The morning call., 1893-11-15
NO BAND ENGAGED
SOusa's Musicians and the
Exposition.
Director Mitchell Is In Favor of
Employing Home Talent for
Midwinter Concerts.

a QlSpatcn from CnlcaG0 IN yesterday
papers stating that Director General de
oung had signed contract with Sousa's
band for the Midwinter Fair aroused a
strong feeling of indign alton among musi-
clans in this city.
That such action should have been taken
seemed beyond their belief, because the
local musicians union contributed $3.50 to
the fair fund and gave the services OF
members to the value OF S1400 already in
free concerts for benefits. Whenever a
benefit entertainment was given for the
fair the union musicians organized orches-
tras and played without charging for theiE
services.
So the dispatch was criticized and talked
about by many displeased players yester-
Cay morning. 1t gave rise to debates and
discussions at the headquarters on Fourth
street and was TO have been considered by
the board of directors at o'clock. Mean
time it was announced by the MidwiDter
Fair executive committee that the dis
patch was not true. The whole aspect OF
the situation was changed instantly to one
of rejoicing. aud the directors at once set
about deciding on schedule OF prices for
afternoon and evening concerts at the fair.
question will not be decided without full
deliberation. 1t is thought that the rates
offered will be reasonable enough to in
Guce the executive committee to enter into
contracts for music at home without going
elsewhere for talent.
The executive committee was more as
tOnisbed at the dispatch than the must-
clans themselves.
R. B. Mitchell spoke like man who felt
annoyed by the dispatch. Most posi-
lively" said he, with emphasis, 1--WE have
not engaged SOusa'S band, or any other
band. l asked Mr.. de Young about it this
morning and he was surprised to hear that
he had engaged this band for the Mid
winter Fair. He told me there was not
particle Of truth in the report.
Somebody stated around here. / can't
remem Der who, that one of the concession
lists had engaged Sousa's band for his
building 1dOn't know which concession
ist, either, aud it may be only rumor
after all.
I'VE have not got any money to engage
musicians with so early in the day. What
we want now is money to put up those
buildings, put down a sewerage system.
grade and finish and fence the grounds"
"Will you have more than one band of
musicians a: the fair?" was asked. "The
musicians would be glad to know where
you stand with regard to them"
nus ic yet" replied Mr.. Mitchell. 'Ithink.
however, there will be different bands in
the buildings and grounds for concerts.
open air concerts and orchestras in music
halls and music in the buildings at differ
ent times.
81 am in favor of employing all the local
talent we can get in preference to Eastern
or foreign. We can give quite as good
music with local bands, and take care of
ourselves very we'll out here. So far as
Pm concerned personally L am decidedly
in favor of having our Own people here
employed in every branch Of the fair as
well as in the musical line.
"This dispatch is like many more from
Chicago in connection with Midwinter
in fact. Some people pack there keep
sending them for some reason or another,
and they are very annoying.
Director de Young was seen in the after
noon. He said there is no truth whatever
in the news about his having engaged
Sousa's band, nor has he entered into ar
rangements with any band of musicians
whatever. In his opinion the report was
circulated enormously. as some one had
said that the Vienna PraLer concessionist
had engaged Sousa's musicians.
Late in the evening the directors Of the
Musicians Union set price for players
at the Midwinter Fair as follows:
For seven days, three hours each day,
daytime, $50 80 each man.
For nighttime only. seven nights, three
hours playing, S27 80 each man.
For day and night. five hours playing,
seven days. $50 80 each man. with six
hours playing Saturday and Sunday.
For seven days and nights, band to play
three times each day for seven days, the
aggregate number of hours playing not to
exceed six, $50 each man. Ii the union
men want to send substitutes they will
have 20 pay them S4 per day for daytime
only and s. per night for nighttime only
and 81 for day and night.
You can see by this that we have
char ged our own men more than we have
the directors of the Mid winter Fair, and
our prices are very fair and reasonable"
said the union secretary, commenting on
the rates finally accepted.