The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-09-08
Marshall's Band Objects to Be-
ing Unionized by Ceilley.
Organizer Says He Will Take
Away Charter.
LABOR DAY MIDDLE.
why the Band Didn't Appear in
Parade.
Director Marshall Says Things
Will he Smoothed Out.


the members of Marshalfs band and
Charles f. Ceilley, organizer for the
American Federation of Labor over the
proposed organization of a local lodge
OF the American Federation of Music
ians, to include all the members of the
band, or else compulsory action on the
part of Mr. Ceilley to have the charter
of the lodge already in existence and in
Guiding 81 of the bandmen, revoked. Mr..
Ceilley has appeared al the band rooms
several times and has spoken in the in
terests of organized labor, but num-
Der OF his auditors evidently have been
Indifferent to his arguments and he de-
clares that either the whole organization
must become unionized, the union men
must quit playing with the non-union,
or he will take away the charter which
the union members hold.
The advantages which Mr.. Ceilley
claims in his effort at organization is
where and play for stipulated union
schedule, which is above that received
by musicians outside of the brotherhood.
Already he has installed a lodge of col
ored musicians and it is his desire to
carry it among the other musicians of
the town. For the most part there
seems no disposition among the men
who compose Marshall's band to antag
onize organization, but some of them
seem to have taken dislike to Mr..
Ceiliey and declare that they will not go
into union instituted by him. In 9TH
er words it is simply a personal matter
between them ana MI. Co1lley. Iney say
that long before he came to Topeka they
had considered the plan of getting into
| the union, and that they still intend to
| do so although not with his assistance.
They assert their belief that little will be
gained, because there are few union
musicians in this locality, but they
manifest desire to organize.
| The trouble seems to date back to
Marshalrs band play was rejected.
| Some weeks before that time the mat
| ter had been preached to Mr.. Marshall
| by members of the committee on ar
| contract was drawn by Secretary
| Barnes of the band stipulating that the
| band was to play in the parade in the
| forenoon. at Garfield park in the after
noon, and furnish the park, over which
it has jurisdiction, for the sum of $3.50.
| Mr.. Marshall figured that that being
| only about $1.50 a man was about the
| most reasonable figure he could make.
| Besides this the trades council commit
| tee members say the band wished to
| reserve practically all the stand priv
| ileges in the park, thus cutting off the
| source of revenue which they thought
had been held it was returned unsigned,
accompanied by a letter from r. l.
| Palmer, secretary of the trades council,
| stating that the committee had voted
down the proposition, for one reason
because it was believed that the price
| which the bandsmen wished for their
services was exorbitant Marshall and
his men say that SO far his men were
concerned the incident dropped Their
although there are hints from other
| sources that the matter of refusing tc
get into the union cut some figure
| This is strenuously denied by Mr.. Pal
| mer, who should know all the par
| ticulars Of the case. At any rate, nc
| further move was made until last week
Mr.. Ceilley went before the band at its
rooms and gave a short talk, urging
them to join in the reorganizatior
scheme and limiting that he would be
compelled to take away the charter OF
the union already existing unless such
action were taken. He was piled with
numerous questions by the band mem
bers, and there was some little display
OF warmth on either side. Since then nc
move has been made
Il do not anticipate" said J. B. Mar
snail, ST., director of the band ''that
this Is going to make any trouble in the
| band. 1 do not think the matter will
again come up until after we have fin
1shed our summer concerts. when II
does arise l fancy it will be given oval
to the union members of the orTaniza.
ton for decision. I do not know what
they will see fit to do for have not had
an opportunity to talk with my men
but one thing am sure of is that the
band Will act as unit. There will be
no division on what those who decide
about the action see At TO do
Mr.. Marshall explained that for some
members of the band who played in ar
orchestra. This action was taken be.
cause in times past there was such keer
competition between the orchestras Of
the city that an understanding regard.
ing the price to be charged for service.
became imperative In order that any
one might get compensation. That has
been In effect since and 1t is under that
head that the 81 orchestra men who are
members Of the band are included.
I Mr.. Marshall also announces that 1t is
the intention of the band to give 3
number of Sunday afternoon concerts
in the Auditorium, If that building b.
available, during the winter. He be.
lieves that there are many people II
Topeka lovers OF good band music who
can i'll afford to Day even a small ad.
mission fee to concert. and it is hi.
desire to make them free to all A large
quantity of new music is being pur-
chased by the organization and this /:
to be taken up at once.