himself. Never question- Babcock was really guilty and that he

PRODUCED 2003 BY UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED THE WHISKEY RING FRAUD 487 shared in the Ring profits. McDonald, for January. Joyce was released by President all of his understandable bias and resent- Hayes in July. Grant had kept his prom- ment, did publish in his book facsimile ises, and none of the culprits served out reproductions of numerous messages to even the short sentences which they had and from Babcock, and insisted that he received. Surely this is convincing proof made payments of various amounts to of official collusion to protect the already him. Specifically, he mentioned the pay- blackened name of the Administration. ment of $5000 at one time, a second $5000 This case study in administrative cor- at another, and, at a third time, a $1000 bill ruption would be complete if it were pos- presented in a box of cigars. “We [Grant sible to accept McDonald’s reiterated and Babcock] enjoyed the excellent flavor charge that Grant was at least an honor- of those cigars,” responded the secretary. ary member of the Ring. But this seems The certainty of Babcock‘s guilt seems quite unlikely. As simple minded and further borne out by the fact that, shortly gullible as he was, not even Grant’s after the presidential election, the antici- enemies dared to impugn his personal pated pardons for the four men who had honesty. Rather one may agree with the been jailed began to appear. McKee and Nation’s comment (March 9, 1876) that Avery were both pardoned on November “The crisis came when an ignorant sol- 17, 1876, exactly six months after their dier, coarse in his tastes and blunt in his commitment, and McDonald, after threat- perceptions, fond of money and material ening to publish his knowledge of the enjoyment and of low company, was put whole affair, was pardoned the following in the presidential chair.”

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ONE of the New York newspapers no- land Symphony Orchestra, the Harvard N ticed it, nor did the professional Glee Club, the Adesdi Chorus, the Stradi- music magazines, not even the one which varius Quartet, and the Pro Arte Quartet. devotes itself expressly to the cause of the Moreover, on April Ist, the Columbia native composer. Nevertheless, February Phonograph Company issued the first full- 28, 1934, was a red-letter day on the calen- length symphony by an American ever to dar of American music. That night the be recorded. And perhaps most remarkable curtain rose simultaneously, in the nation’s of all, on March 4, the conservative first- music capital, on three modern American line music critic of the New York Times operas. Far uptown, at the Juilliard School, ended his regular Sunday article with these George Antheil’s “Helen Retires” was hav- extraordinary words: that he is possessed ing its premitre; in the Roaring Forties, of more than the hope-in fact, he feels an Virgil Thomson’s “Four Saints in Three optimistic certainty-that the time is near Acts” was rounding into its second week of for some real American achievement in successful competition with Broadway hits, music and some enduring American mas- cinematic smashes, and the flea circus; terpieces. while slightly lower on the map, though Later in the year, the indigenous Werner not on the social ladder, Howard Hanson’s Janssen was engaged by the Philharmonic “Merry Mount” was being re-performed Orchestra of New York as guest conduc- before the diamond horseshoe of the Metro- tor, with the specific understanding that politan Opera House. Three American he was to feature American compositions operas on one night! Nobody who remem- on his programs. What is more, following bers the hubbub that formerly accom- his successful concerts of last November, panied onewill fail to appreciate the sig- he has since been re-engaged with the same nificance of this event. understanding. And, extending the native But the next few days witnessed several triumphs to another realm, the National other events, all pointing in the same di- Broadcasting Company has sponsored a rection. On March 18, eight Americans series of six concerts of chamber music, were commissioned by the League of Com- half the programs to be by Americans. In posers to write works which had been short, our composers have gained victories pledged in advance for performance by of late on almost every front. eight outstanding organizations: the Phila- It was not alway? thus. I do not have to delphia Symphony Orchestra, the Philhar- stretch my memory to recall the time when monic Orchestra of New York, the an American piece of music, particularly Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Cleve- of the kind apprehensively called “mod- 488

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