The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-07-11
BAND MAY QUIT.
Topeka's Famous Organization
Thinking of Disbanding.
Lack of Support Said to Be the
Reason.
HELP FROM THE CITY.
Annual Appropriation Should
Soon Be Made.
HELP FROM THE CITY.
Marshall's Has Been a Standing
Advertisement of Topeka.

NarshalPs Military band, which has
done more to advertise Topeka than
anything connected with the city, is not
receiving sufficient support to make the
maintenance of the organization an OBJ
ject, and unless arrangements can be
made next year to secure a yearly ap-
preparation from the city, the famous
organization is likely to disband.
When it is said that the band is not
receiving sufficient support it is not
meant that the people of Topeka do not
patronize to a fair extent the concerts
at Garfield park But the money taken
in at the concerts goes into the fund
which is used to make payments on the
park property, and the members of the
band get nothing from this source for
their services. The money which goes
to the players is the balance left after
the expenses are paid from that received
for outside engagements, and last year
the gross receipts amounted to the mag
niflcent sum of $500.
Practically all the members of Mar
shalIs band are workingmen. The time
spent in practicing is their leisure time.
It is small wonder they are dissatisfied
when It is a matter OF keeping up the
work week in and week out through the
year with scarcely any remuneration
Marshall's band has been in existence
for over Is years. 1t has become so
identified with the city that the name is
synonymous with Topeka. 1t has been
pronounced by Sousa, Gilmore, Liberatti
and other band lea ders to be the best
amateur band in the country, and its
fame has spread to the glory of the city.
Topeka can not afford to allow the or
ganfZation to diSband, and at present
such a move is seriously contemplated
at the end of the season unless some ar
rangement is in sight by which the
band can be supported by the city.
The city council of Kansas City re-
Gently appropriated $1,000 a year for the
support of the Third Regiment band
and as a result the band is now giving
ten free concerts each week. An appro-
priation of s., 600 or So 900 would support
eral free concerts would be given dur
ing the week Kansas City but followed
the example of dozens of other cities in
the country, and there is no reason why
Topeka should not do likewise.
1t mas been suggested that the appro-
priation might be made out of the park
fund. When other parks beside Gar
field park were ready for use, the con-
certs could be distributed as far as To-
cation was concerned.
This is a matter which the CONNER
cial club would do we'll to consider. IT
is business proposition because of the
bands worth to the city as an advertis-
ing feature. 1t is no less a business pro-
position because free concerts would
mean advancement and provide pleasure
to the people Of the poorer class who
now find the small admission charged
at the park bar. 1t might take a spec
lal act of the legislature to provide for
the support of the band by the city or a
city ordinance might be sufficient
If a special act is necessary the mat
ter should be arranged at the next ses-
sion Of the legislature. If not the coun-
ell should be prevailed upon to make
the appropriation. Topeka can't afford
TO lose Marshall's band, and the city is
band concerts for its citizens, rich and
poor alike.