Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-02
is HELD IN ABEYANCE
Strike Of Tug Theater Musi-
ciaul Deferred.
C0NFEREN CE TODAY
DEMAND ron 1NcREAsED PAY TO
BE RENEWED sEPrEnBER l.
Should New Scale Be Adopted Advance
Will Date Back to
August I.


unfalr TO apply the thumbscrew to one
house and at time when several of the
managers were away from the city, render
ing 1t impossible to hold a full meeting Of
the Managers Association
me managers will be given an opportu-
nit! 10 discuss the situation and arrive at
a conclusion 1t was also decided that in
the case Of musicians who go to work
earlier than September Those at the
Lyceum. for instance-they will be paid the
increased salary rate for the intervening
time. provided the advance in price goes
into effect.
AS result of this agreement Kernan's
orchestra was in it's accustomed place be-
fore the footlights at the matinee this after
noon and rendered the usual orchestral
accompa niments.
The executive committee of the Musi-
cians Union held meeting at 1 O'Clock
this afternoon at 90 Pennsylvania avenue
and confirmed the action of President
Kerngood. 1t Is said.
President Kerngood Sustained.
At the close of the meeting of the board
of directors of the Musicians Protective
Union after o'clock this afternoon Presi-
dent kerngood stated that the board had
by unanimous vote sustained his action in
entering into the agreement with repre-
sentative of the Theater Managers Asso-
citation to suspend action until September 1.
He also said that the sentiment Of the
all difficulties would be amcably adjusted.
Managers Will Resist.
The theater managers are determined to
resist the attempt Of the local Musicians
Protective Union to force an advance in
the salaries Of orchestra members, and the
word has been passed around to stand
pat. While there has been no recent
meeting Of the managers association, still
hnc Tho L., Ia.
ferences. with the result. as stated by one
of them today. that there will be no yield
ing On their part to the demands Of the
union.
Mr. Harry Rapley of the National is
away on his vacation and is not expected
to return to Washington for several weeks
He evidently anticipated the present move
ment of the musicians for an Increase in
the salary scale. for he is reported to have
declared that he would not consent to the
proposed increase. When seen today his
representative. ~ reiterated this statement
and added that Mr., Rapley would stand
pat with the other managers.
Manager, Herman. when interviewed by
Star reporter, was indignant that the Mu-
sicians' Union should have tried to make
a mark Of his house, as he expressed it,
Ihey should not have taken snap jude-
ment against me-" said Mr.. Herman. for I
have always paid union wages Now. II
the Musicians Union desires to dosthe fair
thing why not wait until all the theater
position to hold meeting of the managers
association to consider their demands Our
organiza ton has its rights in this matter
as well as their union. If the other thea
terS agree to the increase then az co,,rSs
will
Mr.. Herman said the threatened strike was
the work of outside agitators and not of
the theater musicians. who. he believes are
SATISFIED with the present scale of prices.
The theater musicians" he added
should form union of their own and
then our dealings with them would be
along strictly business lines. l understand
that some of the members of the present
union are blacksmiths and shoemakers
One of the high officers of that body who
is said to play the trombone Is machnist
in the Washington navy yard"
Two Managers Confer.
Manager Herman had a conference last
night with Manager Luckett of the Column
bia Theater. who is also firm in his determi-
nation to resist what is termed the demand
for an unreasonable increase
1t was reported that Manager Chase has
instructed his leader, Mr.. William ]. Kern
good. to employ musicians for his or
chestra with the provisO that they will
be paid the increased salaries demanded
provided the other .theaters accept the
terms of the union.
Manager Herman stated that rather than
yield under the present circumsta noes he
will put a hand organ in the orchestra
space of his theater and hire a man to
grind out the music, even IL some of the
tunes are ancient and overworked.
The trouble at Kernans Theater on the
occasion of it's opening yesterday afternoon,
as exclusively told by. The Star. was hap
PLY averted by the action of Mr.. Richard
F. Wagner, leader of the orchestra, and
Mr. Ed. Rush, manager of the Bon Ton
Burlesquers, now playing al kernan's. Mr..
Wagner commended that as he was receiving
union pay. according to the schedule. the
union could not punish him for furnishing
music for the theater, and he therefore
stated that he would play alone II neces-
sary The piano player consented to CO.
operate with him.. it Is said, and 1t looked
for time as though an en sn9 would De
At this iuncture Mr.. Rush of the Bon
Ton company agreed to pay the evtra
amount necessary to increase the salaries to
the scale demanded, and President William
r Kerngood of the musicians union. hav-
Ing given his consent. the entire orchestra
played at both performances yesterday.
What the Musicians Demand.
IF ia said the schedule proposed by the
M,s;c,ans. IJnjun provides for an increase
from s15 TO s1S per week for the members
of the orchestra at the Columbia, National
and I,afayette4 theaters. and at the Acad-
emv of Musics and from SIS to $40 at
chase's and Kernan's. 1t is claimed that
the several managers were notified Of the
aaontion of the new scale at the time the
union voted upon Ito
Leader Wagner Gof kernans Lyceum
Theater says he stands with the manage
n,ent of the ho6se. He is reported to have
characterized ffhe action Of the union as
IAN imposition upon the Herman house."
He said he tif6ught the men should wait
until the other theaters open and then pre-
sent their proposition to all of them for
consideration. He claimed that the con-
tract under which the orchestra is fur
nished was made two years ago. and was
to run for four years. He said that he
agreed with Mr.. Herman that the men
should suspend action until after con-
ference with thu various managers Mr..
Wagner's salary as leader Is $50 a week,
which is not affected by the proposed new
MI. Herman said the purpose Of the union
was plainly to force him to raise the wage
scale and then compel the other managers
to follow suit by stating that Herman had
agreed TO the adxance. 1T was also stated
that the proposition had been made to Mr..
Keenan, that he deposit the difference OF ~
per week for each man in the hands Of
some responsible business man OF In bank
pending the action Of the other managers
upon the new scheQnAe.. .r.5s.,,
a4 s..4s .sn 81