El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-04-21
MUSICIANS union 5TATE5ITSSIDE
Local Band Offered Permit
to Army Bands if Allowed
One Concert a Week.

ARMY bands may play for the enter
tainment Of FL Pasoans. say officers
Of the local union labor" organiza-
ton. provided the union band receives
contract for one-half the park con- !
certs this summer. The local union
organization has invoked the law Of
congress which prohibits army mu-
scians from competing with civilian
musicians. Tt appears that the Ques-
ton was brought TO a critical stage by
the appearance Of an orchestra OF army
musicians at a dance where local union
musicians might have been employed
It does not appear that the local union
organization intends TO waive It's right
Of protest and permit the army bands
to play in the city parks this summer,
except upon condition that the union
band be employed by the city for at
least one concert a week. or half the
park concerts If there be more than
two q week.
Heretofore the concerts by the army
bands have been rendered by the vari-
Gus regimentaI commanders as a COM
plimenr TO the people Of the city ana
the public has gratefully enjoyed the
concerts. Army officers say that the
bands cannot play in the city, however,
If the labor union organizations pro-
test. The local musicians union has
also been especially annoyed, 1t is IN
derstoOd, by reason OF the practice Of
taking army bands upon trade excur-
sions through the courtesy of the COM
handing officers, and it would not De
surprising to have the local union make
protest hereafter against this practice,
There are 81 members in the local
Musicians Protective association; at a
moderate estimate there were 10000
persons in attendance at the park con-
certs last season, including many thou
sands Of visitors to the city who found
these concerts by different United
tates army bands to be one Of the
most enjoyable features of sumner lie
here
The following letters from officers
Of the Musicians Protective association
and the Central labor union fully set
forth the position OF those organiza-
tiOns pom the question of the sumner
park concerts;
From the Musicians Union.
Editor FL PasO Herald;
In justice to the members OF the FL
PasO Musicians union. n with the
idea Of modifying the statement is out
lined by retiring alderman Walter y
Clayton, published in The FL Paso Her
aid, April 10. we wish TO make the fol-
lowing official statement concerning
the summer band concerts:
In the minutes Of our regular meet
ing, April >, Will be found the following
resolution which was TO be |reSpecL1ully
submitted TO the city council and Central
Labor union: a motion prevailed that
the Municipal band petition to the city
councl for half OF the park concerts
and that we make known this fact TO
the C. L T. so that we may secure
prOpe endorsement from them
AS we nave asked for only one con-
cert per week. allowing the soldiers
bands the privilege Of playing the
other. we believe it only fair and Just
that we be recognized to this extent, IN
view Of the fact that we have musicians
with families in FL Paso who make
their homes here, spend their money
here me are well capable Of fulfilling
any musical engagement
3. L HLburn-
n-naHrL-@ ww--a-H.-.n n-A#aa~H-. Aa--aH i
H. E. Van surdam.
Secretary Musicians Protective AssOci-
alton
Statement From Union Secretary.
Editor FL Paso Herald
In order that the controversy. which
has arisen over the employment OF the
military bands in the parks this sum :
must be remembered that the law, !
by the United states congress in
1908. absolutely prohibits any enlisted
musicians from competing with civilian
musicians.
AT the regular meeting Of the Central
Labor union, on March p. 1915, a com
was presented by the musicians
union TO the effect that the military I
bands located here were habitualIy and
systematically soliciting all the en-
gagements they cOuld get; that one Of
these bands was that night playing at
a dance in the ace Of a refusal on the
Of the musicians to issue a permit; I
and especially that these bands had. at Z
that time, a well organized movement /
on foot to secure the exclusive engage
ment for all the concerts 10 be given ]
in Cleveland square this ummer. Con-
sidering the fact that the recently or I
gained Municipal band might Oe de-
Veloped into a musical body Of which ]
FL PasO would be proud and one that I
be permanently at the disposal 4
Of the city whenever needed, the Cen /
tral Labor union took prompt and ef-
fective action in the matter.
On March %. 1915, i had a long talk Z
with the secretary Of the musicians I
union during which he displayed a Z
very gentlemanly and public spirited
desire not TO totally deprive the general /
public Of the pleasure Of listening 10
the concerts by the military bands this
summers providing the musicians We're j
sufficiently protected ~toenable them to
live. On April 3, 1915. the secretary
OtIiclally acted IN the matter at Their /
regular meeting. the day before. and
he has shown me their official records i
Of that meeting which authorize the
ISSUANCE Of permits TO the military
bands TO civ One-half Of the concerts I
in Cleveland uare this summer pro-
the Municipal band is engaged
Tor the remaining concerts. 4
In the FL PasO Herald of April 10, 4
1915, there appeared an article that
that there would not be any
and concerts In the parks I
this summer because the musicians
union a decided upon a complete en-
Of their legal rights. Please /
publish this correction in justice to
the boys who have shown such a com
mendable public spirit, at a financial
E D. Skinner.
S~ec--Treas.. Central Labor Union.
.
I