Montana labor news., 1935-07-04
TWO SIDES TO STORY
Continued from Page y

prove sad contract tor many good rea-
SOM which they had.
AS prescribed by the laws under
which members OF the American Fed
Grafton OF Musicians ARE SUPPOS-
ED TO WORK, the contracting mem
Der or leader of an orchestra MUST
submit his contract to the local union,
Neither Andy Kinney or any member Of
his orchestra ever presented any on
tract to the Butte local OF Musicians
but instead, left it to their employer
to present said contract.
Columbia Amusement Co. stated this
action OF the Musicians Association
will deprive them of engaging the Ben
Bernie orchestra and other nationally
famous bands during the season just
after stating the Andy Kinney band
had been contracted for every Sunday
night during the season and everyone
knows that dances have only been given
at Columbia Gardens on Sunday nights
for the last several years.
The Butte Musicians have never op-
posed such bands playing Butte as Ben
Bernie or other nationally famous bands
as the following, which is a true copy
OF a letter, we have, will show;
Helena, Montana
April 29th, 1885
Musicians Union,
Butte, Montana.
Dear Sirs
This is to advise that the negotia-
tons for a date for Arson Weeks Or
chestra in Butte are definitely off. 1t
was impossible to get terms with the
Columbia Gardens management.
| appreciate your granting this CON
cession for Weeks appearance and I
hope at some future date that we car
put through a real name band to the
advantage OF everyone concerned.
Arson Weeks will pla vat the Shrine,
Helena, May 18th.
Very truly yours,
John Fem,
1888 Ave,
Helena, Montana,
. .
John Fem booked Arson Weeks
orchestra, Guy Lombardo and his or
chestra, and Ted Fio-Rito's orchestra
in Helena during the past season. There
was nothing to prevent the Columbia
Amusement Co. from booking these
orchestras in Butte EXCEPT
THEIR PRICE.
The Butte Musicians are decidedly OPP
posed to Andy Kinney's class OF orch
estras being imported to Butte and fall
sely advertised in an effort to make
the Butte people believe they are get
ting something better than Butte can
furnish, Columbia Amusement Co adj
vertised Andy Kinney's orchestra as
a famous recording orchestra from
Minneapolis. The truth is IT Andy
Kinney's orchestra is from Livingston,
Montana, not Minneapolis, and we
doubt if they know what recording
means.
For the last four Sunday nights the
Andy Kinney orchestra has come into
Butte just before the dance and left
Immediately after each dance, not
spending one cent of their wages in
Butte. Butte musicians spend all they
earn in Butte.
President Roosevelt asks every COM
munity to do its utmost to take are
Of its unemployed but does not ask
nor expect any community to take are
Of any Of the unemployed OF any other
city or community.
The manager OF Columbia Gardens
is the only one whom we've been able
to find in Butte, who thinks the Andy
Kinney orchestra is good. If others
agree with him, why did the dancing
patrons OF Columbia Gardens circulate
a petition by their own v%olition, u
ing several hundred signatures thereon,
protesting against the Andy Kinney
orchestra and requesting that a certain
Butte orchestra be engaged. THIS
DONE.
The Butte Musicians Union has a
number OF affidavits to the effect that
the Andy Kinney orchestra has play
ed engagements in other Montana
towns in violation of union laws and
prices. That is one OF the reasons the
contracts were not approved and may
BE the reason the manager Of Column
bia Gardens likes that orchestra.
Butte Musicians Association,
Local No. 24l.
(SeaD