The Washington times., 1902-02-02
GOVERNMENT VERSUS
CIVILIAN MUSICIANS
The Right of the Marine Band to Accept En-
gagements Discussed.
Views of Director Will Haley
and Vice Pres. j. B. Caldwell.

and Vice Pres. J. B. Caldwell.
81 and my band have no desire to
antagonize any man. We are merely
striving to uphold our rights.
The Marine Band, through Lieutenant
/ Santelmann, has repeatedly presented its
side of the controversy to the public. In
order to protect our rights and the rights
Of all citizen musicians, l am preparing
brief, setting forth our side of the case
which I shall present to the Committee
on Labor, and make public during the
! coming weak. In it shall make no state
| ment that l cannot prove absolutely and
unreservedly.
1T has been stated that the members
of the Marine Band are poor men, who
need the money obtained by playing to
outside engagements. Immediately on
! top of this they have stated that they
/ do not play to pay engagements.
Il can bring proof to demonstrate the
fact that they have repeatedly played
for money. l can further prove that
member of the Marine Band came to me-
and told me to get out of town, as
ut is true that some of my men are
employed in the daytime in Government
Offices and elsewhere. The majority of
them, however, and men in similar or
ganiZations, have only the money they
earn by playing in the band to support
them.
"On the other hand. the members of
the Marine Band are regularly enlisted
men, receiving about so a month. Their
uniforms, instruments. and music are fur
nished them by the Government. My
men have to furnish these things for
themselves.
Lieutenant Santelmann states that my
band is working in direct opposition to
the Marine Band. If that is so, I can
prove that he himself worked in direct
opposition to that organization at one
time. for he was once member of my
band. I have photograph of my band
taken a number of years ago, and his
picture appears in it
When l present my finished brief to
the public it will no doubt make things
rather hot for someone.
WILL a HALEY.
Leader oil Haley S Band
1T is very unjust to civilian musicians
to allow members of the Marine Band to
come into competition with them in their
struggle for a livelihood. The members
OF the Marine Band are paid good wages
by the Government. and they should be
satisfied with that. instead of wanting to
take away bread from the. civilian mu-
sicians.
AS a matter of fact. the Marine Band
is supposed to be composed of sixty mem
befs thirty of whom are rated as first
class. and thirty as second class musi-
clans. There are, however about seventy
three enlisted men at the barracks on
whom the leader Of the band may call to
assist him. This is often done. and while
these extras are filing the places of
coed musicians in the band many of the
frst-class musicians are filling private
engagements, which should be filled by
civilian musicians.
This was the case when the Marine
Band made a concert tour of the United
States some time ago. The aggregation
which left Washington advertised as the
Marine Band was not, in fact, composed
OF sixty of the best musicians known as
members of the Marine Band.
When the band left the city on that !
concert tour there were more than doz- |
en- of the most competent members left |
behind These, during the absence of the |
band on the concert tour, took private en-
gagements in this city, much to the detri-
ment of the interests Of the civilian mu-
sicians.
JOSEPH B. CALDWELL,
Vice President Local NJ. T. l.. No. l6l. !