The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-11
Marine Band, Trouble Breeder

They have since released such men as
were members of the Marine band, AM
there is now not "a member of this or
ganiZation employer in a -theater orches
ira in Washington.
Although mensSsTship in this A1usica
the Marine band, hire are enrolled in TIT
Guard band of the District of Columbia
clerks and laborerSr in the various de-
partme.nts Of the E4kernment.
sanfelm rs Said fhs u Lieut.
that we have at 'Hesent in the hand tc
earn something besides their pay. and
even with this. in the most prosperous
of diplomacy TO keep them in the or
ganization from one enlistment 20 another.
A great deal IS expected of them. Not
only do they perfprin their military duties
at the barracks, but also at all official
functions at the White House, and such
outside enga gements as they must be at
tended to out of their small amount OF
spare time.
There are men in the band who re-
ceived large salaries with various pronli-
nent bands and orcheStraS throughout the
country. 1t is such men as these that are
necessary to keep up the high standard OF
efficiency which is expected of this band.
1T is urged by the Federation of Mu-
sicians that if the military bands do not
receive enough pay to insure good mu-
sicians, the government ought to come to
the relief. In my opinion, 1t matters not
what pay a good musician might receive
if his artistic abilities are confined to the
parade ground and the bandroom, no
first-class musician will join a military
band. It is public criticism that encour-
ages the ambition of the artist, and it is
to the public that the conscientious. hard
working musician appeals for support.
IF the rule laid down by the Ameri-
can Federation of Musicians is to become
law the band of the United States marine
corps, which should be the representative
Of ifc Il tn
country. will shortly cease to hold its
artistic standing attained through 100
years of work.
st believe that every legislator should
take a personal pride, not only in. the
Marine band, but in all army and navy
bands. for they have done their share in
keeping up the high standards which sur
round our arms on land and sea. Our past
as an organiZa tion5has been brilliant; out
future is rich inf9rther efficiency if we
are permitted to %9rk to make this band
the very best in theEworld.'
For a considerable time in the early
part of the present fight against the
Marine band. it vas Impossible to obtain
from any official Of the Federation of
Musicians or Of Che Federation of Labor
any reason for the AFFECTION to members
of the band competing with musicians in
civil life. Finally however, President
Gompers. of the-Federation of Labor,
ter from Secretary aOwen Miller. of the
Federation of Musicians, giving the ac-
cepted basis upon which the fight against
the band was mades -4
:. Labor leaders do not dispute Lieut..
Santelmann,s ability as a musician. and
say that this has nSthing to do with the
controversy. In ths letter which Presi-
dent Gompers. of tie Federation of La
Dor, transmitted to Lieut.. Santelmann as
to the reason w4yS organized musicians
made war on the bald. it was stated that
the band received sufficient pay to war
rant it keeping it's hands off engagements
that would otherwise come to union mu-
sic1ans. Another union view is that bet
ter bands are being built up around the
country now that the Marine. band is not
so frequently away on excursions, and
these bands are mostly made up of union