The New York herald., 1921-05-08

meeting Ul klit vi stihALNitAplAf AN'N -
Europe. Mr. Flagler said:
1.-The musical season which has j.
one in the orchestral field, owing 10
which was the attempt Of the Music
contracts which the Symphony So-i
ciety had signed with its players ana
which had been approved by the union
MT the time of the signing, in order
that the weekly rate OF payment Tor
+he orchestras might be increased
and at the same time the hours given
10 rehearsals decreased, except at a
prohibitive figure.
THE Symphony Society, while vol
unfairly advancing the scale OF the
minimum weekly salary so as TO equal
that in force in the Philharmonic and
National Symphony orchestras and
conceding the point of a smaller num-
ber of concerts per week both in New
York and on tour and Furthermore
advancing the rate OF board money
paid on tour, held its men to the terms
OF their contracts in regard TO the
length of rehearsals, and on this point
achieved a signal victory in the face
of the greatest opposition. The union
finally recognized the correctness Of
our position and advised our men that
their contracts were binding and must
be lived up to.
Weeks of Anxiety.
This result was not achieved with
out many anxious and harassing weeks
and even months on the part of our
conductor and executive committee
but aside from maintaining the tech
nical rights OF our position, the end
desired by the union involved ~such
lessening Of artistic ideals that we felt
we must put forth every particle of
strength and energy to withstand such
demands. The result was that the
New York Symphony Orchestra con-
tinued to give the usual number of
hours each week to rehearsals, while
the other orchestras, not protected by
a renewal clause in their contracts
similar to ours, were obliged to forego
this privilege or else to pay for it at a
rate out of all proportion to the SER
vices rendered.
''rhe events of the winter have had
a far reaching effect on the local Mu-
sical Union and what the outcome will
be 1t Is impossible to say at this mo-
ment. If the counsel of the better
element in the union prevails harmony
can again be restored and a scale for
Cur 40 hn ah1iehad
which shall be just to the player and
at the same time allow those who sup
port artistic enterprises Of this nature
to carry out their ideals without the
many hampering restrictions which
more and more in recent years the
union has sought to impose.
IF the worst elements prevail I
see but two courses open to US; one, to
give up the maintenance of symphony
orchestras. the output both in money
and in strength not being worth what
can be achieved under the harassing
conditions now imposed by the union:
the other, the founding of non-union
prchestras, In which the welfare Of the
men would be safeguarded by long
contracts, enabling them to have a
feeling of security in the profession
which they have chosen as their life
work. I have hearty sympathy with
the idea of the proper safeguarding
of the musicians interest through the
Musical Union, but the continued at
tempt by hampering restrictions and
purely commercial methods to destroy
artistic projects, which have been built
up so carefully for many years, must
result in action along one of the lines
I have indicated"
situation I'm Musicians Hands.
IT would be difficult TO set forth the
conditions more clearly than is here
done. The salient fact now is that
which was at the foundation of THE
NEW York HERALD's article of March
13, TO wit, that the musicians have
the whole situation in their own hands.
The men who finance orchestras have
gone as far as they are going. They
do not purpose TO transfer the entire
management OF their business to their
employees.
On the other hand Il Is evident that
Mr.. Flagler. whose attitude is repre-
sentative. is ready 10 do all that prac-
sically can be done to maintain the
existence of one OF New York's oldest
and most cherished musical institu-
rions. The writer OF this department
does not believe that any of these
gentlemen would be glad TO support
the formation OF non-union orchestras.
THE union musicians are as a rule COM
petent men. They have more expert
snce and better routine than musicians
buteide of their ranks, debarred from
symphonic performance for so many
years, would be likely TO have. The
union men know this and the knowl-
edge is part Of their ammunition in
The present battle. But the non-union
orchestra IS not a mere dream Of idle
Missionaries. IL IS serious possibility.
The writer earnestly hopes that It
will not become an accomplished fact.
The orchestral musicians Of this city
are OF the first rank. There are none
better In the world. IL is to be hoped
therefore, that they and the financial
hackers Of the orchestral institutions
win arrive at some agreement which
win possess the vital element OF per
manency.
At this moment the situation has