The sun., 1903-12-13
THREAT BY MAJOR HlGGINSON.,
If BOTHERED BY THE UNION,
SYMPHONY WILL STOP.
lie VIII Disband Orchestra n Any DictatiOn
Is Attempted-UniOn Action Justified,
says Walter DamrOsch THE Musicians
Ace standing by Major HigginsOn.

Is Attempted-UniOn Action Justified,
says Walter DamrOsch Musicians
Are standing by Major HigginsOn.
BOSTON, Mass, Dec. l2.-Major Henry
L. Hgginson was greatly disturbed to-day
when he learned that twenty members Of
the Boston Symphony Orchestra, who are
members Of the Musical Mutual Protective
Association of New York, had been ordered
% get transfer cards to the Boston Musicians
Unjon by Jan. and that there was pos
sibiIity of there being some trouble. 1t
is said that the twenty men have refused to
obey the order. and If any effort at dictation
.. made Major Higginson says that he will
onspand the orchestra.
When asked about the matter, Ma jor
Higginson said
1T seems that unionizing is being carried
a bit too far when musicians enter this
business. Those musicians know already
what think about such matters and what
| will do. j have made severe contracts
with my players and they know what they
can and cannot do. They know my posi-
ton know that this is matter in which
the Symphony players will have to combat
other musicians.
The whole trouble is this: The Sym
phony players receive much higher salaries
than other players and the other players,
perhaps with envy, stir complaints. The
Symphony players can have no grievances.
They are getting very much higher salaries
now than ordinary players.
Il have given them good salaries and
have contracts with them for the perform
ance Of certain duties They know what
they have to do. I say, Boys, here is your
service to perform; do it,.
The Symphony players are subsidized
and others that are not so favored find
they do not get along SO well.
All there is about it is that II this takes
ten minutes extra from my time the Sym
phony in Boston will stop. There is no
use telling that to the musicians. They
already know that. l pay them we'll and
am satisfied as long as they render their
services in return. just as soon as players
tell me that they cannot do what ! require.
will tell them the same thing that your
employer would tell you if you said you
would do as you please: There's the door
There Is no danger OF this, however.
The Symphony players are Interested in
their art. Their positions enable them to
follow this art to the best Of their ability.
If there is trouble to be settled it will have
to be between the Symphony players and
the other musicians. have nothing to
do with it,
Walter Damrosch said yesterday to a
Sun reporter that the action OF the union
IN regard to the musicians Of the. Bost on
symphony Orchestra was entirely justified.
recognized at ALL" he said, there is no
reason al all why the members Of the Bos-
ton Symphony Orchestra should not be
compelled to join just as all other musicians
are. / never brought musician to this
country in my life that re was not COM
PEELED to join the union, and merely because
Col. higginson happens o be millionaire
that is no reason why an exception should
be made to favor his orchestra.
THE tyranny OF the union to-day in some
circles is due to the activity of certain
member, who rivals Sam Parks in his method
the men whom he has 10 employ"
What was said by the union man in the
organization demand become known was
entirely favorable to the management OF
II lie. orchestra. Several union men made
no bones Of saving that if the matter came
leave. the union or the orchestra, they
would quit the union.
Officers Of the Mutual Protective Union
had good deal to say, about the ac-
ganaa,ion, they, asserted, had not heen
officially notified as yet of the Bos on
arion's demands, and they were inclined
to regard the affair as the act OF some
person without authority WHO is seeking
to promo.e unduly the interes of the
Bost on union. Tie only reason they could
pssgn for the Bos on unions desire 10
Iuroll the twenty New York union men
on is membership list was that the presence
81 the Symphony orchestra musicians in
Il e union would at once give it a sanding.
officers OF the local union cid rot hesitate
10 say that the union members Of tt G Sym
phony orgariz& tion We're viols ting the rules
of the union in plaving with non-Union
men. But they h'rdly thought the New,
York union would do anrthinc toward
enforcing its r. lie while the Symphony
Orchestra is in the CITY.
i. Hamre, a yolirist in the orchestra
end a non-vnion man, when esl ed elout
the probability of the orchestra becoming
uuionised, said exIressively: We are not
bric';bats Then he added:
Men like Otto Rothe are not Foing to
desert orr patron for any Union on the
face Of the earth. We are all with Mr..
Hicrinson.
Other members of the orchestra, soma
Of them union men, expressed the same
opinion,
YALES FORESTRY FIRE.