The sun., 1901-07-03
rHILADxLRKEA MUSICIANS KICK.
Big Dssh e Csmmsrcisiism In Fostering Love
Of Music In Ouaker City.

PHrLADELPhIA. July Professional music
ians In this city are In a sad state OF mind
because Of the questionable methods that
are being resorted to by the promoters OF
the Philadelphia Orchestra TO put II on
! permanent basis. Subscriptions to the amount
OF about $4,000 have been secured. the sub
scrbers being led to believe that Philadelphia
musicians would be employed to as great
an extent as possible, with the idea Of fos-
terins love Of music and giving an impetus
to the study Of the art in this city
The managers Of the concern. however,
seem to have taken the US ual Quaker City
commercial view OF the matter, and are seeking
to make II money making venture. and are
not only not engaging Philadelphia music
ians. but are interfering with the llttie busi-
ness that they have heretofore been a bic to
get to such an extent that tomorrow they
will hold meeting for the purpose Of formu-
lating a protest
DR.. L. j. keffer. a dentist. is taking the
most active part in the collection Of funds
for the orchestra and to him the musicians
attribute the features in connection with
the organization to which they object
The principal complaint is the way In which
the management Of the orchestra Ia trying
to make money. Philadelphia is not much
OF place for music and outside Of the few
visits Of the Boston symphony and Sousa
little support Is given to anything at all
ambitious In the musical line. As a Con-e-
quence. musicians have to depend for en-
ployment on the various theatre orchestras,
college and school entertainments ana COM
mencoments
Tho theatres have been paying the union
price OF Sis n week and in some cases little
more for their orchestra men The Phila-
delphia Orchestra management has sAen In
- y . nd hos
gone 10 the theatre managers and offered to
supply thom with men for Sia week. aud
m s0%s tn. The Rs to have the
tract for the season of eighteen weeks FOR
e2S 20 SIS q week, They are at all times to
be at the disposal Of the orchestra manage
ment Thus they can be farfned out to the
theatres or for concerto on pishts when the
orchestra does not play. and whatever their
services bring will go Into the Golfers Of the
the concern decldedly profitable. and II tie
money Is not diverted to some other chappel
the subscribers r.ed have little fear that
there will be ample funds coming in from
tho industry OF tho players to assure the
Permanence OF the organization. even should
the musical taste Of the citizens fail to make
the concerts profitable.
lt is question. however. whether the sub
sGnbers are aware OF this money-making
9aa M y&Sn BE- hsy DO hear Of IT,
that will seriously interfere with the oppor-
tunity Of many musicians here to make a
livelihood
In the contract the men arc required TO
sisn there are many objectionable clauses
Principal among them Is one that practically
prohibits Philadelphia musicians becoming
members. as II compels them to play with
rule. of the. union They are expected 70 bo
ready to rehearse AT any time called, whether
night or day. and TO 10 whore the manage
only railroad fare and sleeping apartments
are TO be paid for by the mann cement. Their
meals they are TO pay for themselves.
There lre men here, about a dozen, who
are regarded among the best in the country
IN handling bow Many Of them Walter
DamrQsch has endcavored to secure for his
New York orcheftra and has offered them
good salaries. These men cannot play in
the Philadelphia ORGANIZATION. and the pros
psct now is that Philadelphia will have 70 be
satisfied With an orch hestra composed Of second
rate nddlers and blowers from Boston and