The times., 1897-04-25
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ated with organized iaDor are d queer ioe-
Each and every one of them, lt Is said'
is an artist in his own special line; suil
there seems TO be total lack of harmony
smong them This statement MAY seem
paradoxical: nevertheless, If reports are
correct, il is true. as is evidenced by The
two organizations maintained by the local
musical fraternity.
IL must toe said, to the credit of the two
local organizations of musicians, that their
troubles are their own and they never at
tempt 10 embroil the members OF any oil
the other numerous labor organizatlOnsinto
them The division in theii ranks was on
matters OF principle, and not the result OF
personal differences of opinion on matters
concerning ways and means of the ad-
vancement Of individual interest As
matter orfact. it is said the rock on which
they split was considered equally danger
Gus 10y all, and il was the course to be
pursued in avoiding the danger which
caused the taking of separate courses to
what was considered a safe port.
The first organization of musicians was
formed al ont eleven years ago and affih-
ated with the order of knights OF Labor
as Assembly No 430S. The membership,
which at that time was about 100 strong,
rapidiy increased until it embraced nearly
all the frst-class musicians IN the city
Among its members were the members of
the United States Marine Band, and it
WAS the admission of these TO membership,
tits said, which caused all the trouble.
A large minority in the assembly claimed
that the members of the Marine Band We're
paid by the United States Government for
their services. and had no right under the
circumstances TO be allowed TO come into
competition with civil musicians. Their
wants were provided for by the Govern
1uent and il was unjust To those who were
taxed 60 support them TO be compelled 20
compete with them in the musical field for
d livelihood.
This argument was admitted by the ma
Jority e. be un ans werable, built was deem
ed best under the forced circumstances,
tu~=nake the best of the situation. 1t was
held BY tAe ma iorlty that f the soldier mu-
sicians weIe not admitted to membership
they would ia - TO meet them as compcti-
tors In open mar ket. .r heir connection with
the Marine Rand would, ttwaS claimed, give
them weight in the community and make
them dangerous rivals. So, under these cir
cuusGances, 1t was decided TO make the
gains, strengthen their own position AS a
musical organization.
The minority said It was not matter
OF dollars and cents; it was the principle
they objected to, and after seriously CON
sidaring the matter decided TO with lraw
from the assembly This they accordingly
did. ard favored an organization under The
protection of the National League Of Mu-
A,, l.,
prosper. and after a short existence died
fer lack ofpatronage. Many yofthemeinbers
returned to Assembly No. 430S, and
for some time all was well
nisccsrIant sounds again were heard in
tire spring OF 1895. The old question
of the right of the members of the Marine
Band to membership in the assembly was
raised again. and with the same result
This time The opposition to the soldier
element in the assembly was stronger, and
aided by others on the outside who fe-
lievedinthe Justice OF thepriHciplcforw which
they were CCntending, 5Cine'l them and
formed the Protective Musical League. An
organization was effected, with a mem
berShip Of about fifty members. 1t was
success It's numbers rapidly increased IN
I'll now it is on an equal footing with
the assembly
The league. however. had troubles cf its
own Besides rcing affiliated with the
national body. it also secured Il charter
from the American Federation Of Labor,
and was thus, as was thought, douhIy Sc
CuTpd in case Of trouble
Thetrouhle came but from quarter least
expected At the last annual convention
OF the National League If Musicians, held
In this CITY, the proposition to affiliate
with the American Federation OF Labor
was considered and after lengthy dis
CuSsion was decided in the negative.
This aceiua was practical serving of no.
tice on the local organization to sever It's
connection with the American Federation
OF Labor. rs it could not retain its MEM
bershLp in both bodies.
The local organization after due con-
sidemtiOu, determined to retain their
charter in the American Federation of
Labor and severed their connection with
the Natiund Musicians. For over year
the Protective League Of Musicians re-
NAMED IN independent organization To-
cally, hut on the organization of the Cen
traI Labor Union, which is connected with
the American FederatiOnof Labor, affiliated
with that body Thus it is that there are
two local organizations composed of first =
class musicians, which do not play in
harmony in the same place, at the same
time
While these two organizations have little
''ScrapS'' of their own, there is a common
enemy. the amateur musician" against
which they combine forces. The amateur
hand is considered as a dangerous rival
II has no established rates or hours, and
it is said there are so many OF them that
the professional musician can't keep tab
on them Not only do they make engage
inentS at very "unprofesSional rates. the
members OF organized labor say, but often,
for the name of PLAYING at certain swell
entertainments, offer their services with
nc expectation of remuneration.
The musicians affiliated with organized
labor say they have repeatedly appealed
TO the public to protect them from these
s'bandibti musicians" as they term the
amateurs, but with no success. Nine-tenths
ofthose who compose the amateur ban is, it
is said, are weIl-todo young people, " no
do not follow music for profession, nor
do they depend on it for support. For
this reason the local musicians who have
no other means of making living feel
that every engagement given an amateur
band is in a measure reducing their oI,por-
tunitieS OF making an honest livelihood
nj their trade.
His Choctaw.
Thaddeus Stevens was once opposedin de-