New-York tribune., 1910-09-23
ORCHESTRA HEADS ANGRY
Cav Unions Demands Are Men
ace to Artistic Effort.
FRANKo CHARGES BAD FAITH
Declares He Was Told That Old
Rates Would Hold for Ex-
listing Contracts.

T,e recent action OF the Musical Mutual
Protective Union IN raising the minimum
mice allowed 10 be paid TO musicians or
,xrr7rhony and concert orchestrss has
sroused q storm of protest among orchestra
leaders and conductors II has even been
suggested that should the union hold to Its
r.asition II may cause g. large number of
musicians 10 renounce their union al
,esianoe and. following the iead Of the
members of the Boston symphony Or
cbestra, declare their independence Of all
,yniou control. IT is being freely stated
that this result would be practically certain
F.. could THE orchestra managers guarantee a
fuIl wears engagement TO their musicians,
as is the case with the Boston orchestra.
new interest has been injected into the
controversy by Nahan Frankie. the con-
avctor. who declared yesterday 10 a Trib-
,,ne reporter that although the union had
informed the orchestra leaders that all
- contracts previously made under tSe old
,chedule Of pay would be valid IL had
. lster ordered the musicians TO refuse TO
ulav under any except the new rates. This
Will seriously affect orchestras such as the
philharmonic and the New York Sym
nhony. which had already engaged their
musicians, and which had been going ahead
under the impression that these rates would
fe valid II will be Of interest TO see what
action they Will take should the union hold
its members 10 the new rate. The unions
action is being bitterly criticised as unfair
and disastrous 10 all artistic effort. Mr.
Franko was outspoken last night in his
criticism.
While the union had right 10 raise the
-ates- IL has been done so suddenly TO
cause great hardship to the leaders who
rad already made contracts under the old
schedule" said Mr.. Franko. Il myself was
told that my contracts would he valid, yet
! and that my musicians have been in
formed that they must play under the new
rates This absolutely sets aside their for
mer statement that old contracts would be
valid. II the union holds TO its position
shall have 10 reduce my orchestras or lose
a large amount OF money. The unions
action IS absolutely unfair. It may|'ead 10
grave results If the large orchestra mana
gers can te brought 10 combine. The enor-
nous raise in the price Of rehearsals is
specially unfortunate No artistic results
can be obtained without proper rehearsais,
vet noW rehearsals are made extremely ex-
pensive. Something will have TO be done
or many orchestras Will have to so out Of
business"
Arthur Scleffer, the musical director Of
The Globe Theatre, was more optimistic.
4 90 not think the raise In price viii
reduce either the number OF concerts given
or the number Of musicians employed"
said Mr. SchefTer. 'Tn the past the leaders
have never employed more musicians than
we're absolutely necessary, and 1 DO not
7hink the extra expense will be sufficient
10 reduce the number Of concerts
George Engels. secretary TO Walter Dam
rosch, said that as the musicians for the
New York Symphony Orchestra had al
ready been engaged he did not think the
new schedule would affect the orchestra
This season.
OF course" said Mr.. Enge1s. 1T will
sfert Il next year" Mr.. EnEels had not
heard that the musicians had been for
biddsu TO play under the old schedule.
~ Al official OF the Metropolitan Opera
= company, who Gid not wish his name 20
pe used, said that +he time was ripe for the
breaking Of union ties whenever the or
chestras would give the musicians a years
Engagement -- ~-~--
.~ At preenst-~ said this official, 'ft is i'm
possible for non-Union men TO obtain work
outside their own orchestras. The Boston
symphony has solved this problem by en-
gazing the men for the full year When
this is done in New York there VIII be a
split IN the unions ranks"