Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-07-12
ALACK OF HARMONY.
MUSICAL ASSEMBLY AND Mr. LEATh
NOT IN SWEET ACCORD.
Vroubics That the Manager Hss Before
Rim in Securing Orchestra Players
Both Sides Given.

Almost two years ago-at the COM
mencomcnt OF Tho season OF i~S92~'93--there
gathered on the theatrical horizon Of this
civ a little cloud. Little by little has
the volume OF that cloud increased, and
the threatening aspect intens fed until,
ere The season 1875 shan be ushered
fn. e is more than probable that we h
De confronted with a climax, the effects
OF which It IS almost Impossible to est
mate.
The trouble originated in the failure oil
NJ. Crcssit, the cornetist at the theatre
80 turn out with the First Regiment
Band In October. 1922. for which he was
hn>d 81 by the Richmond Musical Union
and there was a limit placed upon the
time allowed for payment, the penalty
for neglect being suspension. on the
evening OF ne Gate nNcd. February 18Th,
Mr. tresait had not paid the fine. and
four members Of the orchestra. which
had assembled 10 play the overture. took
their Instruments aud left the house. In
view o. tGe audience. on The matter
bong represented 20 Mr. Leath. he sent
90 The officers or the un on and paid the
fre The musicians who had struck, on
bong informed that Grcssirs fine had
l.Du pa'j. returuc1 90 the theatre be-
t.re the cnl Of the performance. but
v.ro mot allowed 20 return to their places,
ava. were ~summnrliy discharged.
a NpN-UNION ORCHESTRA.
The union. however. Insisted that the
your should hr reiusiatci. and as there
warc u) competent local musicians out
sdc thc union. Mr.. Lcath was forced
o.. ..ff- sN-"- L.... -. al.
time D. appears that MIR. l.eath decided
= form q nou-union orchestra. for before
the end 81 the senson the union orchestra
ltl one hy ono been discharged for va
r.Dus causes, aNl their places filed by non
union WIslci9ns. on this move of Mr..
loath's being made manifest the Rich
uorI Musical Union complained 10 the
Grades unions Of the city. who notified
Inn that De- would have TO employ the
Iule.eal unions mon. or bc boycOtted
Matters remained pretty much in statu
quo o-.iu- tht FIRST half of last season.
aud rp aggressive steps were taken on
either side. some months ago the ACade-
rar AMID Theatre orchestras. together with
q Number ~ other musicians. decided TO
1lru "a musical union f0r their own pro-
lection. and were granted "A charter by
frn Knights 81 Labor. which is the same
organic ton that the musical union Of
washington and one OF the musical
unions OF Baltimore got their charters
fr.l. 10 vas expected that thiS move
would ha agreeable to Al parties, and no
further trouble was anticipated.
TROUBLE BREWING AGAIN.
.lr. a. %. McCulloch. the secretary Of
the Richmond Musical Nssembiy-for-
f..it ta.un as the Musical Uuion-u an
Interview yesterday. stated that 81 spirited
H -s.f t... .AvH "a ON
g.. w.,u the union ANA Manager Leath,
tlr r.rport If which ne was not at pres
'ur 40 liberty 20 make known. though BE
i.timttDi thot the question under discus
sion would admit Of 40 compromise, and
ll4t unless Mr.. Ieaih consented ~ en-
ilc musicians from the union he repre-
s,utel. that the Trades Council. with
which tne Musical Assembly IS amalca-
mattel bad already appointed committees
o., VISIT The various branches, who would
declare "a boycott; against the Academy
and Theatre. The result Of this action
would. Doc asserted. be fraught with very
8 lI,us con-elu. noes 10 The management
Of Or. 'wo houses. as nearly all the work
il.-weu az Richmond are members Of the
trades unions. He stated. moreover, that
IL bad been lintei iu one Of Mr. Leath's
letters tltt members of his orchestra We're
900 fN||IH'N 100 q H r NNA|A AAt 80
ITS charter from D. Knights Of Labor.
Llt t.at the Office, of his union Were
not aware th1t any local branch Of that
order v.s iu existence. IL the existence
o. another musical union in this city
!i..lI prove o. he % fact. II was the
Intention OBJ tle Musical Assembly 10 in
S.-flcsf. thc circumstances under which
they received their charter, and should
70 prov. .- ha expected. that The charter
itl bean procured as a cloak. he felt con-
ll,ut that tle knights of Labor would
revoke if. ana Nr. Leath would be forced
q, employ The Musical Asscmbly's must
clans cor be- h0y cottcl.
MIR. LEATH RATHER RETICENT.
Mr. Le.,h. who was seen later In the
lly. said matter, were In such "A deli-
cate condition at present that he could
act gN, out anything for publication
ON being pressed. however, he suInma-
r.,I the situation as follows: "lp 20 the
present tim, ! have made no engagement
with amy musicians. and ! shall Dee guldel
N So lIlre entirely iy the competency OF
those who present themselves. | ave
received "a letter from The secretary Of
t., Central Trades and Labor Council
10 The effect that if ! do not make UP
IL, trouble. with the ola musical union,
tIat i- Co. say. u 1 do not tmPoy their
u.rlit.e for ms orche-tras. all the labor
.rIoas iu the city viii boycott both thea
trcs d., stated that De was apparently
o. ,,-tn two fires. for ~ be employed
al ,,lhtstra composed Of men belong rs
{, .i~ new union he would Doe hoycottcd
lt the Central Trades AMI Labor Conn
az. ALL 10 Dee should employ men from
10 older .ion he would be- boycotted
ly o., knights Of Labor. He further
etat.9 tutt tte salary paid was the
"r.rr'au.u amount. and the difficulty
r...,1 soiey on his determination To
employ Professors Stein and Gressit in
DIS .r,Aesua. neither of whom were &C
c.,i1ht, IT, the ola musical union On ac-
c-l1t % The attitude they took during
L. IL IL nlra.IN uIlLlnI 10