Evening star., 1896-09-21
THE BRYAN MEETING
It May Cause Trouble in Local Labor
Circles
Charged That NOn-Union Men Erected
the Stand-Musical Contract to
BE Looked Into.

1t is almost certain that some Of the
central labor bodies of this city will make
trouble for the democratic central COM
mittee which had charge of the arrange
merits for the Bryan mass meeting within
the next day or two.
There is an immense amount of dissatis-
faction on the part of Knights of Labor
with the way in which various matters
connected with the giving out of the con-
tracts for the erection of the platform and
securing of band were managed. In re-
gard to the music II is stated that the
committee made contract with Weber's
Band for the evening several weeks be-
fore the day set for the meeting, and IL
was supposed by the committee that the
whole question was settled so far they
were concerned.
Hardly, however, had the agreement with
Prof. Weber been signed before some OF
the correspondents here for democratic
papers in other large cities began to i'm
perfume the committee to also employ the
Marine Band, and argued that it would be
much better for the free silver cause
throughout the country to have IL go out
from Washington that the Marine Band
was present and furnished the music at
the reception Of Mr. Bryan.
These arguments proved so convincing
that the committee whose members had no
desire TO break their contract with Weber's
for the occasion also. and proposed to have
the two bands divide the time
or course, Prof. Weber presently heard OF
the new arrangement, and after holding a
conference with the members of his band
and some of the prominent members of the
Central Labor Union IL was decided that
the contract made with Weber's Band gave
that organization the exclusive privilege of
furnishing the music for the meeting, and
so informed the committee.
The latter then determined to adhere to
| its original contract with Weber's Band
| and Informed the Marine Band that their
| services could not be made use OF.
| of course. under these circumstances the
| Marine Band did not attend the Bryan
| loeeting. The whole subject was, however,
| AIKEN up at the meeting of Musical AS
| semoly yesterday afternoon, and as a re-
| suit the attention of the Federation Of La
4 Dor will be called to the matter at the
| meeting of the latter tomorrow evening.
| The Federation will Also il is understood
| be asked by Carpenters Assembly TO look
| into a charge that the stand for the speak
| ers at the Bryan meeting was erected by
| non-union labor, and that the men en-
| ployed thereon were paid less than union
| rates
Ii is claimed on the part of the members
| OF The democratic committee that those
| who gave out the various contracts refer.
| red to were under the impression that
| those to whom they were given were EN-.
| ployers of union labor and that IL the re.
| suit proved otherwise the fault was With
the contractors. and not with the commit.
| tee.
| District Assembly. No. &C. knights OF
| Labor, with which both the Carpenters and
| Musical assemblies are also connected will
| without doubt, il is believed, confirm what
| ever action the Federation of Labor may
take in the questions involved.