Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-02-13

Remembering the popularity of the band concerts given in
this city last summer under the auspices Of the park commission
after the money to pay the musicians had been raised by popular
subscription, and realizing that the condition Of the clty's finances
did not warrant an appropriation this year for concerts next sum.
mer, the following piece of news published in the Newark Sunday
Call last Sunday strikes us as quite pertinent for Perth Amboy
at this time, and we would particularly call the attention of the
local musicians union to it:
For the first time in several decades Newark has a con-
cert band. Its official title is Newark Philharmonic Concert
Band, - and it has been in existence about three months. 1t
was formed by members of the Musicians Mutual Protective
Union, Local No. Is, because of a realization that the public
band concerts given each summer in the city and county parks
do not quite reach par in accomplishments.
The purpose of the band is altruisic, for the players
plan a series of ten weeks Of free concerts in the parks this
season. The membership now numbers over so players of brass
and reed instruments. They meet every Wednesday morning
at the locals headquarters, 41 Plane street, and spend
several hours under the direction of Carl Bethel, a conductor
who has led many seasons of concerts on the Steel Pier in
Atlantic City. The men are giving their services to the band,
and actually pay a small sum each month toward a fund for
the purchase of music and scores. Il = * u
The new band is to be established as a corporation ''not
Tor pront.' 1t is the intention of the members to raise sufi-
clent funds to carry out their project through popular sub
scription of small sums from many persons, rather than to ask
large sums from certain groups of citizens who have aided the
establishment of the Newark Athletic Club, the Chamber of
Commerce the proposed Permanent Industrial Exposition and
similar undertakings.
Here is a real civic pride and a desire to serve the city, What a
contrast to the attitude of the musicians union in Perth Ambov
last summer when it seemed as if the union leaders went ont of
N1NS1o WIN Ob VI
their way to embarrass those who were attempting to make the free
band concerts a success. Here was a real effort to do something for
the people of Perth Amboy. Those back of the movement gave their
time and some of their own good money to put the band concerts
across. instead Of having the assistance and cooperation of the
union, as was to be expected, the union was most strict
m It's terms, holding everything down to the letter of the iron-clad
union rules and insisting on full pay, a big band, the musicians
eeing the only ones to reap any direct benefit from the concerts.
g the union refused to give a concert free under it's own aus.
pces when the public funds were exhausted.
In fact, SO troublesome were the union officials last summer in
connection with the band concerts that those who had assumed
the responsibility Of putting the concerts across declared they
would have nothing to do with the affair another year.
We would recommend to the Perth Amboy musicians that they
60 to Newark and take a few lessons in enterprise and civic pride
incidentally, it is this spirit shown by the Newark Musicians
Union that makes Newark the progressive city that it is. and it is
the spirit shown by the Perth Amboy Musicians Union that is
holdingholding back Perth Amboy today. A willingness to do
holding back Perth Amboy today. A willingness to do something
for the city without though of remuneration or personal benefit is
what Perth Amboy needs today more than anything else.