Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-03-26
Observation-Disclosures
NO DANGER OF STRIKE DURING
G. A. r. ENCAMPMENT.
officials of Musicians Protective
Union Express Surprise Over Ac-
counts of Impending Trouble.

The question of music for the G. A. r.
encampment has been receiving consider
able attention from local musicians in the
past few days, and various opinions have
been expressed as to what action the local
federation of musicians contemplates with
reference to government bands playing In
the parade. Reports have been given out
from unofficial sources that strike will
occur among union bandsmen should paid
government bands be permitted In the
parade. Investigation in official circles,
however, falls to justify such a rumor.
Mr.. John N. Historic and Mr.. E. NJ.
Tansill, president and secretary respective
ly, of the Musicians Protective Union. Lo-
col, No. 161, when seen last night by a
Star reporter, said they were very much
surprised at the accounts of impending
trouble recently published. In fact, they
said, the newspaper reports were the first
limitations to them that there was
any trouble in the air. and they did not
know of any action being taken by the
union for any such extreme measures.
I'm regard to strike said Mr.. Pts
torfo, such action would have to come
from the national body, and the local fed
GRAFTON would not be allowed to declare
a strike in this case even If it decided
to do SO.
In addition to denying that the union
has taken action along this line the Off
Gals state further that they do not an
tlcipate any such extreme measures as
have been suggested by some of the local
musicians They say there is nothing in
their constitution or bylaws to prevent
federation bands from playing in the same
parades with government musical organi-
Eat tons, but individual musicians who are
members of the union would not be allowed
to perform with them. 1t is estimated
there will be from 125 to $50 union bands,
from different cities in the parade, and 1t
is not likely that any mandatory measures
Will be taken to GUST the few government
bands from the procession.
Mr.. William A. Haley, leader of Haley s
Band, concurs in the statement of the Off
Gals that no radical methods will be EN-
ployed by the union of musicians with ref
erence to government bands. He does not
think it fair that they should be obliged to
compete with bands in government employ,
yet he says they will certainly not refuse
to participate in any parade because gov
eminent bands are also enga ged. He char
acterized such action as childish.
The officials of the local union and mem
bers generally regret that statements have
been made public which place them in a
false position
Views of G. A. r. Man.
A member of the Grand Army of the Re-
public said to Star reporter today that he
is naturally interested in the success Of the
coming encalnpment, ana as the subject or
music or no music had again been brought
up he wished to say word on one feature
which has not apparently been given full
consideration. That feature is,'' he said,
that it is really a question whether amateur
musicians have the right to prevent profess
sional musicians from plying their voca-
ton. The military bands here are COM
posed of professionals who depend, with
few individual exceptions entirely on their
profession for living On the other hand,
the civilians are, with few exceptions, vir-
tually amateurs, inasmuch their musical
occupation Is a side line to other occupa-
tions. In fact, some of them are them
selves government employees. while most of
them have regular occupations, such as
storekeepers, merchants, clerks and me-
chanics. 1t looks to me like an effort by
the tail to wag the dog for these sun
down musicians to prevent professional
musicians from making a living out of their
profession. Whether the last mentioned are
hired by the government by the public
cats no figure. On the same principle a
bricklayer who works for the government
would be barred from working on any other
job on a day when the government does not
require his services