Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-09-23
STATEMENT BY THE
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
OF MUSICIANS UNION

The following statement, regarding
the non appearance of an orchestra at
the Thursday evening performance at
the Opera house, was handed in at the
Journal Office Friday evening by the
executive officers of the Local No. AGO,
A. f. of Musicians:
'In June, shortly after the Colonial
theatre and the Opera house had COM
bined and were incorporated as the
Augusta Theatre Co, our members
were discharged from the Colonial
theatre and Immediately both houses
were placed on the local unfair" list
In July, President Weber and the ex-
ecutive board of the Federation placed
both houses on the Federation (nation
aD unfair list. said list being publish
ed in August in the International Mu-
sician, the Federation organ.
After two weeks this list becomes
effective, thus giving due notice to the
Managers Association which is sup
posed to inform The booking agents
where unfair conditions exist.
1.-The orchestra carried by the
prince of Pilsen" Co. consisted of two
men. a pianist Qeader) and a drum
mer, both holding union cards and be-
ing Furthermore the only musicians
having a contract with the prince of
Pilsen" Co. This may be of some in
terest to many people who occupied
seats at the Opera house last Thurs
day evening in the expectation of
hearing an advertised "symphony or
chestra" of from eight to II men.
ION learning of conditions these two
men at once declined to play the show
in spite of offers by the management
to pay all fines that might ensue.
That they were fully protected in
their stand is shown by the following
clause which appears in all travelling
contracts:
Gas the musicians engaged under
the stipulations of this contract are
members of the American Federation
of Musicians, nothing in this contract
shall ever be so construed as to inter-
fere with any obligations which they
may owe to the American Federation
of Musicians as members thereof
I'VE wish here to take exception to
the K. Us. statement that the local
branch refused to let the company's or
chestra appear We have ABSOLUTELY nc
jurisdiction over any travelling musicians
who are members of an orchestra appear
ing here with musical show. We are
required to make monthly reports to
headquarters of all travelling musicians
playing in this city, and the bare report
that such musicians entered our jurisdic-
ton and played in an unfair house
would Immediately subject them to discip-
line at the hanGs Of ..e federation. So
we are not under the necessity of forbid
ding the Prince of Pilsen' orchestra to
play the show.
"Mr. Cuddys statement that he at
tempted to obtain a settlement at the
local union headquarters is decidedly dis
counted by the fact that the leader Of the
orchestra was previously advised Of the
situation and instructed to hire must
clans in Portland to bring here and play
the show. Only when this plan failed
and the local management realized that
they were up against 1t. did they ap-
nroach this local. Their idea of a settle
ment seemed to consist solely Of re-
ouest that we keep quiet and allow the
travelling musicians to perform. and that
the real settlement be postponed to some
time in the dim and distant future.
Mention was also made Of the en-
barassing position in which the Prince