The Indianapolis journal., 1903-05-23
ELECTION OF MUSICIANS
JOSEPH WEBER, OF CINCINNATI, IS
CHOSEN NEW PRESIDENT.
Delegates to the American Federation
of Labor Chosen-Will Urge Favor
for Union Bands.


in convention yesterday morning in Ger
mania Hall. elected the following officers:
President-Joseph Weber. of Cincinnati.
First Vice President-C. II. Ross, OF AL
bany, n. Y.
Second Vice President-G w. Bope. OF
Columbus, o.
Secretary-Owen Miller, of ST. Louis.
Treasurer-Otto Ostendorf. of ST Louisi
District Officers-First district, F. Sang
er. of Springfield. Mass; Second district;
district, George Schath, of Cincinnati;
Fourth district, Will S. Rose, of Kansas
yer: Sixth district, C. E. York. of Port
land, Ore; Seventh district, G.. Wilson, of
Davenport, Ia. Eighth district, Eugene c.
Schmitz, of San francisco; Ninth district,
D. A. Carey. of Toronto. Canada.
The president, secretary and treasurer
received a testimonial to their good work
by unanimous reelection. G. w. Bope and
]. j. Matsen contested with c. II. Ross, of
Albany. N. Y, for the first vice presidency.
Mr.. Bope. who represents The Columbus. o.,
association, was elected second vice presi-
by vote of 81 to S4.
The musicians will be represented In the
American Federation of Labor by Presi-
dent Weber Secretary Miller and d. A.
Carey, of Toronto Canada, who were elect
ed delegates yesterday morning. The dele
gates from the musicians to the A F. L.
convention will have before them the task
or bringing to the attention of the great
American labor body the fact that the mu-
sicians, the youngest organizat;on-only
seven years ago the union was organized
in Indianapolis by H. d. Biessenherz and a
handful or representative muscians-has
shown the greatest growth of any body
aff1liated with the Federation. In addition
to this the delegates will voice their union
In explaining to delegates of all other
trades that thsy. who are loyal supporters
of the labor movement, feel that the con-
ployfng nonunion bands at labor celebra-
tions is contrary to the principles of
unionism.
TOOK A TROLLEY RIDE.
The musicians spent yesterday afternoon
in riding over Indianapolis in trolley cars
and in looking at the natural beauty Of the
city and it's parks. To make up for the
loss of time a special night session was
called in Germania Hall, which was a
busy one and lasted until nearly IL o'clock
last night.
At the night session the musicians with
drew the color line from the federation
Colored musicians have been affiliated with
the body since its organization and their
local associations formed charters from
the federation. The charters have been
been a source of worry TO the colored play
ers. One of them introduced a resolution
last night abolishing the section Of the con-
stitutiSn fid which, which provides for the the desgna
granted. The resolution was received by
the delegates indifferently until the debate
on the question began, and out of 1t came
much feeling. The opposition to the reso-
luton was pronounced and bitter, but fin
ally. after a long discussion, the resolution
was adopted.
Another resolution of Importance passed
last night was one providing for a penalty
of $50 to be fined every union musician who
participates in the future in any concert,
entertainment, demonstration, parade or
other public occasion in which United
States army musicians are employed. The
musicians do not care If the soldiers play
providing they are in them as representing
the government and not as paid musicians.
The players in the federation declare that
the unfairness of soldiers competing with
them for employment is manifest They
think that the soldiers should be put on a
basis of pay that would not compel them
TO seek outside employment for an increase
in their incomes, and bill has been pre-
pared for submission TO Congress making
this modification in the army law. The mu-
sicians say they do not object to soldiers
players; that there are many competent
musicians in the army and that the SOL
diers have no intention of robbing civilian
players of their employmene but that by
playing concerts around army posts for
hire they are taking away from civilians
the employment that should be theirs and
working a hardship on the members Of
the federation.
The convention will adjourn at noon to-
day, having completed busy weeks work
During the convention the fewest resolu-
tions of any convention ever held were
presented and many of them have been
disposed Of OF the seventy-six resolutions
introduced the committees are still working
on about thirty of them and these will be
reported to-day and acted on by the dele
gates. At the Buffalo convention a year
ago 100 resolutions were introduced.
Before adjournment the musicians will
select the next meeting place and will in
all probability choose New York city. The
invitation from that city has met with the
approval of many delegates. although many
favor Atlanta, Ga, and Omaha, two other
claimants for the distinction.