The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-10
VOTES FOR AN OPERA STRIKE.
G. n. U. ORDERS OTHER UNIONS
TO SUPPORT CHORUS SINGERS.
The Musicians Put Up y KICK. Asserting
That the Chorus 10 Largely Made Up Of
FOrelgners-Retort Made That tire
Musicians President 10 q Canadian.


That the Chorus 10 Largely Made Up Of
FOrciEners-RetOrt Made That tine
Musicians President 10 q Canadian.
The Central Federated Union decided
yesterday to stand by the demand Of tho
Chorus Singers Union, which ordered q
strike In the Metropolitan Opera HOUSE
last season, for a renewal OF the agree
ment with the management and reoogni-
ton Of the union. Tho Theatrical Pro"
tective Union, which Is composed Of
stage hands, musicians, electrical
workers, calcium light o~peratorS, steam
engineers, hremen and bill posters, all
belonging TO unions represented In the
Central Federated Union. were ordered TO
support tho chorus singers.
The matter came up on the report Of the
executive COMMITTEES, which had been d.
rooted to write to Secretary Owen Miller
Of the American Federation of Musicians
asking what the federation would do in
case OF q strike of the chorus singers. The
reply OF Secretary Miller was that at the
last convention Of the federation In Boston
IL was decided hat the organization could
not support consistently any organisation
whose contracts had clauses permitting
the promiscuous importation Of foreigners
from Europe. and maintaining foreigners
as members. This was referred to the
Chorus Singers Union, half Of whose MEM
bers are o in Europe. The executive
committee. however, recommended that
all the organizations employed in the
theatres be directed to support the chorus
singers.
Delegate Canavan Of the Musical Mutual
DroSaoftx,a TTpioo aaid that nndor thA -1Iipn
Of the American Federation Of Musicians.
Of which the NJ. NJ. P. U. is a local, he could
not see how the musicians could take any
sympathetic action. This brought up a
discussion on the question Of foreigners
Henry De Veaux OF the Actors Protective
Union said that as far as foreigners were
concerned there were as many foreigners
in the American Federation of Music ians
as in he Chorus Singers Union.
The members OF the union" he said,
declared their intention OF becoming citi-
gems, and every one in the Chorus Singers
Union is as good in that respect as the MEM
bers of the Musical Mutual Protective Union.
When a man takes out his hrst papers It
means that he is going to be a citizen"
Caravan pointed out that the members
of the chorus who went TO Europe might
have taken out their first papers, but they
were now in Europe. 1t vas possible that
LUCX LHLKuI UCNCI CluN W bAiAo "a
1T is understood" he said, that they
will come here only II they get good jobs.
As to the musicians, under the rules OF the
union they cannot be enrolled unless they
are six months in this country and have
taken out their first papers. One man was
fined 81 900 by the union for employing
three members from Europe
what is President Weber Of the American
Federation Of Musicians7" said another
delegate. He Is a resident Of Toronto. I
know il, for / saw him there. You surely
could not call him an American citizen
A delegate Of the Actors Protective
Union remarked that Secretary Owen Miller
Of the American Federation OF Musicians
had only taken out his first papers. He
added:
What is q foreigner2 Every n was
a foreigner when he came TO this country
first. A man who takes out his first papers
is to all intents and purposes o citizen.
This country was peopled by foreigners
Yes said Caravan, but Il Is q differ
emit proposition for people TO take out their
first papers here and go TO Europe to stay
unless they are sure Of q job here
Canavan argued that in such q case the
musicians could not be held down to any
rule a. TO sympathetic action in the. case
Of the chorus singers. The recommendation
Of the executive committee, which enum-
on them not TO sign agreements until the
Chorus Singers Union had made an agree
ment with Director Conried, was adopted.
The agreement OF the Theatrical Protec-
tive Union expires at the end OF this month
and the operatic season does not begin
until November %, the rehearsals begin,
ming on November IL. II the theatrical
Protective Union or the other union fol-
low the mandates Of the c. F. u, 1t will be
practically a strike.