The Topeka state journal., 1904-11-21
MARSHALL WILL WAIT.
His Resignation as Leader of His
Famous Band Laid on Table.

At a largely attended meeting OF
MarshalI's band at the band rooms sun
day morning Mr.. J. B. MarShalPS res
/ ignation, as given below, was read. By
unanimous motion the resignation was
/ laid on the table and Mr. Marshall was
earnestly requested to withdraw II and
! continue as director of the band Mr..
/ Frank p MacIennan was present AT
| the meeting and made proposition to
the band which it is hoped will insure
that this great musical organization, of
so much Importance to Topeka, will
remain intact and under the director
ship OF Mr. Marshall, who has given so
! many years of faithful service to the
| band; also that it will insure band con-
certs next summer and a suitable band
stand, the purchase of new and modern
| instruments and a more hearty sup
port on the part of Topeka for this or
ganiza tion.
| A movement is also under way to Sc
cure legislation at the forthcoming ses-
sion of the legislature which shall per-
nit the city of Topeka to appropriate
some sum for the maintenance OF the
/ band.
! MarshalTs band, like many other mu-
sicaI organizations, has had trouble
some times during the twenty years of
| its existence, but the band has been
\ maintained and has survived them all.
| Now that the organization finds itself
confronting heavy expense in the way
/ of new instruments, and during the
past two or three years has felt that it
has been Disseminated against. Mr..
Marshall and other members of the
/ band do not feel like assuming such
burdens they have borne in the past
The members OF the band feel discour
| aged" said Mr.. Marshall today. The
band has not received the patronage nor
support 1t should have received during
been celebrated here, but the band mas
not been made a feature of them. and
for other things mere handful of the
players has been engaged to play. With
such = condition existing the members do
not feel like keeping up the struggle to i
rQ5 he aT7iy yaf inn for re
confronted with the necessity of buying |
complete new set of instruments This |
means that by turning in the instruments
we now have the additional expense will
at Sundays meeting that if Mr.. Marshall |
resigned from the band he would do So |
The resignation, which was laid on the |
table, was as follows:
To the Members of MarshaIiS Band:
Herewith I hand you my resignation as |
director of the band, to become effective !
You will never know the heartaehes the
above words have cost me I feel deeply /
that has been my pride and ambition for |
twenty years or more Like child |
II has been nearer and dearer to me than |
all else than my family But feel that l
enough Strong in the belief that we /
would some day come out from under the !
despairing cloud, have urged you TO /
remain intact as an organization. and /
with loyalty and pride in the band you
nave faithfully lent me your support /
through all these years Now feel that I
the time has come when to hold out in |
ducements TO hold together in the face OF
continued nOn-SuppOrt upon behalf of the |
people is rot fair to you or to your di- /
rector. 1t is for this reason that 1 prefer /
to fOregO my personal likes and diSlikeS /
and take the step that has long ago been I
to me the most feasible course, but which /
you have SO earnestly combatted by your /
splendid loyalty.
1t is due to you to say that this action !
Is taken without consultation with any I
friends of the band, as il is not my de- !
the band mas won distinction as the best /
amateur band in the country. There was I
a time when could pass the hat for the 4
pand. but feel that it has grown too big /
to indulge in this method of gaining sup
port. We have won many staunch friends, !
put II IS unfair to ask them to bear our,
burdens now For years the few have
supported the band that the many sup
port in other cities, and the members /
themselves have been compelled to give of !
their hard earned wages to maintain the
also labOring hard to keep up to the high I
standard it has attained
This, then, is the reason that I have
for Withdrawing from the band that has
honored me for twenty-one years as its ,
leader 1 have reached the point in life I
where must throw off some of the cares +
and worries that 1 might have carried /
easily when the band was younger. I /
shall not relax my interest in the or /
ganiZation. and trust that its life may be +
made easier than in the past but must /
decIlne TO pecorne party longer to en- /
couraging the members under false hopes |
of success
I sincerely trust that my withdrawal |
from the band will not materially affect !
shall hope for its regeneration with /
younger men at the helm.
Very truly yours,
]. B. MARSHALL /