Reasons for abandonment by the Milwaukee State Teachers’ college band of its contemplated tour to Germany became apparent today.
Not only the protests of many liberal and radical organizations, but a clearer disclosure that the trip would be subsidized by the Nazi government prompted cancellation of the tour by Dr. Frank E. Baker, president of the college.
Originally Dr. Baker, a liberal, defended the tour, declaring it would not be subsidized since the low rate the students were to pay was to be offset by paid concerts they were to give in German cities.
However, when the German consul at Chicago notified the college the band could not, as a non-professional organization, charge admission for concerts in Germany, then Dr. Baker realized the low tour rate was made possible only by a direct Nazi subsidy, made through the medium of the German steamship lines. He thereupon called off the tour.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
