Evening star., 1936-04-08
ENDOF SYMPHONY
THREATENS |NR|FT
WITH MUSIC UNION
Orchestra Cannot Yield to
Groups Demands, Says
Secretary Howe.
EFFORTS FOR CONTRACT
SINCE NOVEMBER FUTILE
Dispute Revolves About Gaul and
Importation of Players
From Other Cities.

A breach between the Musicians
Union and the Board of Directors Of
the National Symphony Orchestra is
threatening to break up the orchestra,
it was disclosed yesterday as Walter
B. Howe. secretary of the association.
told the union that the orchestra can
not meet union demands.
Efforts since last November to nego-
tiate a contract with the union for the
1867 orchestral season have failed.
Howe announced. He stated compli-
ance with union requests would force
the board to abandon its responsible
ties towards its contributors and turn
over to union officials authority to
decide certain business policies.
Specific issues important in the dis
agreement involve importation of mu-
sicians from other cities and retention
of George Gaul, personnel manager,
in his present position.
Importations Barred.
In conferences and correspondence
with directors of the orchestra aSSo-
citation, the Musicians Union made it
plain it would not approve importa-
tion of players which the directors de-
clare are essential to further devel-
opment Of the orchestra. The direc-
tors further fatty refused to fire Gaul,
who is scheduled to be suspended from
the union next Monday for withhold
ing information regarding the orches-
tra's contracts with individual musi-
clans.
Under terms Of the orchestra's pres
ent contract with the union, no nom
union man may be hired, and Gaul's
imminent suspension presents to the
orchestra directors the alternative Of
breaking the contract or hiring q un-
ion man in place Of Gaul, who holds
an important post as contact agent
between musicians and the orchestra
association.
Howe told the musicians, meeting
in the Library Of Congress yesterday
afternoon, that the associations board
had instructed Gaul to withhold from
the union certain facts regarding SAL
aries and other terms Of the individual
contracts.
"Since Mr.. Gaul was complying with
the wishes and instructions of the
board and management in declining
to give this information to the union
when called upon to do so," Howe
stated, "the board would be unwilling
to enter into a renewal of the con-
tract unless assured that Mr.. Gaul
will be placed under no penalty or
disability by the union on account
Of his said action"
Suspended, Effective April Is.
Charging Gaul violated his union
pledge by complying with the wishes
of the directors in withholding infor-
nation, union officials met March %
and decided upon his suspension, ef-
fective April 13. They also charged
the Orchestra Association violated its
contract with them by denying Gaul
the right to disclose important facts
regarding salaries.
A. c. Hayden, president Of the local
union, said this morning that Gaul';
suspension automatically ends his
membership in the American Fedora
ton of Musicians, of which the local
union is unit, and that any question
of Gaul's reinstatement would be up
to the national body. He added that
Gaul has not protested his suspension
or applied for reinstatement.
While inviting further relations with
the union and expressing hope that a
contract can be negotiated, Howe de-
clared the board is firm in its stand
for Gaul and for maintaining a right
to hire musicians from other cities to
fill positions which the directors said
are not filled adequately by local mu-
Sicians.
The problem was presented to the
orchestra following its concert yester-
day afternoon in the library's music
hall. Appealing for help from the
men, Howe said in statement ap-
proved by the board:
1.-THE immediate question is whether
or not, or under what circumstances
there can be National Symphony Or
chestra next season. This is a ques-
tion which concerns the subscribers,
the public, the conductor and certainly
the members of the orchestra. Hav-
ing apparently reached the end OF
the road in negotiations with the Mu-
sician's Union, the board now seeks
the advice of the symphony musicians
as to what, If anything, can be done
to clear the way for the future exis-
tence and progress of the National
Symphony Orchestra"
A meeting of members of the Or
chestra with officials of the Musicians
Union has been arranged for 10
O'Clock tomorrow. Union officers have
not revealed what action they will
take.
Correspondence made public last
night revealed further sources of
friction between the boards of the
Musicians Union and the Orchestra
Association.
In letter to Howe, dated March 80,
John r. Birdsell, secretary of the
union, protested a violation of con-
tract by the board in "sub-letting" the
orchestra to other organizations. The
union charges specifically the board
had no right to loan the orchestra to
another association which recently
presented an opera in the concert hall
Of the Library of Congress.
The present controversy over union
authority in part Is q renewal of q
f1are-up year ago, when union ofic-
ia1s farnfesfad auainsf fha orchestra, n