New-York tribune., 1920-03-18
Union Music at Boston
A Defence of Organizotion
by an Old Member

10 the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Being the oldest member among
those who refused to play at Symphony
Hall Saturday, March 6, wish to
explain the reasons that prompted nv
colleagues and myself to proceed N
that manner.
When this new era of democracy
dawned upon us we were told BY Pr,-
dent Wilson that the governed had
some rights in deciding the form Of
government they wished, all of which
makes beautiful reading, but in pne-
tice this is distasteful to a certain Sc,
of people.
When a committee Of the orchestn
i being one of them-calles upon Nj.
Monteux, himself a member Of The
Federation of Musicians of France, II
regard to the union question, he a.
sured us of his absolute neutrality. Al
the same time, through his attitude
toward Mr.. Fradkin, a strong ana
sltruistic promoter of our cause, Mr.
Monteux showed plainly that his state
ment TO Us was not sincere and thus
the situation grew more aad more
acute and finally led to the most IN.
fortunate occurrence on Friday after
noon. want to state right hero that
| deplore Mn Fradkin's refusal to rise
when hidden to do so by Mr.. Monteu1
but it is apparent that the treatment
meted out to him by Mr.. Monteux v,s
irritating beyond human endurancs
We felt obliged to uphold him since
Mr.. Fradkin made his sacrifice for us'
Judge Cabot had stated that tie
Fradkin incident had nothing whstso'
ever to do with the union movement
He is quite correct if he refers 70 II
directly, but indirectly it is only TOO
evident that this agitation was the sols
cause of all the trouble Probably the
most important factor in our move
that this is great opportunity to open
the eyes of the public TO the fact tn''
a great crisis in regard to the future o.
the Boston Symphony Orchestra IS "
hand.
Altogether seventy-four have pieogeu
them selves to stand together in 'h'
movement, which means that every cn'
of these men will quit at the exp'is
tion of his contract if the union =
not recognized by the trustees. IN 'n''
way, within one year, more than tnis'
quarters of the entire pcrsonne' "
the orchestra must necessarily DC ~
placed. Judge Cabot evidently Is ~,
at all concerned about this fact.
myself think it to be entirely iHpV'
sible. He stated he would Wiling
continue the concerts under these ~
verse conditions and gradually o'''s
the orchestra up to its former stahosi''
This will take great many years.
can be accomplished at all, and iof .''
public there will be ample oppor1un'"
to do some watchful waiting. All o'">'
orchestras in the country are organ'''s
and it seems that this fact does NV
interfere with their artistic oe'e'0f
ment. l need mention only the o''
eago and Philadelphia orcnes''''
which in the musical world are s''
sidered superior to ours. which p'o.s.
the old notion of art and orgahiAs'S
not belonging together to be sn V
ploded theory. =.
All of this, coming after thsrty-ea
years of service in this orehes"-
causes me the greatest mentai ss'
have ever suffered. 1t is but ns'''.
it should pain me beyond measure
witness this splendid organlsatio"'
which l have spent the best par
my life, broken beyond repair. in,
is yet time to save it, and | nope -"
trustees will relent. OTTO hVA
Boston, Mass. March y, lss"