The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-07-22
Time of Band Concerts.

Editor The Washington Herald:
You Will show much consideration for
the members of the Marine Band if you
refuse 10 aid in an effort TO change the
regular time for the concerts so that
they will begin at o'clock p. m, as sug-
gested in last Mondays issue by a CORE
spondeut who deplored the early time
of commencing, "as it made it in1on-
venient for a number of persons 20 at
tend"
There are good reasons why the con-
certs should commence at the hour here
tofore chosen for them. all Of which will
seem to show that much thought has
been expended by the leader Of the band
10 give the public the benefits Of as fuU a
band as possible and under the best Con
ditions
Il should be made plain 20 those in
terested in good music. such as the band
furnishes for open-air concerts, that the
members of the band are not free agents.
but enlisted men. and, being such. are
subject TO the President and a few Of his
Secretaries Any one Of these may at
any time call the band out. either a few
Members or the entire band, in proper
ton 10 the demands of the social func-
tons which form a part of public ETH
quette. And as these functions do not
take place until after the shades Of even
ing have fallen, the hour for the concerts
were chosen with these things IN view
Then. too, a later hour would make It
necessary 70 have the places where each
concert is given fitted up with electric
lights. The programme is too long to
expect the musicians to play in the dark
and the leader could not add the beauty
Of the electric lights to the scene unless
some special law from higher authority
would grant him the power.
In addition to the foregoing. a little
about the members in general and how
a later hour would affect them may not
be untimely. As enlisted men, their pay
Is not large-not near so large as men
outside the band get So. as frst-class
musicians, their pay really is very small
With this handicap, those who can find it
very profitable TO accept engagements
after the concert hour. And the music
1T Chevy Chase Lake that the patrons en-
joy Of evenings is made possible as a re-
suit Of the early concert hour, which af-
fords the men d chance TO earn a little
outside money, for which so many are
capable as a result of their talents. And
should a later hour than the present be
chosen for the concerts, what little money
it would be possible fcr the men to earn
would be denied them as a result Of a
change. When one considers the fact
that the members IF the Marine Band
are barred from participating in any pa
Tade or musical event managed or con-
trOlled by any labor organization it viii
easily be seen that their chances for max
ing any outside money Is very limited
And while the members Of the Marine
Band are not responsible for the course
pursued by labor organizations in placing
the blacklist idea upon them as a result
OF their not being union musicians, this
works a hardship upon the members
whereby they are denied the privilege of
earning money that their fitness as musi-
clans entities them to.
One must feel quite sure after knowing
these things, that II would be of more
interest to the members of the Marine
Band to have the public forego their de-