Douglas Island news., 1917-08-10
LAST HAND TO
 MUSIC" TRUMP
Any Further Discussion of Local Is. sues Must Be on New and
 Different Subject
Trcadwcll. Alaska,
 August 8, 1917. -t.. r.t.,I Nf,wes

Yes. why not? A writer in last weeks issue Of this paper asks of one who dared Co criticize the music as rendered at the dances on the Island by our Island orchcstros, why not be honcst?" I agree with him. Why notg There was more honesty in the "lslandor's' state mcnt that he considered the music that had been supplied on various occasions was rotten" Ca slang word for an emphatic "poor"D, than there was iu thc writer's statement that thc "lslauder's" remarks were "scurrilous" and that they black cucd thc reputc" of the members of Che orchcstras. The "lslandcr" had no intention ot writing any "scurrilous" remarks or of black cuug the rcputc' of any of these gentlemen. personally, but as re- gards Che music supplied ut various times by thcm. hc will not with draw one whit from his former statement. Truly, Bomo Of the as- scrtous made by the gentleman were amusing in their childlshncss.
 The islander" answered the query of Che "Douglasitc" Of July sO. in kind Had he considered that he was making doubtful stand. by not signing his name Co Che article. he would gladly have done SO.
 Hc quoted thc remarks, some stronger. some less SO, Of a major .ity ot Che regular patrons Of the dances. thc ones Co whom the dances must look Co for success or failure. It Is easy Co praise and boost, TO- rardlcss ot the subject. But he who criucIscs is knockcr, or worse. If Che islander" had been alone in his ideas on the subject, or even comparatively SO. he would have considered himself at variance and remained discrcctly silent. But he has heard too much at Che yari- ous dances Co consider himself .aIouc. and now that this is started may as we'll see it through. Some one should be thc goat on this subject. and he will be it. on his side of Che argument. He may be asked why some ot these people do not come out with him and support .his claim? This is easily answered by Che disIucliuotion of thc average person Co appear iu print. especially .to criticism of conditions In conn muuity like ours. Tho writer shares this attitude also. notwithstanding thc apparent evidence Co the con-
 rary. If any Of them care Co ot- fer an opinion, that is for them Co decide.
 The writer win grant that a small crowd as was present at the Fourth of July dance is inclined Co put a dampcr on the enthusiasm Of tho occasion. Of that, however. he had given no thought until now. Also. that the admission fee drove others Co Juneau This he is inclined Co doubt. since the attendant expenses of going Co free dance In Juneau are as much as those attached Go one on Che Island to which admis- sion is charged He will grant an the Ecntlcmons arguments except one. No one can convince him or many others that the music as rem dcrcd was anything but poor But to hammer away at the Fourth Of July dance is not tho writer's point. Hc is against these conditions in general and cites that instance as an example.
 Concerning thc Trcadwell Club dances. little more need be said The writer does not know who was in- cludcd in the remark concerning the management ot the dances, thc Club management or the orchestra. He believes that both were in it, one as much as the other, and that Che latter had more or less Of a free hand in the arrangement of Che music end and of the admission fec. As Co the statement that a certain clique" caused the down fall Of the dances. the writer ls in- .clined Co smile. It is a known fact among those conversant with the situation that the attendance at dances Is number of groups. 'cIiQucs." if you care Co call them that. the members of which hold more or less together and dance to- gcther And the arrangement seems to be agreeable to all, so much SO that it Is not thought of as such and is carried on unconsciously lf this "cliquc" that the gentleman spoke Of was large enough to break |up the dances, surely it was large enough to support them.
 ! Mir. Erickson's reply was very ! fair statement of the other side of Che case for two sides there ever arc to any argument. To it the writer takes no exception. barring that of the quality Of the music, and