Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-09
THE MUSIC WORLD.
Necessity for Cooperation Between
PittSburg'S Musical Unions
A TREATY OF PEACE PROBABLE.
Some Pointed Remarks From President
William WOlSieefer.
ITEMS ABOUT OUR LOCAL MUSICIANS

There are two fullfedged protective unions
now existing among the orchestral and band
nisvers of Pittsburg-the Musical Mutual Pro-
tective Union and the Allegheny County Mu-
sicians, Union. The latter. though younger
and smaller comprises nearly all of the city's
professionai players well as of those semi-pro-
fessionals whose services are in demand for the
HIGHER class of orchestral work. The lengthy
roll of the former organization is chiefly made
nm of those whose musical activity is, generally
Sneaklng, upon the less artistic lines and occa-
sional rather than continuous.
1t is these differences between the classes of
players that have in fact led to the organization
of two separate bodies. The attempt to pro-
tect and advance the interests of both classes
under single organization has failed utterly,
after long series of sQuabbles and conten-
uOns, which have had a decided tendency to
bring the whole union principle into public
dlstsyor and to retard the very interests sought
to be furthered.
The separation into two unions is, therefore,
long step in the right direction, making 1t
now possible for each to legislate for its own
members according to their respective views OF
what is best for them, and thus removing all
occasion for fighting among themselves. The
further prOlOngatiOn of such strife can now be
attributed to nothing but mere personal teel-
ing and clique lealousies- No question OF
principle is at stake inasmuch as the two Pitts
burg unions stand together upon the essential
planks laid down by the National League OIL
Musicians as closely in accord as DO the gen
erality of the local bodies composing the
league.
Such being the state of affairs, there should
certainly be no hesitation in adopting some
such plan for future activity upon friendly
basis as mas lately been suggested, and Whlch
has been. it is said, taken into favorable con-
sideration by President c. b W. Ruhe, of the
M. NJ. P. .. The proposed modus vlyendl be-
tween the lately hostile powers is simply this:
For each to run its own affairs to suit itself.
maintaining approximately the same price lists,
and for each to allow its members the privilege
Of playing with the members of the other,
whether they are permitted to play with any
one else or not.
A treaty of peace like this would leave each
union free to work for>its own good and that OF
musical Pittsburg in its own way, and, in re-
moving the worst obstacles to the efficiency Of
musical unionIsm in this city, would relieve the
public of witnessing the distressing fights and
feuds that have SO long disgraced our orches-
tral circles.
While on this topic the following letter from
the President of the National League to the
american AuSicidn is decidedly in point:
PHILADELPHIA, May27.
tense of the New York NJ. NJ. z. U. against the
unjust reflections of the New York Times, which
appeared in The american Musician on the 25Ih
thepress Of the country & prone to place our
musical unions before the public in unfavOrabie
to t6eir cred Ths R0 arises Probably fFo@
the associating of the protective musical
unions as a trade organization with the labor
question, or rather the undesirable features, of
the labor movement. And it is natural that IL
should be so. so long as our musical unions exist
practically only trades unions, and do not give
evidence to the public that the object of their or
RHnization is not only for mutual protection in
the material sense, but also for the advancement
of the musical art'' and social intercourse and
mutual improvement. The musicians in their cor
porate capacity do not come before the public as
promoters of musical undertakings or enter
prises, as they should do according to
the provisions Of their charters, and therefore
must abide the public's disfavor. You have fire.
ouentlY taken our unions to task for this disregard
Of one Of the greatest objects of their organizs-
tOn. and until such steps are taken as will bring
about departure which will insure the promo
tion of the art of music, you will be justified in
continuing to censure them. While deprecate
the lack Of musical art work on the part of our
unions, am in full accord with their protective
features and the efforts 10 combat foreign
competition. and would say in this connection
that the National League Of Musicians in the
United States is at present in Official communca-
tion with the national authorities at Washington,
urging upon them the adjustment Of Government
band competition and the prevention of the
wholesale importation OF foreign contract labor
musicians. Yours truly,
WILLIAM WoLsIKFFER
President N. L. NJ. U. s.