The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-31
TROUBLE IS BREWING
ALL is NOT SMOOTH SAILING WITH
THE MUSICIANS.
1t Is Now Charged that the Zoo Music
Has Not Bceen Unionized-
Other Difficulties.

Trouble is brewing in the Musicians
Union. The causes are of such diversified
character that many of the members are
at a loss to determine just where il all
originates. Tie first notice OF the en-
tanglements was brought to the surface
over the labor day given by the Zoo for
the benefit of Central Labor Union. This
was last Friday. AT the ,lme the PROPOSE
ton of the Zoo was made to Central Labor
Union for benefit day, the musicians OBJ
jected TO it on the grounds that the Zoo
did not employ union musicians. The COM
mittee in charge of the affair promised to
investigate. and If the charge as found to
be true, it would be dropped. After an
investigation the committee reported that
matters had been adjusted and the benefit
day was given.
Members of the Musicians Union say the
Zoo music is not union, and the prominence
given to the difficulty has caused them
much trouble. 1t is said that the theater
managers have now proposed to cut the
wages of the orchestra musicians unless
they compel the Zoo to pay union prices
This proposed reduction is said to be the
| prime cause of bringing members of the
union into litigation in the Superior Court
Monday Louis r. Ostendorf, director of
the orchestra at the Grand had a restrain
| ing order issued by Judge feathers, re-
straining three members OF the orchestra
| from leaving. 1t was set out in the petit
| ton that the men were under contract to
play in the orchestra, and il had not ex-
| PRED Owing to the fact that expert mu-
/ SiclanS are required for orchestra PLAYING
| and none are now procurable because of
| the late theatrical season, the director said
| he would not be able TO replace them A
final decision is yet to be made by the
| court.
| 1t is said in union circles that the three
| men were ordered TO quit playing because
nonunion drummer was in the orchestra,
put IL Is also stated that the proposed re-
duction figured in the order. The drummer
was brought from Portland Me-, where
there is no union, and when he presented
| his application IL was rejected. Outside of
the drummer and the three men now being
! forced to play in the orchestra under orders
| or the court, the others belong to unions in
different cities, and the local union has
no Jurisdiction over them. Under these
conditions 1t is claimed that the order
for the three men to quit should not have
| been made.
Still another proposition the musicians
are wrestling with is the filming of Mon
tam Brothers orchestra for playing in
| other cities. Recently, at the national con-
vention, provision was made, establish
J tablishing a penalty of 800 fine for any
| musicians or orchestra in union playing
within the district Of another local union.
Montana Brothers orchestra has a wide
| patronage over the State, and 1t was not
| long before complaints were being filed
| with the local union agains the orchest ira
| The orchestra was fined 500 for the first
| onense, and since that time several other
similar fines have been imposed The mu-
| sicians, with a few exceptions are indig-
nant over these fines assessed against Mon
| tani Brothers, and are preparing to file a
| serious remonstrance at the next annual
| convention, against the system of filming
| In the meantime. they have the difficulty
| with the theater managers, who, they say
| are complaining that the Zoo is i'm CONNIE
| tition with them, and its managers must
be made to pay the union scale or they will
| reduce wages.