The Topeka state journal., 1911-09-12
TROUBLE OVER MUSIC
Liberati's Band Didn't Play Monday
Now SmOOt1ed Out.

! Liberati's band did not play Monday
| afternoon as scheduled, but it was no
fault OF Sig. Liberati. 1t was on ac-
Count OF the interference of the Ameri-
can Federation Of Musicians and was
the elimination of a dispute of long
standing between the management of
the fair ana MarshalPS band.
LfberaH is not the kind Of a man
who will break a contract unless it is
a matter of necessity ana he has the
reputation of trying to give the people
| the most possible for their money
and he does it.
The difficulty was settled when it was
agreed by the fair management that
no other band would play on the
grounds aside, from Liberatfs band
which belongs to the union. and the
evening concert given w&s greatly ap-
preciated.
In the afternoon the grand opera
singers who do not belong to a union
sang between races.
Now the Knights and Ladies of Sc
curity band which was previously en-
gagged to play or the fair grounds is
playing on the street cars only in or
der to draw the crowds to the fair.
The American Federation of Musicians
objected tc Liberati's band playing on
the grounds with a nonunion band, but
therein hangs a tale, for the American
Federation would not have passed upon
the matter had not Marshalls band
called their attention to the matter.
Here is the explanation given by ii.
Z. Barnes, secretary of MarshalIs band:
When Secretary Cook first came to
Topeka he treated me well when
went to see him. 1 mentioned the
fact that the feir association owed US
for playing the season before.
THE Commercial club had a circular
letter sent out to creditors saying that
the fair was being reoTSanIzed ana
that our account would be allowed.
I'VE kept trying to collect the ac-
count and took matters up with Mr.
Cook. The only signed communica-
ton we received from Cook said he had
decided 10 hire our band provided we
would carcel the old debt He had
promised to pay prior to the fair but
did rot pay until afterwards. There
was no controversy as to COOKS pay
ing something in advance.
1.-TWO years before. Cook came we
gave a concert in the Auditorium,
which netted S40os and We gave the
proceeds to the fair association Be
fore Cook came Badders came to me
and said they were wanting % sell
stock in the new company and that
everyone should boost. We turned out
and played for half day. We
thought we had done a good deal for
the fair and were entitled to our
grounds"
s'some time ago I wrote Cook a po-
lite note" said c. NJ. Morrow, secre-
tary of the local organization of the
American Federation of. Musicians,
"and said we would be glad to arrange
for any state fair music he wanted.
Later I went to see him myself
after having received a letter from him
saying that he would probably adver-
tise for bids for the supply of music
Later I went to him and he said it was
all off-the music had been engaged. |
Il went back the next day when he
was not so busy and he was profane. l
told him that unless he would do what
he said he would do I thought I was
In a position to make him trouble.
''It is national affair. Owen Miller, |
national secretary of the A. F. of NJ |
Of St Louis addressed a letter to me
to be forwarded to Liberati- This let |
ter said that unless he disengaged the |
band that he would not be i
allowed to play. We weren't obstruc-
.ionists. We are for the state fair as
much as anybody. We have all bought |
tickets. BY taking certain action we
could have prevented Liberati from
playing here at all. but we did not
want to injure the fair
81 went to the office" said D. G.
Kline, director of the band. "and told
Mr.. Cook that Mr.. Going had sent me
o him. He cursed and swore. told
lim that Mr.. Going had sent me to
ind a gentleman, Mr.. Cook, and
Lsked him where that gentleman was"