Evening star., 1901-10-31
MUSICIANS nv CONFLICT
MOVEMENT AGAINST MEMBERS OF
THE MARINE BAND.
Civilians Contenh That the Organixa-
tton Named ShouId Not BE En-
plOyed fn.Theaters.

The fight of the local civilian musicians
against the MEMBERS of the United states
Marine Band has taken new form. sew
erai weeks ago. its is said, the musicians
not employed by the government revived
an old chapter of the American Federauoh
of Musicians and voteo to exclude from
membership the men in the Marine Bano.
That new organization has now entered on
movement to prevent the members OF the
band from obtaining employment at the
Washington theaters. So far the agitation
has moved the leader of one theater or
chestra to join both the Federation OF
Musicians and the Knights of Labor, ana
has led to the dismissal of three members
of the band who were serving in that or
ehestra. From what could be learned TO-
day, however, further results of that cnar-
acter are rather doubtful.
All the musicians of the city, including
the members of theavarious government
bands, are members of the local unions
subordinate to the Knights of Labor Here
tofore, when efforts have been made to ex-
clude the bandsmen from outside en-
gagements, the employers and directors
have satisfied the labor leaders that no
non-union men were being employed py
referring to the membership of the marines
in the knights of Labor. But the Amer
lean Federation of Musicians is distinctly
and explicitly opposed to musicians IN tne
employ of the government. Its position Is
that men regularly paid from the national
or state treasures should not accept the
separate special engagements Whlch were
the only means of livelihood open to 'mu-
sicians not employed by the government.
Movement of Two Years Ago.
Two years ago the civilian musicians, 1t
is said, attempted first, to force the ma
rines from the knights of Labor, and, fail
ing in that, they organized chapter OF the
Federation of Musicians. That venture, In
the phraseology of local labor leaders, was
not as successful as it might have been.
Accordingly the old union allied with the
Knights of Labor, including the members
of the Marine and other government bands
remained as the only District of Columbia
organization of union musicians
The new chapter of the Federation or
Musicians was organized several weeks
ago under the influence of the American
Federation of Labor. Its membership is
designed to include every union musician
now resident in the District who is not
regularly paid from the national treasury.
When the roll had grown to fair size
the members entered on campaign to ex-
clude from local employment all musicians
not associated with the Federation of Mu-
sicians. This movement was, of course, di-
rected chiefly against the marines, who
are specifically barred from membership in
the federation, even if they desired to join.
Under the leadership of George A. Mach
man, general vice president. OF the 1edera-
ticn, the attention Of the Washington
chapter was centered first on the Academy
OF Music. 1t was represented to the man.
agement of that theater that most of it's
patrons were laborings men, and that unless
the marines employed were discharged a
boycott would be declared by the Fedora
tion of Labor. AS a concession to the
Federation the leader of this orchestra
joined the new organiZation-he was al
ready a member Of the Knights of Labor
and discharged three members of the Ma
rine Band, who had been regularly men,
bers of the theater orchestra.
With that the agitation seems to have
come to a standstill. None of the other
theaters have made any concessions to the
Federation. Their position is generally that
for certain Instruments they are practi-
cally compelled to hire members of the
band. The oboe, bassoon and French horn
for examples, are instruments SO infre-
quently needed that the civilian musicians
could not earn asflivelihood by relying on
them. Therefore none but members of the
Marine Band play them. The5 Federation
has replied. to these Representations that
it will import amen from New York or else
where, but the theater managers do not
incline to favor that procedure.