The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-06-25
DAVIS PRAISES
MILITARY BAND
Harding Once Played on
Marion Band, Secretary
cf Labor Reveals
WANTS A NEW BUREAU
would Develop Small Town
Life Through a Federal
Recreation Bureau

WASHINGTON. 90 Secretary of
Labor Davis, who lHyed tho clnri-
Ipt iu the town band in sharon,
Tu, many years ago. i4 advocating
tHa creation or "a federal bureau of
recreation for the development OF
instrumental ana vocal music the
drama. tho thodtor ana athlotica
throughout the United states
"To my mind" tho labor secre-
tarv sDid, there is no greater In
fhcuCo for community ana social
good In tho American email town
OF today than the town bu i. Some
Of tho plras1ntcs' recolloctions of
my lifo carry mo back TO the days
when ! played the clarinet in the
Sharon band. President Harding
preserves as one Of his proudcst rec.
ollrctlous the memory OF his ass0-
citation with the Marion, Ohio, band
I'm the days when he was Just be-
ginning TO develop the character for
accomplishment which bore him 10
the white House"
Proposes Recreation Bureau.
1t In Secretary Davis idea TO have
the proposed bureau of recreation
cooperative with the states and the
individual communities In develop
ing home ana community music.
"As TO music / would adapt the
Eistcdfodd idea OF wales TO Amer
Tea" he said. "That means tho or
Faniaatiou nationally OF instru-
mental and vocal music, the theater
ana all other rccrCations. This ma
tiunhl organization must begin I'm
the individual community ! believe
that all municipalities should have
rccroational leaders. l would have
ovory form OF recreation, so that the
humhlcst citizen could really take
part and enjoy it. would
have community competitions, from
which the winners would go TO
county and state cOmpetitions and
finally TO a great national gather
ing."
Praises Power OF Music.
THE power of muBic," Secretary
Davis added, "is the most universal |
of arts ana has been recognized |
from the dawn OF civilization, Down |
the long centuries from the dim
ages to today humanity has
marched or danced, piodded or
gamboled Its way OF progress under
the inspiration OF music. From the
Psalms of David to the syncopation
OF modern jazz, music ha always
been tho one art that entered init
mately tho lives Of most OF the
worlds peoples. Existence without
music Is a drab. drsar thing for an
individual or Il people. There 10 no
greater force for peace and hnppi- |
ness than music"
Davis believes that America could
take no single step that would ad
vance tho nation along tho road TO
happiness further ivan the estab-
nshment Of national means OF
exercising tho power of music.
lfo said that America can be or
gani2ed musically, because most
American workmen receive a saving
wage, pointing out that there are
10000 600 people gainfully EN-
ployed In this country.
welsh Love Music.
Music has not only meant much
in tho home life of every Welsh
family, but has always been one Of
the greatest institutions OF that A.
ton" Mr.. Davis. who was born n
Wales, continued. Long before the
time OF which we have actual rec
ORD there were great associations
for the furthorance OF music in
Wales. Among them the Gorsedd
has lived down through to the pres
ent day and rs one OF the greatest
influences In the national life. Under
the auspices OF the GOrsedd whole
communities gather together periodl-
cally for song,
while with a touch OF pride l
like to think OF my native country
es a leader In music and song, we
cannot claim that Wales is the only
country that has had tho benefit OF
great influence from music. Every
country, every race. tribe and clan
civilized and unciyillZed. has it's mu-
sic. As far back as any history
which we have of the oldest civili2a-
tion we find musical Instruments
which resembles greatly the modern
instruments os today.
The North American Indian was
n very musical being. He had Il song
for every phase OF his life, for every
religious and social ceremony. lie
had "A different rhythm or melody
for the hunt for war in his games,
his prayers and his courtshlps.
Strange 10 say the Eskimo mas put
his music 10 a more noble purpose
than even the modern civilization
has today. I refer TO what they term
the NTH songs, which they sing In
settling their disputes or Controver-
sies. The parties IN controversy get
together and sing at each other,
with the public as umpire, and the
man who first nmuses the public TO
the extent Of making It laugh IL ac-
claimed the victor.
This is not the mode IN settling
our industrial controversial, how
ever, The parties in dispute certain
ly play before the public, but the
words and language hurled ly one
nj the other could hardly he classi-
fled as song, and the object would
seem 10 bc 20 maze the umpire