Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-16
Mr.. ROOSEVELT ACTS
MARINE BAND MUSICIANS AT
LAFAYETTE.
Must Not Fill Places of Strikers or
Locked Out Union
Players.

by President William J. Kerngood of Local
No. 161 Of the American Federation Of
Musicians Of this city. President Roose-
welt has taken q hand in the controversy
growing out of the acceptance by several
members of the United States Marine Band
Of positions in the orchestra Of the Lafay-
cite Square Opera House which were made
vacant by the dismissal of the union mnsi-i
clans.
Their dismissal followed demand for
an increase in pay for services during the
summer opera season and for half salary
for an enforced lay-off OF a week on ac-
count Of the presence at the playhouse
several weeks ago Of minstrel company
which carried its music.
The action of enlisted men OF the Marine
Band in taking the places of the dismissed
union musicians was made known to Tres
ident Roosevelt last Wednesday. He was
requested to give the union musicians ie-
dress from such action.
After thorough study of the situation,
President Roosevelt Saturday afternoon In
structed Assistant Secretary Darling of the
..avy Department to issue orders prohibit
ing any member of an enlisted band from
accepting a position of a. civilian musician
on strike or lock out, growing out of labor
disputes. The action of the President was
made known to President Kerngood of the
musicians union Saturday evening by Sec
rotary Loeb.
The members of the Marine Band who
played at the Lafayette Square Opera
House last week did not put in an appear
ance at the playhouse today. Manager La
Motto said: that the places vacated by
the members of the Marine Band had been
filed with other musicians"
The Protest Filed.
The matter was formally brought to the
attention of President Roosevelt last We'd
nesday. President Kerngood of the local
union Of musicians called that day at the
White House and presented to Secretary
Loeb, addressed to the President, protest
against the approval by the administration
Of the alleged action of the members of, the
Marine Band, accompanied by clippings
from The Evening Star bearing upon the
difficulty at the theater.
The protest of President Kerngood to
President Roosevelt follows:
Il desire to draw to your attention an
existing state of affairs at the Lafayette
Theater in this city, and herewith enclose
a printed statement Of same.
Il called at the Office of the commandant
Of the Marine Corps on Monday at / pm.
and protested against this action Of enlisted
men. He directed me to call on him this
morning and then informed me that the en-
listed men claimed they were getting the
union salary, but that he would call on the
management of the theater and would show
me their statement. The commandant
said: The enlisted men must receive the
union salary. but thar is all I win promise
Secretary Moody in his report to you of
December 80. 1908. stated:
Both departments have up to the pres
ent time permitted, under certain limita-
tons, the acceptance of private engage
ments by the military bands and their mem
bers.'
tatiOns allow an enlisted man to take the
place of a union man who has been dis
charged for refusing to work for less than
the stipulated union salary.
81 fO%% L., f- nv-f re-
Der IA, 1903. to Secretary Moody, said:
1.-THE inference to the effect that members
of the Marine Band lower prices must be
founded upon misinformation. inasmuch as
the prices demanded by them are always
equal to and frequently in excess of those
required by their competitors, and 1t Is only
the fact of their standing as musicians
which procures them their engagements
when the members of our organization
were discharged without notice on Monday
morning there was, to my certain, knOWl-
edge. one member of the Marine Band out
side the theater ready to step In which ne
did, and the remaining two arrived shortly
after.
Lieut.. Santelmann's Statement.
"Mr. Santelmann, in his statement Of Mo-
vember IL. 1903, to Secretary Moody. said:
"'Ourprices have been the best prices de-
manded by musicians in this locality, and
all charges Of under bidding or unfair COM
petition are absolutely untrue in every par
ticular.'
II leave next Sunday evening for New
York to attend the annual convention OF
the American Federation of Musicians. and
it is my desire to give them the assurances
which you expressed to me through Sec
rotary Loeb. Mr.. President. feel that
these assurances will be of little weight IL
this action on the part of the enlisted men
is sanctioned by the administration.
1.-THE matter now stands that IL we are
forced to relinquish an engagement by be-
ing unable to collect our earnings, or If we
insist on upholding our price list, members
of enlisted bands are allowed to take our
places.
II trust that this matter will receive Inn
mediate consideration at your hands, as
the members of the theater orchestra VINO
have been discharged are now without en-
plovrneutp