The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-20
FOR ORGANIZED MUSIC
FRS NATIONAL CONVENTION TO
FORM A FEDERATION.
Address by the Governor, Mayor and
Characterization of Labor Conn
mittee in Session.

he HIS COiNtitiOu VI IN ALlt lSetil
Federation of Musicians began yesterday in
English's Opera House, and will probably
continue through the week. The first ses-
sion was held in the morning and opened
with an address by Samuel Gompers, pres
ident of the American Federation of La
Dor. Mayor Taggart followed with an adj
dress of welcome, which was responded to
by Mr.. Gompers. In the afternoon Gov
ernor Matthews addressed the convention,
extending the musicians a Hoosier well
come and complimenting them upon the
pleasing features of their participation in
the campaign affairs. Second Vice Presi-
dent Duncan. of the American Federation
of Labor, also made an address, in which
he spoke of the attitude of the musicians
in the past and what they expect from the
future. The officers of the convention are:
President-H. d. Beissenherz. of Indian
apolis.
Secretary. Schmalz. of Cincinnati.
Assistant Secretary-Gus Koehier, of To-
ledo.
The American Federation of Musicians is
as yet not really an organized body, and TO
perfect this organization is the purpose and
object of this convention. 1t is proposed
to secure a charter from the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor, which will protect the
organization from local unions that have
been springing up throughout the country,
anu dSdlIlSL WHICH there Is considerable
feeling manifested by the musicians who
now propose to organize this federation.
This convention is the outcome of appoint
ing a committee at the melting Of the Ma
tional League of Musicians in Washington
last May, looking to the organization of a
federation under the protectorate of the
American Federation of Labor. The cause
of the appointment of the committee dates
back in the history of the National League
to 1887. Since that year attempts have been
made to affiliate the National League of
Musicians with the American Federation
Of Labor. The tendency has been growing
in favor of utilization until at the conven-
ton in Washington last May a vote was
taken, which stood 500 for and the same
number against the movement. The mo-
ton was declared lost. After the adjourn
ment of the convention, and on the strength
of a statement made by President Alexan-
der Bremen, of New York. that if those
league locals who wished to affiliate with
the American Federation of Labor wanted
to form q national organization for that
purpose the National League would have
no objections, a preliminary organization
was formed at 3 o'clock in the morning,
and G. d. Beissenherz was appointed pres
ident pro tenn. and Jacob Scnmalz secre-
tary pro tenn. A committee was appointed,
consisting of Charles +. Hahn, of Chicago,
Otto Ostendorf, of st. Louis, and ii. d.
BeiSSenherZ, of Indianapolis. This commit
tee was instructed to wait upon President
Gompers, of the American Federation of
Labor, and make oVertures towards the
formation of a new organization. Two con-
ferences were held with Gompers, and the
result was that an agreement to work to-
getner Tor the formation of the proposed
organization was made. BY reason of Com
pers's large experience with national bodies,
he was chosen to issue the call for the con-
vention is the result.
1t is the purpose of the present conven-
ton to draft the constitution and bylaws
and draw up rules of order for the pro-
posed federation and effect it's permanently
as a national body of musicians. The i'm
petus of the movement, it is claimed, is
due to the fact that the erased and sus-
pended members have affiliated themselves
into an organization under the American
Federation of Labor in the different cities
OF the United States, and in this manner
have seriously affected the reputation and
most vital interests of the National League
OF Musicians, the parent organization, since
its inception in March,, 1856. The object of
TINS new organization is to centralize the
musical organizations of the country as far
as possible with one grand national organi-
zatlon under the protectorate of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor, and in This man
ner effectually check and obliterate the
various troubles the musical organizations
have endured under the former regime.
Most OF the day yesterday was taken up
in the examination of credentials by the
convention. A recess was taken about 2.30
O'Clock in the afternoon till 8 o'clock in the
evening in order to give the committee on
credentials time to complete its report.
The night session convened at s O'clock
and the credentials committee made its re-
port which, with the exception of the Gre
dentials of two delegates, was accepted.
These two credentials were referred back
to the committee with instructions to re-
port in the morning. The committee on
rules reported and the report was con-
CURED in. A committee of five was APP
pointed with instructions to confer with the
executive council of the American Fedora
ton of Labor and ascertain upon what con-
ditions a charter would be granted. The
committee is composed of Owen Miller. st.
Louis; Paul Mueller, Louisville; Charles r.
Hahn and f. Scott, Chicago, and j. b.
Moore, Cripple Creek, Col. A press com
mittee was appointed, composed of I. J.
Masten. Cleveland; j. J. Nearer, Detroit,
and Edward Kiefer, Duluth, MINI. The
meeting then adjourned to convene at 10
O'Clock this morning.
Among the delegates attending the meet
ing are Jacob SchmelZ, George 4. Gobreht.
CINCINNATI; John 3. Aviline, Marion: Omer
Miller, |. l.. Schoen. John l.. Fields. ST.
Louis; Frank II. Wade, Duluth; Charles L.
Bennra, Gustav Koehler, Toledo: j. b.
Moore, Cripple Creek. Col: John j. Meurer.
Detroit; Paul Miller. Louisville; Frank
Hubbard, Evansville; Andrew Langrath.
milwaukee,; T.. B.. Bell, Terre Haute;
Rauth. Springfield, Ill. George Schwekart.
Cleveland; Charles f. Fahn. Fred Scott.
Chicago; William Koch, Henry Jacobins,
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