The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-09-24

Editor OF Statesman
Walla Walla Wash,
Dear Sir:
| have just received several extracts
from your paper sent me by my agent
| Robert Mayer. From these l learn to
my astOnishment, that the unions,
musical and otherwise, of your city
are in a state of great ferment, over
the engagement of the Ellery band for
! the fruit fair. Letters and kilograms
are speeding over the country and
war has been declared on myself and
the band that bears my name. Doubt
exists, in the minds Of your union cit
liens, as to whether or not the mu-
| sicians under my management have
become members of the Federation of
American Musicians. In order to set
| all doubts at rest, I propose in this
| letter to make frank statement, as
to the position of affairs, trusting
| that the unions will take a charitable
view Of the matter in consideration
of the great sacrifices | have made
to maintain high standard of band
| music in this country.
Some weeks ago while the band was
| in Davenport, Ia, | decided that it
would be greatly to the advantage Of
the organization to become members
of the union. AS first step towards
this end | caused the members of the
| band to take out their first naturali-
zation papers. l then took all their
names to the secretary Of the FEEDER
alton in Davenport asking him to pre-
pare the membership tickets for my
musicions. That very night | was
called away from the city by an urg-
ent telegram and left Instructions
with my treasurer to see that the
| men received their membership tick
| cts and instructing him also to pay
for the same out of the receipts of our
next days concerts. Unfortunately,
on that very day. an urgent demand
| for a large sum of money came in I'M
| expectedly, and had to be met il order
to save a critical situation.
| For lack Of this cash therefore, it
| was impossible for me to pay the eli
trance fees Of my musicians as
agreed to. and | wrote to Mr.. Har-
beck, the secretary Of the union, eX-
planning to him the situation and
promising to make him remittance
as soon as business would permit.
Now if the gentlemen of the Walla
| Walla union must know my private
affairs, | will inform them frankly,
that our business, owing to weather
and other conditions, has been very
poor recently and, that fact, in addi-
ton to our big railroad jumps, has
made it impossible for me to pay the
admission fees, as agreed upon.
1t is my positive intention however,
as is the intention of all the music
ians Of the Ellery band, to remit this
money, within the next fortnight, and
to acquire within that time the tick
cts of membership Of the union which
are awaiting us in Davenport.
Speaking simply as a man, and a
musician, it is a matter Of keen regret
| to me that any men, themselves mu-
sicians, should make war on great
organization that is doing splendid
work in the art which they all profess
to follow. and whose presence in any
city or town must be Of lasting benefit
to the musical taste and knowledge
of that community.
| trust that this letter Of mine. In
which | have expressed myself very
frankly will serve to calm the agita-
ton which exists in your city over
the coming of our great band, and l
hone that all the musicians OF the
town will receive us in a fraternal
spirit and will come to our concerts
to learn there, fir n personal obser-
walton, how much better the band IS,
this year under the direction Of CHAT
farelli than it was last year, under
the leadership Of Rivela. the traitor,
who. being unable TO rule the organ
izatiOn. endeayOred unsuccessfully,
10 ruin it. With great respect,
| am, yours very truly,