Evening star., 1901-11-25
SANTElMANNS APPEAL
REVIEW OF CONTEST BETwEEy
LABOR BoDIEs AND MARINE BAND.
Salary of Band Members Inadequate
to support Them-Matter Dis
cussed in Detail.

the controversy almost national proportions
has been addressed to the American Feder-
alton of Labor by W. II. Santelmann lead
er of the United States Marine Band, con-
corning the fight of the local musical union
against the employment of the bandsmen
in Washington theaters. Should the Feder-
alton of Labor act upon the representa-
tions of Lieut.. Santelmann it is understood
a complete review of the matter will be
undertaken by the national body and a
definite decision reached which will end the
whole issue. Whether such review shall
be had or not the bandsmen hope and ex-
pect the statement of their case to present
the issue squarely for the judgment of the
Washington theater-going public.
Snnteimann,s Letter.
Lieut.. Santelmann's letter follows:
THE American Federation of Musicians,
which has its headquarters in ST. Louis,
and which is part of the American Fedora
tfon of Labor, embodied some years ago
the following in its constitution:
Article II. No members of the Amer
lean Federation of Musicians shall be per-
mitted at any time to play paid engage
ment with any enlisted man of the United
States army or navy.
This, of course makes an enlisted man
of the army or navy ineligible to member
ship in the American Federation of Musi-
clans. But they do not stop here. They
use every available means to prevent the
members of the military bands from prac-
ticing their profession in public, and in
many cases have gone so far as to protest
against appearing with army or navy bands
in civic professions.
''1n order to back up their extraordinary
assumption of authority members of the
Federation of Musicians connected them
selves with the American Federation Of
Labor, an organization which numerically,
l understand, leads all other associations
banded together for f-preservation. With
a full knowledge of the power of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor. a few local musi-
clans secured a charter from the American
Federation of Musicians as Musical Union
No. 161, thus acquiring the prestige of the
Central Labor Union of this city, which is
composed of the combined labor organiza-
tions of the capital Immediately after
being recognized as in good standing and
organized under the laws of the ma
tional body this musical union served no.
tice upon the various theatrical managers
OF the city that they must discharge every
member of the United States Marine Band
having a position in the several orchestras,
while the other members of the orchestra
must affiliate themselves with Musical
Union No. 161; otherwise the theaters fail
Ing to heed the notice would find themselves
gazetted on the unfair list, labor publica-
ton which enumerates the business houses
that should not be patronized.
Results I'm DfsmissaIs.
'As a result Of this notice six members
of the Marine Band were discharged. The
places of three of these men, however
could not be filled from the ranks of Local
No. 1G1 and the leaders of the orchestra
We're compelled to import men to take the
places Of those who We're dropped, not he
cause of lack of ability, mark you, but be-
cause they Were part of the army and navy
of the United States, charged with the
uSib of ting ha
try and the flag. Two of the seven places
of amusement, replying to the notice of
Local No. 161, stated that they could rot
get along without the assistance of mem
bers of the Marine Band, and thus far no
changes have occurred in the personnel
OF the two orchestras attached to said
theaters.
so much for the history of this unfor-
tunate difficulty, which I have tried to
state without bias, that the public might
understand clearly the stand Musical Union
No. 161 has taken against the enlisted men
of the army and navy.
while they bar from membership in
their union members of the United States
Marine Band, the Cavalry Band at Fort
Myer and the Engineers Band at the
arsenal they enroll in the organization
members of the National Guard Band. and
the Soldiers Home Band, a band which is
paid a monthly salary, and is provided
with communication of rations and quarters
just as an army or navy band is.
THE contention of the Local No. 161 is
that military bands should confine them
selves to the parade grounds and band
rooms, and if they do not receive pay
enough the government should come to
their relief. That is all very well, but any
one familiar with the subject of legislation
knows how hard it is even to secure atso-
lutely necessary appropriations to carry out
the provisions of previous laws. 1t would
not matter how much pay an enlisted mu-
sician might receive If his artistic ability
were confined to parade grounds and band
rooms; no hrst-class musician would ever
join military band. 1t is public criticism
that encourages the ambitious artist ard
1t is to the public the conscientious, hard
working musician appeals for support. The
United States, standing it does ut the
head of the nations in commercial su-
premacy, in manufactures, and, as we be-
lieve. in arms, should stand at the head
In the artistic excellence of it's army and
navy bands but this high standard can
never be attained If local union shall pass
upon the character of the music of the
community and upon the fitness of nlu-
sicians to enter the ranks of said union
the only requisite being that he must not
be an enlisted man.
Salary Inadequate.
''The members of the Marine Band can
not live in Washington if they are kept
out of taking engagements other than the
band duties. The Marine Band, which
should be the representative organization
the rule laid down by the Local No 161 is
to become the law of the capital city of the
nation, cease to hold it's artistic standing
attained through q hundred years of work
The fact that l have never solicited an en-
gagement for the band since l have been
at the head of the organization should be
accepted as an assurance that the Marine
Band, instead of being a hurt, is a benefit
to local musicians. 1t should not be for
gotten also that if this organization Is
barred from taking outside engagements,
Washington will be overrun with musicians
from all over the country seeking engage
ments. What will the consequences be
from this influx of new material? Prices
will be lowered, standards of muscianly
excellence decreased and what has taken
years to build UP will be destroyed In a
month.
For the sake of higher musical thought.
for the honor Of the capital, Central Labor
Union should not give sanction to so arbi-
trary and so unjust rule as Musical
Union Local No. 161 would fasten upon our
people"
Georgetown Branch Star ORces.
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