National Republican., 1888-02-26
MARINE BANDS POPULARITY
Az EFFORT TO PREVENT IT ACCEPTING
PUBLIC kNGAG EMENTS.
Congress Asked 10 L-gislste to That
End-Civiiian Musicians Jealous OF
the Favori,i-in shown 1t Comparison
with Other Horn showers.

Petitions are now to hc found i'm many
of the drug stores, hotels and business
huu,r> tur signatures of citizens asking
Cuugrc>> not topass hill prohibiting the
Marine baud from playing and making
money outside of their regular calling.
The petition state. that some uf the mCm-
bcrs are only paid monthly Sl3 as the
lowest grade, and S',S ~ the highest, sums
which in themselves are iucunsidcratc
when it is known that the majority
of the band have families dependent
un them lnr support, and hence they are
compelled tu look for jobs outside of their
military duties. \ member of the MuSi-
cal Union who is not connected with the
Marine band very frankly told what he
thought was the CiilisC of the trouble.
Said he: The union is composed of every
one who calls himself Il musician The
entire Marine band is in the union, and Il
large number also of the society members
were formerly connected with the band.
The Marine band has, practically speaking,
the best element of professional musicians,
and these men become known aud for their
excellence in their SpcciultirS get positions
/ in the urchCstfil~ Of the thCatcr>. This of
/ COURSE, keeps out men who think that be-
causc they are musicians IN civil life that
they should have the positions whether
they are fitted for them or uut. Another
thing j. that the regulations OfthC Marine
/ band give its members Il prestige over the
citizen musician. such thing would
not exist if the civilian members would
! band together H. an orchestra ar brass
band and lcvutca few hours Il week tu
practice. Take some of the bands that
get engagements. say for Il single parade,
any one that is II musician can tell in u
minute whether the band iS Il prlutirrd
one or one just slammed together
for the moment. Men, therefore, whu
employ bands soon get tired OF the
slammed together element, and only
too gladly find relief in employing the
Marine band This last band keeps abreast
of the times and plays the latest muSi,
and in II manner that plciSc> everybody
tell you honestly that have played in
paradcS with some of the slammed to.
gcthcr' bands. and ! was ashamed Ia bt
with the indifferent musicians. some
played to suit themselves, not caring iOl
time. melody, or anything else The secret
of this whole mattcriS jealousy. There is
no class of men who are more jealous u
their trlluw-mcn than musicians. They
don't want to sec any one hut thvm~ulvu,
get along, and even the union. with rule
: and regulations stringent aS they are Is
hardly binding enough ON some of the
membership. | can tell You that Tia,
American element is doing the kicking
. against the Marine band or any Other
band Why, if you look at the matter iuI
Il moment you will sec that the Marin,
band does not interfere with other mu
Siriuns 1t asks more money purpu>cly
L 81 that other bands will have the rhanc,
= for employment. II you were to urganlh,
; citizens band tomorrow il would tax,
year before the band could come up Il
the efficiency of even the tranglc.playc
in the Marine band. There would be- >'
many excuses why mend i'll not come Il
practice. diScunrntrd because the lcadc
did not employ one man Uitrmcr than h
. did another and other reasons which Leaf
, me tu say what ! do