The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-05-18
UNION BANDS BARRED
ON MEMORIAL DAY
They Want Union Wages and
Committee Turns Them
Down.


union scale of pay and unless the non
union musicians are excluded aweke a
vehement protest last night at the Met
ropoiitan hotel. at meeting of the Me
mortal day committee representing the
@. A. r., the Womens Relief associa-
ton, the Sens of Veterans and the
Spanish War Veterans. The unions
We're denounced as greedy and I'M
patriotic as well as ungrateful to the
saviors of their country BY unani-
nous vote, after vigorous expressions
of censure, the committee resolved to
employ no union band on the present
union terms, and suggested that future
committees preparing for Memorial
day exercises should adopt the same
stand.
Comrades" exclaimed Adjt. Gen.
Llbbey. who, eager to record his per-
sonal protest, had left a sick bed
against his physicians orders. com
rades. we all marched many a time
without band, and it IS time to show
these gentlemen that we can do it
again.
Col. T. A. Barker, who had engaged
the music for previous Memorial days,
explained that except the Postoffica
ways received pay at the usual rates
capt. E. G. Chittenden said that the
bandsmen ought to earn their regular
pay; that, in any event, the city, not
the veterans, would foot the bill.
But Comrade c. f. Hausdorkf in
sisted that, as the celebration this year
had been turned over to the school
children, the veterans were trying to
avoid all expenditure of money. They
desired to make the condemnation in
expensive as an example to the school
children. It would be the school chill
dren, before many years, that would
bear the responsibility of rendering
floral tribute to the patriotic dead
Gen. Libbey again expressed his in
dignation. I'VE have helped to make
it possible" said he, ''for these union
men to live under the same flag, Old
Glory, to enjoy the benefits of liberty
and democracy, and this is our return"
May Employ Drum Corps.
If necessary, the old soldiers agreed
they would place drum corps in the
parade as a substitute for bands.
The meeting was aroused, apparent
ly, less by the unions demand for union
wages than by the unions refusal to
march with nom union musicians and by
the refusal of the postoffice band, a
semi-federal organization, to tender it's
81 'ASO0 - cNhNAIONoAS clO Ii nus
years.
Capt James D. Wood, secretary of
the general committee, and chairman
of the committee on invitations, had
reported the action of the postoffice
band. He had been told by Postmaster
McGill that this band contained but
few postoffice employees, and that, since
last year. it had joined the musicians
union 1t could not, and would not
parade this year. unless each member
received the union wage of So, with
double pay for the leader.
Postmaster McGill, who is an old sol
der had been much disappointed be-
cause the absence OF the band from the
parade would detract from the appear
ance of the postoffice employees and be-
cause. inaSmuch as the postoffice band
was thus named, and wore a uniform
similar to the carriers uniforms, the
refusal of the band to give it's service
on Memorial day would, to quote Post
master McGill 'be accepted by the
public generally as an exhibition of
selfish greed. and would, in fact con-
stitute such a disregard of the patriotic
spirit of the masses of our people as TO
give particular and impressive voice
to which May 80 of every year has been
designated and set apart from all other
days of the year, as must, of necessity,
reflect injuriously and unjustly upon
the great body of postoffice employees,
not only of st. Paul, but of the country
at large.
Capt Wood then read the resolu-
tionS adopted:
Committee Adopts Resolutions.
May 80 of each recurring year has. by
legislative enactment, been made a gen
eraI holiday, to the emo that all citi-
zens of the republic may deSist from all
their usual business avocations. and as
sembe together to do reverence to the
memories of the soldier dead of the War
of the Rebellion. to renew their allegiance
to the flag and the Union of states, and
to inculcate in the minds and hearts of
the rising generation, by precept and
practice the great principles of freedom
and equality before the law upon which
our government is founded;
Therefore, Be 1t Resolved, That while
this committee wants it distinctly under
stood that it recognizes the right and
justice of organization and uniform prices
for services rendered to men of like call
ing and proficiency, on ordinary occa-
sions, it does believe and hold that the
observance of Memorial day was intended
to be, and should be, placed on a plane
other occurrence or day in the year.
That on this one day of the year all
citizens of the republic should lay aside
all business pursuits and functions of
social and amusement character, and de-
vote their time and energies to making
the observance of the day not only
living, but a beautiful and profound trib
ute to the soldier dead, to whom they
owe so much.
That skilled musicians are an essential
element of civic and military life, and
are deserving Of intelligent countenance
and liberal support, but that when such
musicians through organization and conn
bination. establish and undertake to per-
petuate the same scale of prices for serv-
ices on Memorial day, is, demanded
for services for picnics and other ordi-
nary festivities of the year. they not only
do injustice to the patriotic impulses of
a large body of their own membership.
but directly antagonize that sentiment in
the great mass of our people.
That in organizing for the observance
of Memorial day in st. Paul this year
this committee is devoting its best
thought and energies to interest all citi-
zenS to the end that the parade and eX-
erciSeS shall be not only a worthy tribute
to the soldier dead. but truly representa-
tive of the Intelligence enterprise and
patriotism of our people. Such result
orally give the committee hearty and gen
erous cooperation and active assistance,
and as musical organizations are quasi
public instrumentalitieS. banded together
TO minister to the pleasures, joys and
sorrows of the people. and looking to the
people for support. the committee had no
thought but what such organiza tionS
deal with it in accord with the spirit of
the day, and to depart 10 some extent at
least from rules made to govern ordinary
every day services. and their refusal so
to do has been a sad and humiliating dis
appointment,
Therefore, Be it further resolved, That
firmly believing in the fairness and jus
.af 10 SC