Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-11

| ton Of Musicians and the Marine Bano IS
| In the hands of President Roosevelt. There
! Is reason to believe that the matter Will
be finally acted upon in the near future.
The controversy In all Its phases was
reviewed at the recent conference at the
White House between President Roosevelt
and Mr.. Owen Miller secretary or the
American Federation of Musicians Inc
| fight against the acceptance Of private
| engagements by the members Of the Marine
| Band and enlisted musicians of the regular
| establishment of the United States army
| and navy has engendered much bad feel
| ing since it began several years ago. 1t
| was some time ago brought to the Presi-
dents attention and he was advised of the
correspondence between Secretary Moody
| of the Navy Department and Secretary
| Miller of tie federation. 1t Is stated TO
| have been the purpose of President Roose-
| welt to make personal investigation of the
| matter. Upon learning that Secretary
Miller would visit Washington as member
| of board to audit the books Of the Amer
| lean Federation of Labor. preparatory to
| the annual convention. conference was
arranged, Secretary Miller calling at the
White House day or two before leaving
| for Boston.
| Secretary Miller had luncheon with the
President and the latter asked for partic-
! uars regarding the controversy. The stu
alton was laid before President Roosevelt
| in brief, after which he suggested that
Secretary Miller submit to Secretary
Moody, in writing. full explanation of the
matter, with any recommendations the
| labor leader might deem expedfent. Ac-
cordingly. Secretary Miller prepared a
statement In which he pointed out the in
justice of allowing government musicians
to enter into competition with civilian per-
formers. Mr.. Miller also made mention OF
the fact that at recent convention OF
the American Federation of Musicians 1t
had been decl0ed that member OF the
organization should participate in any pa
rade or function where members of tn"
Marine Band or enlisted musicians OF I
United States service appeared In comp o.
tition with them.
1t was further explained. however. that
| the members of the federation would not
| object to playing with the Marine Band
upon any occasion where the latter aggre-
CATION appeared as the official represent
| alive OF the United States. such as analrs
of state. the reception of distinguished for-
eigners. reception of the officials of the gov
eminent, &c. In other words. 1t was con-
tended that the members of the Marine
Band must not accept engagements that
would otherwise be given the civilian mu-
sicians.
Secretary Miller. In his statement, ad-
yocated an increase in the pay of the men,
bers of the Marine Band and other like en-
listed organizations. which increase, in his
opinion would eliminate the necessity OF
the enlisted musicians seeking OutSlue ch-
ga gements. The statement of the conseo-
versy was placed in the hands of Secretary
Moody. who. in turn, transmitted 1t to the
President Early action is expected.
The eyes of the labor people of the coun-
try are turned to the city of Boston. where
leaders of local and national prominence
are attending the annual convention OF 'he
American Federation Of Labor. The mead
quarters of the federation, the brotherhood
of Electrical Workers. the Granite Cutters
National Union. the International Asso-
citation of Machinists and other national
offices of the crafts located here are IN the
hands of subOrdinateS.
More than ordinary interest centered in
the report of President Samuel Gompers
to the convention. In addition to beng one
of the longest ever submitted il is regarded
as thoroughly interesting and compre-
hensive report. In his report President
Gompers touched upon practically every
subject that in any way affected organized
labor of the country, If not of the Woriu,
during the past twelve months.
Referring to the growth and develop
rent of the labor movement. President
GOmperS says. In part:
1T is a source of qualification In which
YOU will fully share that am enabled to
report that never in the history of the
abor movement in this or in any other
country. or, for thai, never in the history
of any movement for the uplifting OF the
toilfng masses, has there been such a
uniform growth in the number OF unions
formed. or in the number of wage work
unions. as has TRANSFERRED within the past
year. From October l, 1902. to Septem-
Der 80 1903, we issued from the Amerl-
can Federation of Labor the following
charters: International unions. 20; state
declarations 3: central labor unions, III.
local trade unions and federal labor
unions. 139; total, 1853.
Nineteen of these twenty international
unions were organized and instituted by
US from formerly affiliated chartered To-
cal unions. which accounts for the large
number of charters of local unions sur
rendered to the American Federation of
Labor during the past year.
Five international unions have ANAL
gamated merged into other interna-
tional unions during the year. Since the
close of the fiscal year. and not enumer-
ated herein, one other important existing
international union has become affiliated.
AT the end of the fiscal year October 1.
1903 we had affiliated to the American
Federation of Labor: lnternationa!
unions. 113: state federations. 90 central
labor unions, $40: local trade unions and
federal labor unions. 1,I41-
The gain in membership OF our affi1-
ated international unions and of the
American Federation of Labor during the
past fiscal year has been 442 100; the av-
erage membership upon which per capita
tax was paid to the American Federation
of Labor during the year was 1 .465SO0
The wage earnerS now stand in need
of organization more than at any previ-
Gus time in history. The wonderful i'm
provements in machinery and in the tools
of labor; the application of the great pro-
polling forces of steam and electricity; the
division. subdivision and classification of
la Dor; the tremendous energy and indus
try of our fellow-workers enormously
increasing their productive power; these.
together with concentration of wealth
and industry. render it impossible for the
individual toiler to safeguard either his
interests. his rights or his liberties and
makes essential the unity and fedora
ton for the well-beng and progress of
all
The work we have accomplished in
organizing our fellow workers and Sc
curing improvements and advantages in
all spheres of life is gratifying and is
creditable to all who have participated:
but this cannot satisfy. 1t must give
greater energy and impetus to work
and on until we shall have brought with
in the benef1cent fold of unionism all
who earn their bread by the sweat of
their brow and shall have eliminated the
wrongs too long borne and obtained the
rights too long denied"
A considerable part of the report Is de-
voted to the discussion of strikes. Pres
ident Gompers thinks accumulated funds
are a good preventive of such occurrences
He says. in part:
During the year a considerable number
of strikes occurred. From reports made to
our Office. compiled and enumerated in the