Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-21

never, at any time, refused to negotiate
with the employers of its members.
wnether or not such employers were
banded together in an association. It
mas at all times bean willing to CO.
operate With your members In facing
the vlctSsitudeS Of the theatrical in
oustry. But you now seek to negotiate
wage scale to supersede the present
one. without offering a single guaran-
tseo employment opportunity, and have
clearly implied that, of the AZ thea
tiers which you embrace, but 3 would
employ musicians after the current
months, and even this employment
would only be when it suited the con-
Venience of those theaters.
stated in commercial terms. Won
INSIST on negotiating the price without
promising to make a single purchase.
IA otner words, you demand that we UNI
quannedly bind ourselves in all that
auectS the employment of our mem
pers, without the incurrence on your
part OF single obligation.
me position was very logically taken
py the Musicians Protective Union that
no individual who does not intend to
employ its members has any right To
interfere IN the matter of its wage
scale, and that this fact Is not altered
by reason Of such individual being as
soclated with others who do wish to
employ its members. Upon being ap-
prised Of our views, your members
promptly gave notice to every musician
IN their employ to terminate their sery-
ices after August 81.
Blow at Culture Claimed.
we have no personal quarrel with
the Individual members of your associ-
alton, but we do take most vigorous
issue with the evident aim of YOUR or
ganization, which, stripped of ali soften
ing Verpla~e and stated in its tue sense,
Is the elimination of living music from
the theater. Should you succeed In ac-
comprising this, you will have struck
deadly blow at the cultural life Of our
city--the Capital City OF the United
States.
you may accuse us of being actu-
ated In our stand by reason of our in
terest In the employment Of our mem
DerS. We do not deny that your en-
deavor to aggravate the general unem-
ployment situation Is a most serious
phase OF the matter. But Of far greater
moment than the welfare Of any iiidi-
vidual is the perpetuation Of thee art
itself.
mo consideration has been accorded
by you 10 the theatergoing public,
which makes possible your entef3rlses
and which has indicated, most 9urlffis-
takably, its desire for real music, Iren-
dered by living artists, and Its intense
dislike for the mediocre, soul destroying
substitute provided by mechanical econ-
traptionS. It Is possible that you may
succeed in depriving the people, Of their
most cultural entertainment, iuadkiving
art from its temple and turning our
members out Of employment, hutgdn the
end, may you not do worcestershire
greater harm? win theaterRoerEscen-
ttnue to patronize your dehumhnfEed
enterprises, and, If they do not. have
you prepared mechanical substitute
for an audience?
THE Musicians Protective Union Is
conducting this fight In the interest of
the theater-going public of Washington,
which has. for many years, enjoyed the
offerings OF our members and rewareed
them with its applause. We feef-that
we nave sacred duty to perform, and
We shall not be remisS in it.' IA 90
The letter was signed by John z.
Birdseli, secretary of the Musicians
Protective Union. ga
Offer Fails Of Approval
In 1927 the Motion Picture Theater
Owners Association entered into q con-
it agreed to keep q specified
number Of musicians In constant EN-
ployment during that time. The CcDn-
tract will expire August 81, and notice
was served last week upon the members
OF the orchestras that no renewals
would be made. ~
An offer was made, however, by two
downtown theaters, to employ musicians
en- strictly wage basis for piece work,
In conjunction with the presentation
OF stage shows. The arrangement failed
to meet with the approval of the en-
ployes, with the result that stage shows
also will cease August 81.
letter addressed to the union Au-
gust is by Mr.. Brylawski made clear
the willingness of the employers to re-
sumo negotiations If desired.
The reply of the union fails, however.
to pave the way for further negotia-
tons, there being no mention of the
willingness Of the musicians to place
themselves at the disposal Of the thea
tiers for necessary work unless under
contract.