Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-04-24
PUBLIC oPlNloN
MUSICIANS ExPLAIN PosIT1oi

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mark did very much harm and abb
salutely no good; it spread like wild
FIRE and grew TO dimensions I'M
fought OF. and It made 1t impos-
lie for those In the union who
cork for progress. to accomplish
raytning because the remark had
saoiled that unity OF purpose that ia
necessary for accomplishment.
In your editorial you quoted the
.Newark Sunday Call as referring to
The Newark Philharmonic Concert
Bend planning free concerts not for
profit, and you advised us to go to
Newark and take lessons of the
Newark musicians in enterprise and
civic pride. We are sure, that the
editor will be pleased to learn that
We needed his advice and got some
very wonderful lessons. 1t appears,
that the band mentioned above plays
a. two hours band concert at the
rate OF ten doliars--rehearsals not to
be paid for-where we last summer,
charged i've dollars for four hours
rehearsals not to be paid for-and
we are ready to admit that we real
]y ought to do ii that way. As you
will see OF the enclosed letters the
Newark musicians are able to give
free concerts and get paid anyhow,
and We have had 70 much Joy out
OF the lessons you advised US to take
that we must ask you to follow your
W advice. You ought really to go
to Newark and learn how to do your
work for your city free OF charge
and get paid Just the N
All Joking aside, we have sorne-
thing to learn from Newark. We
carry a memory OF what that city
did along with other cities to relieve
the distress Of the people of Perth
Anboy during the time of the Nor
! San explosion and the services these
I cities rendered made an imprint in
the heart OF every Perth Amboyan
never to be forgotten. Still we fesl
we do not need to belittle our own
city comparing II with other cities.
Regardless of what you stated In
your editorial about 'the spirit that
holds back Perth Amboy'' and the
need Of . Willingness to do some
thing for the city without thought
OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS of this
we think there Is a lot of enterprise
and civic pride and all that goes
with It In this old town of ours.
Coming back TO the musicians, did
not union bands OF this city furnish
music for the Liberty Loan drives
free OF charge? Did they not play
for Red Cross gratis? Wal not the
Home Defense band made up Of
union musicians from this town, who
donated their services not for profit
But gratis? Did not union bands !
men leave their own homes on
Christmas eve to give, not to SELL a
bit of cheer to the children at the
Christmas tree In City Hall Park :?
Did not union orchestras and play
ers donate their services gratis for
the benefit of Red Cross and Red
Cross nurses in TottenviIle and
throughout Staten Island? Did not
union musicians from this town give
their services for nothing, playing
for the wounded soldiers at Colonia
hospital? They did and they had a |
fine reward in the smiles and cheers
Of the boys from ''over there" and
they did 1t gladly, also during the
time of the explosion and the fol-
lowing epidemic, where they as peo-
pie of small means were hit hardest
and needed every dollar they could
earn. Newark paid its musicians
for the Liberty Loan parades. and
that does not make the musicians
there smaller-they have no doubt
done their bit too as we did ours
but 1t makes Newark bigger because
that city thereby went or record as
recognizing without dispute its
workers right to fair pay or fair
work regardless Of the motive for
said work. Newark and Perth Am
boy can both stand comparison. |
Did the electricians who put up
the wiring and the lights for the
concerts last summer. do it for moth
ing? They did not, and nobody
would expect them to. II 1t Is a
matter of course that other labor
has got to be paid for Its work, why
is II not a matter of our that the |
musicians get paid? Simply because
the idea is still prevalent that music
is not work. People are apt to think |
of music a amusement alone. 1t Is
for the audience, but not for the
musicians. AS a matter of fact,
music is hard work. Accomplish
ment in that line Is possible only |
after years of study and expenditure. |
and statistics have shown that the
professional musicians work is more
dangerous to the health and nervous
system than most other occupations. |
However, the old prejudice fingers.
men Of modern thought will not adj
nit 1t, but 1t is really at the bot
tom of every knock at the profess
sion, and that Is the idea that musi-
cians all over the country have
fought ever since they started to or
ganize and they shall keep on fight
ing 1t.
(signed)
RALPH GUNsT.
MARINO v. PALISI. JR.,
JOHN NJ. CoLICAsTRO,
CARL DE MARCO.
Committee representing Local $751;
A. r. OF NJ, Perth Amboy, N. J.
p. s.--Copies of the two letters
from Newark follow:
Musicians Mutual Protective Union
Local No. Is, A. r. of NJ.
Newark, New Jersey.
March 10. 1928.
Mr.. Arthur 81. Andrassy. Sec'y.,
Local No. a73. A. r. of M.
$50 High ST., Perth Amboy, M.
Dear Sir ana Brother:
In answer to your letter regard
ing the chipping from one OF your
.ocai papers in reference TO must
els bs of this local donating free
concerts. please be advised that this
matter has been misunderstood. The
only thing free about the concerts
n question is that they are free in
o "a. as the public Is concerned.
Thax- ara heinR maid for by DOpu- |