The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-05-09
BAND DIFFICULTY
DESCRIBED BY
OLD MEMBER
Players Objected to We're Will
ing to Withdraw
PROVIDED BILLS WERE PAID
Want Affair Strengthened Out In Best
Possible Manner for the
Organization

Editor Of the Banner:-The old
Band is still in existence and has
majority of old members. The Ben
nington City Band has not been shak-
en- up in the least by any new organi-
cation.
On January 1st Director Geo. C..
Wood informed the band that he
would be unable to accept the posi-
ton as director for another year ow-
ing to the fact that he intended to
spend a considerable part Of his time
in New York City. The music com
mittee, however, prevailed on him to
hold the position till they could Sc
cure a new director. Mr.. Wood in
formed the band that he would do so,
but asked to be released not later
than May LIST. At the regular meet
ing held on the first Monday in the
month the band requested Mr.. Woods
bill and action was taken at once to
secure the necessary funds to meet
the obligation In order opay Mr.
Wood and other small bills due, it was
suggested the Band negotiate a loan
offering as security the appropriation
recently voted to it for the coming
summer concerts. To this action
some of the members objected claim
ing that they wanted the appropria-
ton divided equally among the mem
bers. The major portion OF the band
did not believe that the outstanding
bills should remain unpaid any longer
especially in the case Of Mr.. Wood,
who has held the position Of leader
for the last four months merely as an
accommodation to the band.
Messrs Long, Frazer and Cleveland
who are the regularly appointed com
mittee to secure proposals from any
prospective leader for this year called
on L. L. Gokay and asked him to sub
NIT his name as Mr.. Woods success
sor. Mr.. Gokay positively refused to
entertain any idea of leading the
band giving, as his only objection, the
fact that his business would not ad-
NIT of his being out Of the store for
all rehearsals and concerts. Other
members of the band called on Mr.,
Gokay with the same results. Find
ing it impossible to secure a compe-
tent man at home the committee was
compelled to negotiate with an outside
man who arrived in Bennington yes
terday.
AT meeting of some of the insur-
gent members OF the band held on
Sunday an application for member
ship in the Bennington City band
was drawn up and signed by Geo. r.
Donnelly, Harry Stevens, l.. l.. Gokay,
Frank Hurley and Ed Hurley. This
application was to be rendered with
the proviso that four of the old mem
bers be dropped from the band, three
of whom have been members Of the
Bennington City band for nearly
twenty years. When these four old
members were informed of this act.
| ion they at once expressed themselves
as perfectly willing to resign from the
band providing that all present in
debtedness be promptly met. They
claimed that to resign from the band at
| this time might be construed as an
action on their part to avoid payment
of their share of the bands present
liabilities. 1t is just such honorable
action that has made possible the ex
istence of the Bennington City band
for more than 80 years.
Some of the dissatisfied members
entered the band room and removed
valuable brass horn, bass drum and G
quantity of music without the consent
of the trustees, who learning of thi:
action, took immediate steps to pro
tect the property remaining in the
band room. The members who com
mitted this offence are known to the
trustees and will be notified to return
the property at once. No designations
have been offered by any member o
the Bennington City band.
Present membership is as follows
| w. Andrews, r. Gaul, H. Cook, +
Frazier, w. Cronin, f. Stickles, ]
Ineson, D. Hurley, W. Long, i. Flet
cher, c. Frazier, Sr., L. Macdonald
A Hurley, ]. Garfield, F. Warner, M
Cleveland, C. Carroll H. Goodmot, c
Frazier Jr., j. Mccormack, E. Nash
G. C. Wood, c. Fletcher.
Member Old Band.