The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-06-03

sand dollars made mention to yes
terday, T came to Warrington TIVE
years ago last April leaving gooo
sa1aried job on the road. came
here to direct, instruct and re-
hearse the Band at a salary of a
thousand dollars per year, and all
the money I could make on the
outside, said salary was to be got
ten through public subscription
and the first year was already, sub
scribed before / arrived, things
went along well until November
of the first year, some never pay
ed others even payed more than
their share. and more than asked
to, and up to the present time this
salary is in arrears many months
Now the gratis playing the band
has done during this time, the
first summer we played weekly.
concerts for ten weeks, the second
received nothing for these, and at
times when the band happened to
be- short by some Of the members
being out of town, we even sent to
F'airmont and other places for out
side men to take their places and
payed them out of the pockets of
certain members of the band.
There are at least three other en-
gagements played free for the
town, and for the American Le-
gion we have turned out gratis for
every military funeral here, play.
ed for them when they had their
carnival here last summer. made
one trip with them to Shinnstou,
all free. Only last Sunday l took
the Junior band with ,eh.sms to-
Shinnston for. Memorial services
there, doing without dinner till
$3.50. That is alright we are only
too glad to do all in our power for
them They did enough for us dur
ing the war-I know. I was one of
them myself. I put on the khaki
and did my best and didn't have
to either, as was above the first
draft age. That's another thing,
there are other members of the
Elks Band who are World War
Veterans.
am sure there was not, mem
Der of the band who would not
have rather played at home than
to have done otherwise had the
arrangements been made and
can't understand that if the band
is so important that parade can
not be pulled off without one as
it seems this is all that has caused
SO much dissatisfaction among a
few, why in the world couldn't ar
rangement been made to have had
them?
If Fairmont could afford five
large bands on that day Manning
ton surely could afford one. So
many imagine that a subscription
to support a band means that the
band must turn out free gratis
everytime there is anything going
on, when it should be really OF
course for some free summer cc1s
certs for the benefit of all but
more so for the purpose of having
a real band at home when one is
needed and surely a good boost for
the home town when playing in
outside cities.
Now here is congratulations en-
ali these new bands to be soon or
ganized and II it didn't take 50
long to make musicians. there
should be plenty Of bands here hyl
next May 80.
These words are meant as no Of
tense, merely to try to inform the
innocent public as to the true state
of affairs regarding this band stu
alton.
Il most assuredly will afftS my
name to this as the party VINO
wrote the article yesterday did not
do.
With hearty thanks to al who
have supported the band in the
past and hoping you will all turn
out to our free open air concerts
which are to begin soon,
Yours very truly,
HARRY w. GOWEN.
Director, Elks Band.