The Washington times., 1920-05-30
MUSIC VALUABLE
OFFSET TO UNREST

A recent address OF Frank Il. Nor
ton, OF the American Steel 4 Wire
Co, delivered at the State Association
OF Music Lerchants' convention at
Waco, Tex. calls renewed attention
to the remarkable spread in the utili-
zation OF music in industry which is
steadily taking place. There is also
increasing evidence OF a fuller ap-
probation on the part OF State and
municipal officials OF the value of
music to the individual and to the
nation in these days OF unrest and
confusion. Mayor Wozencraft. of
Dallas, who was among the first to
appoint an official music commission,
emphaticaily expressed his belief, in
a speech before representative citi-
zens, in the potency OF music to cure
many OF our Industrial and social ills.
Mayor Hylan of New York has long
been a strong advocate OF a more
democratic utilization of music and
Is urging a larger appropriation for
music In the schools and parks.
other mayors are taking similar ac-
tion.
In his speech at Waco. Mr.. Morton
said, after commenting on the value
OF music during the war:
Inportsnt In Peace.
THAT the efficacy of this inspira-
tional and curative agency should
cease with the signing OF an arfnis-
tice seemed absurd to thinking men
OF affairs. Morale is important in
peace as In war, especially in the vol
canic kind of peace that follows war.
And the diseased condition OF the
worlds nerves after it's great debauch
of telligerency has been an additional
argument in overcoming the ancient
indifference and contempt of the
practical man for an emotional rem
edy.
"The world in the hast few months
has been nervous wreck; II has
been wobbling along with a hang
over from it's orgy OF destructiyeness,
with the mania for annihilation of es-
tablished institutions, OF violation OF
others rights, not yet out of it's sys-
TEN, with it's habits OF thought TEN.
porarily deranged by it's long dissipa.
tion. Naturally the political and eco
nomic quacks are prescribing all kinds
of get-well-quick remedies for the
half-crazed patient.
What is needed is to get the semi.
inebriate back into a condition of nor.
mality. Of active work, of interest In
life, and of responsibility for ones
part.
"As a means of self-expression music
has a universal appeal.
utilization of music as a therapeu.
tic agent, formerly dabbled in to some
extent by asylums and sanitariums
is now becoming systematized and
vastly extended.
Recognized In Business.
"The worlds business leaders are
coming to recognize that such a force
should not be banished from active
life. Economic experts are perceiv-
ing that it's humanizing influence may
bring the only possible solutions for
the problems OF the day. Industrial
engineers are learning it's value and
now class 1t among the means of
maintaining morale, increasing pro-
duction and arousing interest. EN-
ployes welcome 1t as a revival of an
old human element in labor. at once
modifying and energizing. putting
new meaning into what might other
wise be barren toll and creating a new
zeal of life and achievement. In in
dustry music has fully proved itself
the universal language.
1T is proving itself too the great
est champion of order and sanity
against the raids of reckless. ruthless
destructiveness in which unrest is
still indulging itself"